BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pablo Fernández-Santos
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer
Pablo Fernandez-Santos is the Managing Director and Chief Engineering and Program Officer at BASQUEVOLT, an innovative energy storage startup focused on pioneering solid-state battery technology with the ambition of becoming a European leader in the field. Before joining BASQUEVOLT, Pablo has developed a career in the automotive sector for more than 20 years holding several executive positions in Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance. Before joining this company, Pablo was the Program Director for Renault SUV family (including Renault Austral) as a key contributor to transition between traditional ICE vehicles and future EV vehicles and before that he was the leader of CMFB Common Renault Nissan platform as the first electrified Platform of the Alliance. Pablo has an Engineering degree (Industrial and Mechanical) by Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales of Valladolid and holds a General Management Program (GMP) from CEDEP Executive Development Fontainebleau.
“We are proud to be part of the Upcell Alliance and to work together to create a unique European battery ecosystem, reducing the dependence on imported batteries, and ensuring a safer and greener energy future for our region.”
Olivier Colas
Director of Public Affairs, Strategic planning
Olivier Colas is the Director of Public Affairs at Blue Solutions, a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group, where he leads efforts to promote solid-state battery technology developed and manufactured in France and Canada .
Since joining the Bolloré Group in 2012, Olivier has played a key role in advancing sustainable battery solutions. Prior to that, he worked at Ernst & Young as a Senior Manager overseeing sustainable development initiatives and held leadership positions at IBM, where he led the High-Performance Computing department.
He serves as aboard member of several organizations, including “Recharge” and BEPA in Europe, as well as for the French “Comité Stratégique de Filière des Nouveaux Systèmes Energétiques” (New Energy Systems Strategic Committee).
A graduate of ESIEA in Paris, Olivier is dedicated to driving the global transition to cleaner energy solutions.
“As the Director of Public Affairs at Blue Solutions, a leading solid-state battery manufacturer, our mission is to usher the world into a cleaner, more efficient future. Every kilometer traveled being a step toward sustainability resonates with the company’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and advancement of green technology. This forward-thinking approach not only aligns with our goals but also serves as a call to action for the industry to prioritize sustainability in every facet of operation.”
Adrian Spillmann
Head of Business Unit Battery Solutions,
Grinding and Dispersing Technologies
- 2004: Master in Process Engineering, ETH Zurich
- 2008: PhD in Process Engineering, ETH Zurich (Doctoral Thesis: “Flowability Modification of Fine Powders by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition”)
- 2008-2012: Project Manager, Corporate Technology, Bühler AG, Uzwil, Switzerland (New materials and processes for the manufacturing of batteries and photovoltaics, novel food processes based on electromagnetic waves)
- 2012-2013: Project Manager, New Technologies Advanced Materials Division, Bühler AG, Uzwil Switzerland (Business and technology development for mid-term-related activities)
- 2014-2022: Head of Market Segment Battery Solutions, Grinding and Dispersing Technologies, Bühler AG, Uzwil, Switzerland
“As a co-founder of the upcell Alliance, Bühler is convinced collaboration among all stakeholders along the LIB value chain is key to boost the efficiency of LIB manufacturing and accelerate the innovation for next generation battery technologies.”
Truls Johansen
Director of Strategy
CSO
Truls is co-founder and Director of Strategy for Elinor Batteries. His career has been focused on strategy, design and development for large organizations both in the private and public sectors in Norway.
He holds an MSc of Industrial Design Engineering and a BSc of Informatics from the Norwegian Technical University NTNU, where he also lectures Strategic Design in an executive masters programme.
“The Elinor team has been engaged in Industrial Clusters for years, and that is why we were extraordinarily impressed by UpCell. UpCell is definitely a best practice example among industrial clusters, so professionally coordinated and creating such a high degree of member engagement and motivation. In retrospect, when we reach 2030 and look back, I believe UpCell should be one of the top five reasons for the existence of a thriving and profitable European Battery Industry.”
Edouard CoudrillIer
Group Strategy & Marketing Director
Edouard Coudrillier is the Strategy & Marketing Director at Fives Group, where he leads the development and execution of growth strategies for the company.
Fives designs and builds cutting-edge equipment and production lines for some of the world’s largest industrial groups, with a strong legacy in the automotive sector. The company has been a key partner to car OEMs, automating their manufacturing processes, including battery cell, module, and pack assembly.
