Thomas Pilz is managing partner of Pilz GmbH & Co., a provider of safe automation technology. He manages IT, Purchasing, Research and Development, Quality Management and Production. He is on the Board of Directors of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) and is Chair of the Advisory Board of the German Research Society for Automation and Microelectronics (DFAM). He is also a member of the Supervisory Board at Esslingen Technical Academy (TAE) and Chair of the Board of the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart e.V.