Erwin Rauch received his B.Sc. in Logistics and Production Engineering from the Free University in Bolzano (Italy). He also holds a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University Munich (TUM) and a M.Sc. in Business Administration from the TUM Business School. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart with summa cum laude. Currently he is a Professor for Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing at the Free University of Bolzano. In addition he is the Head of the Smart Mini Factory (SMF) laboratory for Industry 4.0 and of the Sustainable Manufacturing Lab (SML). He is also the author of over 250 scientific contributions and an expert/member of various associations and organisations (Associate Member EuroScience, Expert Group World Manufacturing Forum, AITEM, IAAD Executive Board, EPIEM Steering Board). He is member of the Editorial Board of several renown journals and Editor-in-Chief of Production & Manufacturing Research (Taylor & Francis).