Dr Michael Hilt MBA started his professional education studying polymer chemistry in  Stuttgart, Germany. For his Diploma thesis and for his doctoral thesis he worked at the FPL (Research Institute for Pigments and Coatings) in Stuttgart between 1984 and early 1988.  

In 1988 he entered Daimler-Benz AG as a paint and corrosion protection specialist and worked there for more than 21 years in the area of surface protection.  

In May 2009 he went back to FPL and was appointed General Manager of FPL.  

Dr Hilt is Senior Manager Coating Systems and Painting Technology in Fraunhofer IPA and Deputy Director of IPA as well as General Manager of the Research Society for Pigments and Coatings, Stuttgart, FPL. He is also responsibly active in international non-profit organisations of his working area.