Richard H.-Technology Scouting, AI & Engineering Innovation
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Experience
Interim AI Strategy & Implementation Manager
Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH
Assignment:
Supporting the AI startup MachOptima during its spin-off phase in the field of industrial process optimization.
Responsibilities:
- Evaluating and refining the service offering for industrial customers.
- Developing and implementing a strategy for acquiring pilot projects.
- Managing key accounts, supporting customer meetings, and shaping the technical strategic roadmap.
Results:
- Successfully secured and implemented the solution with the first pilot customers.
- Built a structured sales framework and supported several customer projects.
- Achieved clearer market positioning through a refined value proposition.
- Strengthened the founding team’s understanding of strategy and sales in a lasting way.
Product Owner Industrial Metaverse and Digital Twins
Mercedes-Benz AG
Assignment:
Further developing the IT ecosystem for the Industrial Metaverse and providing strategic advice to Research & Development, IT, and Market Operations on metaverse technologies. Promoting cross-functional collaboration, identifying innovative business models, and supporting contract negotiations with a metaverse provider. Analyzing technology options, stakeholder needs, and business impact, and supporting complex investment and partner decisions.
Responsibilities:
- Facilitating and aligning several teams to improve cross-functional collaboration and clarify shared goals.
- Evaluating metaverse technologies and digital twins, and conducting a structured analysis of technology options.
- Developing strategic recommendations and practical solutions for a large corporate environment.
- Supporting complex contract negotiations from technical, commercial, and legal perspectives, as well as workshops to realign strategy and prioritize goals.
- Developing decision-making foundations and roadmap recommendations, and coordinating over 20 global stakeholders.
Results:
- The negotiations led to savings in the tens of millions and laid the foundation for the group’s current Industrial Metaverse roadmap.
- Analysis of over 20 global stakeholders identified synergies and opportunities for improvement.
- Cross-functional collaboration improved significantly, and several teams became active enablers.
- Despite working in an external role, I was able to drive lasting changes in strategy and delivery through expertise, clarity, and the ability to persuade.
Interim Tech Lead
Felix Forward GmbH
Assignment:
Taking over technical leadership to get stalled software development back on track. Ensuring the platform’s completion and launch, and restructuring the IT infrastructure and development processes.
Responsibilities:
- Fixing IT governance and realigning the development strategy.
- Improving software development processes, including replacing the development team to ensure quality and speed.
- Stabilizing the IT infrastructure for sustainable operations.
Results:
- The platform was completed on schedule and successfully rolled out.
- Restructuring IT governance and development improved efficiency and quality.
- The organization gained a technically stable, future-ready platform that meets industry standards.
Industrial Metaverse Strategy Inhouse Consultant
Bruker Switzerland AG
Assignment:
Evaluating and introducing AR technologies (e.g. Microsoft HoloLens) to improve internal processes and develop new business models. Advising top management on technology use, IT integration, and investment decisions.
Responsibilities:
- In-depth technology evaluation, selection of suitable hardware and software, cost analysis, and risk assessment.
- Developing an IT integration concept and strategic recommendations for management.
- Identifying new business models and establishing an ongoing innovation process.
Results:
- Well-founded decision-making materials reduced investment risks and sped up the introduction of the technology.
- New digital business models created the potential for additional revenue streams.
- The strategic innovation process was successfully embedded in the company.
- The analytical and conceptual foundation accelerated further product development and created a sound basis for later scaling the use of the technology.
Head of Product & Business Model Innovation
ImmoPresenter 3D GmbH
Assignment:
Developing an innovative PropTech product that uses virtual reality and artificial intelligence to automate property sales. Designing a new business model and connecting product development, business model innovation, and academic research.
Responsibilities:
- Leading product development and software strategy.
- Researching business model innovation using theoretical approaches.
- Managing product innovation and evaluating market opportunities.
- Connecting practical product decisions with my own research into business model innovation.
Results:
- The solution demonstrated the potential of VR and AI in the real estate market.
- The results were validated, documented academically, and published.
- Findings were published in international professional publications.
Commissioned Speaker
Siemens Management Consulting
Strelizium Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG
Management and maintenance of own real estate on a small scale; previously also occasional residential development and renovation.
Managing Director
BMI Expert GmbH
Responsibilities:
- Managing innovative digital projects as an (interim) manager.
- Evaluating, implementing and introducing new digital technologies.
