Matthias Zeller is a Ph.D. Candidate at CARIAD SE, Mönsheim, Germany, and the Photogrammetry and Robotics Lab at the University of Bonn, headed by Cyrill Stachniss. He has over 3 years of experience in the automotive industry focusing on deep learning. His current research focuses on radar-based scene understanding for self-driving vehicles.

Henk Goossens is an Innovation Strategy Manager at TNO Automotive with many years of hands-on experience in high-tech innovation, both on the technical R&D side and on the strategy and business development side.

Division manager at FZI for automotive systems engineering, leading 45 R&D engineers. More than 9 years of leadership experience for professional and engaging R&D. Managed over 50 application projects in R&D with successful implementation in productive systems and achievement of customer added value. Fondness for innovative and creative approaches and experimenting in new ways - right through to productive application. Results-driven & people-centered. Expertise in systems engineering and artificial intelligence.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
Developing innovative ideas and concepts and watch them become reality in prototype realizations. Leading high potentials in innovative environments. Getting deep knowledge and understanding of the automotive industry, having projects with multiple OEMs and tiers.

Jacqueline Henle is the Vice Department Manager at FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik. She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where she specialized in addressing economic and engineering challenges within the automotive industry. Her research at FZI focusses on the development of processes and methods that enable secure, data-driven, and flexible over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring the future of connected and intelligent vehicles. Jacqueline’s expertise lies at the intersection of innovation, standardization, and practical application, making it a driving force in advancing automotive systems engineering. Her work not only addresses current industry challenges but also paves the way for smarter, safer, and more adaptable automotive technologies.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
At its core, research is about seeking creative solutions to unanswered questions. It demands not just technical expertise but also resilience, adaptability, and innovative thinking. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and push boundaries, and I find deep satisfaction in tackling these hurdles. What drives me is an unquenchable curiosity about the world and a relentless desire to uncover new knowledge. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is collaborating with talented, passionate individuals. Research thrives on teamwork, and I am energized by the exchange of ideas with colleagues, students, and partners from diverse fields. Being part of a discipline that drives progress and shapes the future is a true privilege, and I can’t imagine dedicating myself to anything else.

Michael Borth is a Senior Research Fellow of TNO. Addressing challenges that come with the introduction of autonomous behavior into vehicles and smart systems in general, he leads the AI & Data Science Team of the Integrated Vehicle Safety Department as well as TNO’s flagship on System Engineering and Lifecycle Management of AI-based system.  In this, he fuses his expertise in AI which he gained at Daimler Research and Technology with his experience in system architecting for automotive, but also for smart high-tech systems, which he investigated at ESI in Eindhoven.  Michael holds a PhD in Informatics from the University of Ulm for his work at Daimler, being in the first generation of researchers looking at data generated by vehicles.

The Pop in Your Job – What drives you? Why do you love your job?
Finding the way towards trustworthy Automated Driving as a pathfinder, navigating the unique blend of system thinking, system architecting, and AI expertise that forms these uncharted territories.

With a B.Sc. in electrical engineering and economics, Sven founded a company enabling companies to drive logistics with AI. He later worked in the automotive industry developing and ultimately managing test solutions for V2X. Currently, Sven is managing the Autonomous Drive Emulation program development as part of Keysight’s Automotive and Energy Solutions.

Jochen Abhau is the Team Leader Algorithms & Machine Learning at ZF Group and has over 14 years of experience in the automotive industry.

CARIAD is the automotive software company within the Volkswagen Group that bundles and further expands the Group's software competencies. Established in 2020 under the name Car.Software Organization, CARIAD now has more than 6,500 experts worldwide working on a scalable technology stack for all Volkswagen Group brands, comprising a software platform, a unified electronic architecture, and a reliable connection to the automotive cloud. The company is developing vehicle functions such as driver assistance systems, a next-generation infotainment platform, power electronics and charging technology, and digital services in and around the vehicle. CARIADs software products can already be found in the Volkswagen ID. family – including for example the beloved ID. Buzz or ID. 7. The software platform E3 1.2, which launches in 2024, will empower the next generation of Audi and Porsche cars. CARIAD has software competence centers in Wolfsburg, Ingolstadt, the Stuttgart region, Berlin and Munich, and has subsidiaries in China and the USA.

TNO is an independent organisation for applied research. We connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the competitive strength of industry and the well-being of society in a sustainable way. Our goal is to connect, change and accelerate: Innovation for life.

The FZI Research Center for Information Technology (FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik) in Germany is a premier institution that connects cutting-edge research with practical innovation in computer science, artificial intelligence, and information technology. With locations in Karlsruhe and Berlin, the FZI acts as a vibrant link between academia and industry, turning groundbreaking research into real-world solutions. Home to over 250 highly skilled engineers and researchers, the FZI focuses on key areas such as autonomous systems, cybersecurity, data science, and Industry 4.0. By collaborating closely with businesses, startups, and academic partners, the FZI drives technological progress and plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of digital transformation. Its interdisciplinary teams tackle global challenges with innovative approaches, making the FZI a hub for creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking. At the FZI, application-oriented research is more than just an idea—it’s a tangible reality. The FZI House of Living Labs provides state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure, where innovations are rigorously tested and refined. This unique environment fosters the development of practical, impactful solutions that address real-world needs. Join the FZI in advancing technology and shaping a smarter, more connected future!

TNO is the independent organization for applied research of the Netherlands. Seen as the innovation engine of the country for more than 90 years now, TNO is driven to push boundaries, contributing to the world of tomorrow with every innovation. We do this by connecting people and knowledge, boosting the competitive strength of industry and the well-being of society in a sustainable way, as well as by supporting the Dutch government in carrying out tasks in the public interest. TNO has about 3500 people working in several locations in the Netherlands, covering topics from ICT and AI, Energy Transformation, High-tech Industry, Construction, Healthcare, Maritime, to Logistics and Smart and Sustainable Mobility.

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight’s dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, and hardware-in-the-loop environment. Whether you seek to bring breakthroughs in technology for electric vehicles from the grid to the road or emulate real-world testing into your lab with radar and cameras to lidar sensor technologies. Keysight empower designers and engineers to prove that their mission-critical systems are safe, by validating and demonstrating accuracy and dependability with the best simulation and test solutions.

ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility. Alongside the automotive sector – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine propulsion, rail drives and test systems.