Raphaëlle, R&D project leader  [ Return towards  Our employees' stories  ]

Ensuring an efficient R&D projects portfolio management

What has your career path been at Air Liquide ?
I joined the R&D Center in France where I firstly discovered the Hydrogen business which displayed already its huge growth potential. Afterwards, I achieved process studies on the implementation of new technologies to increase the gas production efficiency. Four years later, I took the lead on the HyCO project which was refocused on operating excellence as some issues appeared: premature ageing of materials, requirement of more accurate process control, integration of CO2 capture solutions, etc.

What is your exact role today ?
Today I’m still in R&D but after operational missions, I’m now involved in functional activities as project leader for VP R&D. My mission is to ensure that the project management will be used efficiently by all researchers, located in 5 R&D centers around the world. Then, an efficient R&D projects portfolio management in line with Business Lines objectives will be set up. In addition, as secretary of the Resources and Investment Committee for technology, I’m involved in the guidelines definition to review all major projects related to technology development.

What are you the most satisfied with ?
Finding the good way of motivating R&D experts with very different technical profiles was really a challenge for me. Besides the R&D recognition as a main expertise center in HyCO business was really a reward of our efforts in this domain.

Raphaëlle, French origin, based in France