Erich Spitz
Erich Spitz is a French engineer and physicist, born in Brno (Czechoslovakia) on 27 March 1931.    ""He is the author of a large number of publications and patents in the fields of electromagnetic radiation, optical fibres, optical information storage and processing, and liquid crystal display, and has made a major contribution to the progress of electronic science and industry". » - French Academy of sciences (France). Biography. Erich Spitz was born in Brno (Czechoslovakia) on 27 March 1931. Married in 1963, he has three children. After studying at the Sokolska Gymnasium in Brno, he joined the Faculty of Electrical Engineering  of the Technical University of Prague, from which he graduated in 1954 as an engineer from the Prague Polytechnic. He was awarded a Doctor of Science degree in 1955. Professional career. After a year (1957-1958) spent at the Meudon observatory as a researcher in radio astronomy, Erich Spitz joined the Compagnie générale de la télégraphie sans fil (CSF), which merged in 1968 with the French company Thomson-Houston (CFTH), a subsidiary of Thomson-Brandt to create the Thomson-CSF group, which in 2000 was renamed Thales. From 1958 to 1968, Erich Spitz was a researcher in the Applied Physics  Department of the new Corbeville Research Centre that the CSF had just created in 1957 near the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) in Saclay, notably under the impetus of Jean Robieux. Head of the laboratory from 1968, he took over the management of the research centre, which was named "Laboratoire Central de Recherche" (LCR) in 1975. In 1983, he was appointed "Technical and Research Director" of the Thomson group, succeeding Pierre Aigrain, then in 1986 "Deputy Managing Director in charge of research and technology". In 1988, he created the "Scientific and Technical College" bringing together the best experts from Thomson -CSF. Since 1995, he has been "Advisor to the Chairman ". In addition, from 2001 to 2009, Erich Spitz was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales Avionics LCD SA, a subsidiary of Thales Avionics S.A. Now retired, Erich Spitz is quite active as a Business Angel in the Paris Business Angel club. He invested, amongst other in the startup Cypheme. Scientific work. The main scientific work of Erich Spitz, which has led to numerous patent applications, is related to: Publications and books. Publications. Some of Erich Spitz's major publications: Report of the "Sustainability of Digital Media" group. On behalf  of the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Technology, Erich Spitz chaired the working group "Sustainability of Digital Media" whose report was published in March 2010. Recognition. Academic environment. Erich Spitz is: Awards. Erich Spitz is an Officier of the Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur and an Officier of the Ordre National du Mérite.