IPAI appoints Dr. Marc Kirchner as Chief Technology Officer

Heilbronn-based AI innovation and collaboration platform IPAI is expanding its management team: Dr. Marc Kirchner (46) is taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with immediate effect. He joins the management team around CEO Moritz Gräter and CFO Dr. Benjamin Schiller and will play a key role in shaping the technological direction of the platform in the next growth phase.

We are delighted to have gained Marc, a top-class expert for complex technology and AI developments, for IPAI

Moritz Gräter, CEO IPAI

Responsibility for technology and platform infrastructure

In his new role, Kirchner will steer IPAI's technological directional decisions. His tasks include expanding the team's technical expertise and further developing the innovation platform infrastructure. A particular focus is on accelerating the AI transformation of the currently around 130 member and partner companies - from the identification of specific needs to the implementation of joint AI use cases.

Many years of experience in industry, research and big tech

Dr. Marc Kirchner has more than 22 years of experience in machine learning and software engineering, including 15 years in senior technology positions. Most recently, he was a Senior Engineering Manager at Apple in Cupertino and Heidelberg, where he was jointly responsible for the global infrastructure for the development of Apple Intelligence.

Heilbronn is undoubtedly on its way to becoming the most exciting location for applied artificial intelligence in Europe. I am very much looking forward to actively shaping this dynamic

Dr. Marc Kirchner, CTO IPAI

Kirchner found his way to Apple as CTO of the Baden-Württemberg-based AI start-up Pallas Ludens, whose acquisition by the US company he accompanied. Prior to this, the doctor of computer science was active in research and industry - including at Heilbronn University, Heidelberg University, Harvard Medical School and the Technical University of Munich. As Director of Corporate Research at Carl Zeiss AG, he drove forward the industrial application of artificial intelligence and founded the Zeiss Digital Innovation Lab.

Expansion of the European AI location in Heilbronn

This appointment underlines IPAI's ambition to establish Heilbronn as the leading location for applied artificial intelligence in Europe. The expansion of technological expertise is a central component of the platform's long-term growth strategy.