Robert PLANA

About Robert PLANA

Robert Plana is Chief Technology Officer at Assystem and a member of the Group Executive Committee. Since joining Assystem in 2017, he has been responsible for the company’s innovation and digital transformation strategy, with a focus on industrial performance, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies. His career stands out for its combination of academic research, public-sector innovation leadership, and large-scale industrial deployment. He holds a doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences and Technologies. He began his career as a professor specializing in IoT and played an important role in introducing the concept of cyber-physical systems. He then held senior research management positions at CNRS, the French National Research Agency, and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. These roles gave him a strong understanding of innovation policy, technology maturation, and the transition from research to industrial application. Robert Plana later moved into industry, working at Alstom and then GE Digital, where he led R&D programs in smart grids, digital twins, artificial intelligence, and predictive maintenance. This industrial experience strengthened his expertise in digital transformation and in the use of data-driven approaches to improve operational efficiency, reliability, and engineering performance. At Assystem, he helps drive the Group’s ambition to expand its innovation capabilities and to accelerate the adoption of big data, AI, and systems engineering across strategic sectors. His role is particularly relevant to industries undergoing rapid digital change, where advanced analytics and connected systems are becoming central to competitiveness and resilience. Beyond his executive responsibilities, Robert Plana is also Director of the Assystem Institute, the Group’s training body created to pass core engineering skills to younger generations. In addition, he serves as Administrator and Vice President of Syntec Ingénierie, where he is in charge of social issues and training. Overall, his profile reflects a rare blend of scientific depth, strategic leadership, and commitment to developing engineering talent.