Erling Ringgaard was born in 1968 and holds an MSc in chemistry as well as a PhD in materials science, both from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). In 1994 he joined Ferroperm Piezoceramics A/S, which was acquired by Meggitt PLC in 2008 and changed name to Meggitt A/S. He has worked in the R&D department of Ferroperm/Meggitt A/S since his employment and was appointed Principal Materials Scientist in 2012. The main area of work has been materials development and characterisation of piezoelectric ceramics, within the context of a dozen of European research projects, spanning the 5 framework programmes FP3-FP7 and Horizon 2020. In two of these, LEAF (2001-2004) and MINUET (2004-2007), he was the general coordinator. In addition to this he has been involved in the management of several projects at the Danish and Nordic level. He is the author or co-author of more than 50 publications and 3 patents. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of the European Conference on Applied Polar Dielectrics (ECAPD), the Steering Committee of the European Meeting on Ferroelectrics, the International Steering Committee of Electroceramics and the board of the Danish Ceramic Society.