Edouard joined Fives in 2015 after seven years in strategy consulting, where he developed deep expertise in business development and corporate strategy. Since then, he has held several executive management roles within the automotive and logistics divisions, contributing to the company’s continued growth and innovation. As a founding member of the Upcell Alliance, FIVES actively supports the mission to establish a robust and sustainable European battery industry.
He holds a Master’s degree from CentraleSupélec, a Master of Science from Imperial College London, and an MBA from Collège des Ingénieurs.
“Upcell is a powerful driver for building a strong European battery industry, bringing together both Gigafactories and solution providers.”
Michel Terré
Full Professor
Michel Terré is a professor and researcher specializing in electronics and telecommunications, with a strong focus on optimizing energy consumption in radiocommunication systems. With extensive experience in both industry and academia, he has contributed significantly to advancing signal processing and mobile communication standards.
Michel began his career as an engineer working at Philips, Thalès, and Alcatel between 1988 and 1998. He then transitioned to academia, becoming a Full Professor at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Le Cnam), where he led the engineering school for a decade and later chaired the Cnam Training Council. From 2020 to 2024, he served as President of HESAM University, overseeing 15 institutions and more than 115,000 students.
Michel holds an engineering degree from Télécom SudParis(1987), a PhD from Le Cnam(1995), and an HDR from Paris XIII(2004). His research focuses on signal processing for telecommunications and the evolution of mobile phone standards, particularly in the area of radiocommunication systems energy consumption optimization. Michel chairs likewise the awards committee of the French Society of Electricity, Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (SEE), affiliated with IEEE.
“Upcell Alliance is an incredible initiative where industrial and academic partners come together to discuss all the issues related to the manufacture of EV batteries.”
Michel Popovic
General Manager
COMING SOON !
Claude Laperiere
Director Global Battery Business IA
Claude Laperiere is the Global Business Leader for Industrial Automation-powered batteries at Schneider Electric, where he drives innovation and strategic growth in automation solutions for the battery industry. An experienced automation engineer and entrepreneur, he is known for his creative approach to industrial transformation and his ability to build strong collaborative networks.
Additionally, he is a co-founder of Upcell Alliance and the ‘Ensemble’ turnkey supplier concept—initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration and efficiency within the European battery value chain.
Claude holds an engineering degree in mechatronics, robotics and automation from Le Cnam and has more than 25 years of experience in the machine-building and industrial sectors, where he has developed extensive expertise in business development, strategy, and ecosystem building.
“Together we will achieve a strong, innovative, and sustainable industry.”
Gilles Moreau
Chief Open Innovation
Sustainability Officer
Gilles Moreau is the Director of Sustainable Development at the French gigafactory Verkor and a co-founder of the company, where he plays a key role in advancing sustainable battery solutions.
He previously worked as an expert in fuel cells at 3M and Renault before joining the French Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) as a project manager where he contributed to various national and European lithium-ion battery initiatives.
A passionate entrepreneur in energy storage and electrochemistry, he has been instrumental in launching the French project dedicated to training in the battery industry “Ecole de la Batterie” and Upcell Alliance, fostering collaboration within the European battery ecosystem.
Gilles holds an engineering degree from Grenoble INP-UGA (2003) and has built a distinguished career in battery technology and fuel cells. His expertise spans research, industrial development, and strategic collaboration, positioning him as a key figure in Europe’s energy transition.
“As Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”. Upcell will be the catalyst of this collaboration spirit that is key for EU battery ecosystem.”
Alice Florent
Chief Technology Officer
Alice Florent is the Chief Technology Officer at Scantech, a French enterprise with over 30 years of expertise and leading supplier of measurement and control systems for the polymer film extrusion market, where she leads innovation in measurement and control solutions for the energy materials sector.
She earned her doctorate in fundamental physics from École Polytechnique in Paris before spending five years as a researcher at the University of California Los Angeles. She then joined CERN in Genera as senior scientist, where she served as a leading associate of an international collaborative project involving over 2000 researchers from more than 35 countries.
Following this early career foundation in a highly collaborative and innovative environment, Alice transitioned from academia to industry in January 2023 joining Scantech, a privately owned French enterprise, founded by two nuclear physicists from CERN. Recognised as a leading supplier of measurement and control systems for the polymer film extrusion market, Scantech has expanded into the energy materials sector, including electrode and fuel cell catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) applications. Under Alice’s leadership, the company continues to drive innovation in high-precision measurement technologies essential for advanced manufacturing.
“When people collaborate to build and progress in the same direction, there is no limit to what can be achieved. Upcell is our opportunity to eliminate any obstacles that may hinder the battery industry and contribute together to this exciting journey in energy transition!”
