Originally trained as a mechanic in manufacturing, Ivo Aschwanden holds a degree in electrical engineering from the university of applied sciences and arts northwestern switzerland and a degree in mathematics from ETH Zurich. He can look back at over 10 years of industry experience in software engineering and computer science; as development and research engineer, as project manager and as CEO of a startup specialized in algorithmic research and engineering services. He joined ETH and Inspire AG in 2021 to strengthen his focus on research, bringing with him a broad range of skills and the ability to seemlessly blend computer science and industrial manufacturing, scientific research and practical application, hands-on work and leadership.

Prof. Markus Bambach leads the Advanced Manufacturing Lab, which the IRZ is part of. He received his doctorate and habilitation from the RWTH Aachen, and served as professor at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg for 5 years before being appointed Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at ETH Zurich. Markus Bambach is a renowed expert in additive & hybrid manufacturing, incremental forming and material science. His research emphasizes new technologies for "scale invariant manufacturing" and the digitization of manufacturing processes, aiming for processes with high adaptability, increased efficiency and low CO2 footprint.