- Developing innovative business models for companies and startups.
- Supporting founders (startup coaching).
- Delivering software development projects – from concept to implementation, including on a fixed-price basis.
- Developing prototypes and conducting feasibility studies.
- Providing strategic technology consulting, IT integration, cost and risk analyses.
- Making recommendations to top management.
- Establishing continuous innovation processes.
- Technology scouting, market and solution analyses, and developing use cases, evaluation frameworks, and technology and innovation roadmaps.
- Working with internal subject matter experts, technology providers and management.
- Current focus on generative AI and agentic systems.
Results / References / Examples:
Detailed references, project examples and specific results are available upon request.
Team Leader, Project Manager, Engineer
AGFA-Gevaert AG / AgfaPhoto GmbH
Assignment:
Development and quality assurance of digital imaging systems and server-based order processing solutions involving hardware and software. Led a team to optimize testing and payment infrastructures.
Responsibilities:
- Project management for hardware-based payment solutions.
- Leading a team of test engineers to ensure the quality of server clusters.
- Managing innovative software initiatives and hardware/software integration projects.
Results:
- Successfully implemented and quality-assured high-availability solutions in digital imaging.
- Increased efficiency through optimized testing processes and improved project management.
- Successfully delivered innovation projects under tight deadlines.
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Information Technology, Professional Services, Real Estate, Construction, Manufacturing, and Automotive.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Product Development, Information Technology, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, and Strategy.
Summary
- Technology scout and innovation consultant. Over 20 years of experience systematically identifying and assessing emerging digital technologies and translating them into sound decision-making foundations, use cases, and implementation roadmaps.
- Generative AI and agentic approaches. As part of a current project, I am working with language models and agentic workflows for research, analysis, and automation, with a focus on technological value, governance, security measures, and responsible use in technical and industrial development processes.
- Methodological expertise and research. DBA on the impact of emerging digital technologies on business model innovation; many years of experience with exploratory and qualitative research approaches, expert work, and the development of structured evaluation methods.
- Bridge between engineering and business. Technical foundation in electrical engineering, computer science, and systems engineering; I connect subject matter experts, technology providers, and management, and translate technical potential into prioritized use cases, PoCs, and strategic roadmaps.
- Industry experience and delivery. Technology assessments and innovation projects at Mercedes-Benz, Bruker, and Max Planck Innovation, among others; experience with investment, risk, integration, and transformation issues in dynamic technology fields.
I provide clarity in emerging technology fields: structuring market and tool landscapes, developing relevant evaluation criteria together with subject matter experts, prioritizing use cases, and using them to create sound PoC and implementation roadmaps. In doing so, I combine scientifically grounded, exploratory analysis with technical understanding and practical delivery. My goal is to make opportunities visible early, assess risks transparently, and prepare decisions so that new technologies can be used safely and with clear benefits.
Successful innovation requires bold experimentation guided by sound methods.
Languages
Education
Waterford Institute of Technology
Doctor of Business Administration · Business Administration · Waterford, Ireland
Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München
Master of Science Systems Engineering · Systems Engineering · Munich, Germany
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Bachelor of Science Elektrotechnik, Schwerpunkt Computertechnik, zweiter Abschluss: Informatik · Electrical Engineering, focus on Computer Engineering, Computer Science · Madison, United States
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Richard is based in Tübingen, Germany.
Richard speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced).
Richard has at least 21 years of experience. During this time, Richard has worked in at least 8 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 4 months. Note that Richard may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Richard would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim AI Strategy & Implementation Manager, Product Owner Industrial Metaverse and Digital Twins, Interim Tech Lead.
Richard's most recent position is Interim AI Strategy & Implementation Manager at Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH.
In recent years, Richard has worked for Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH, Mercedes-Benz AG, Felix Forward GmbH, Bruker Switzerland AG, and Strelizium Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG.
Richard is most experienced in industries like Information Technology, Professional Services, and Real Estate. Richard also has some experience in Construction, Manufacturing, and Automotive.
Richard is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Information Technology, and Project Management. Richard also has some experience in Quality Assurance, Research and Development, and Strategy.
Richard has recently worked in industries like Information Technology, Professional Services, and Construction.
Richard has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Information Technology, and Project Management.
Richard holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Waterford Institute of Technology, a Master in Systems Engineering from Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München and a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering, focus on Computer Engineering, Computer Science from University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Richard is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.
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Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 12 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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