In the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, H.E. Mr. Etienne Schneider, Mr. Nicolas Schmit, and Mr. Yiyin Wei, Vice President of CASIC; the event was an opportunity to celebrate IEE’s achievements during the past quarter of a century.

Michel Witte, IEE’s President & CEO and the host of the event, says that this year’s commemoration represents a significant milestone for the company.

“When we started out in 1989, we only had a couple of employees and a great idea,” says Mr. Witte. “Over the past 25 years we’ve come a very long way. We are now recognized as a global leader in automotive safety systems and employ around 1,900 people in Europe, Asia and the US.

“We have equipped 240 million vehicles from leading manufacturers with solutions to either detect occupants or classify them. But we are more than just an automotive supplier; we also develop solutions for building management & security, and for the medical, health & sports field.”

Key to IEE’s success has been its innovative entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit.

“As a small company, we had to find innovative solutions for existing problems,” says Mr. Witte. “This innovation continues throughout our business today.  Not only is more than 10 per cent of the company actively involved in research and development as part of their roles, but every employee has the opportunity to contribute good ideas through our annual Innovation Award. Our R & D focus will help us remain at the forefront of innovation and improve our competitive advantage.”

Mr. Witte also says that the 25th anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the commitment of its past and present employees, and the support of its partners.

“I think it’s safe to say that IEE wouldn’t be where it is today without our employees and partners,” says Mr. Witte. “Their commitment, support and unwavering belief in the potential of the company is what has helped us grow over the past 25 years.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for this support and I look forward to working successfully with them in the future.”

IEE’s future is a bright one, says Mr Witte.

“Although I’m very proud of what we have achieved during the past 25 years, I’m incredibly excited about our future,” says Mr. Witte. “I am confident that we can continue to grow as a company and offer cutting-edge sensing technologies to our customers. After 25 years of innovation, we’re just getting started.”