Team

We are proud to count on board 10 talents commited to ensure clean water for a greener world.

Ilion Water Technologies is powered and driven by:

Dr. Lucie Ries

Co-Founder | CEO

Dr. Lucie Ries, President, holds a PhD in materials engineering from the European Institute of Membranes, where her research earned prestigious recognitions including the L'Oréal-UNESCO Talent Award. She went on to spearhead technology transfer in Prof. Lydéric Bocquet's team at ENS Paris and, after completing the HEC Challenge+ entrepreneurial program, co-founded the company to scale-up and commercialize Ilion's innovative membrane technologies.

Zacharie Pilo

Co-Founder | CTO

Zacharie Pilo, an engineering graduate from École Centrale de Nantes with expertise in fluid mechanics, has been instrumental in scaling up our core technology from its origins at ENS. His background is strengthened by his experience in a consulting firm specializing in innovation financing, giving him a unique blend of technical and strategic insight.

Paulina Sarnikowski

Co-Founder | Lab Manager

Paulina Sarnikowski (Professional Bachelor's in Biotechnology) leveraged her experience from top French labs to help bring our technology to life from its inception at ENS. She has been a key contributor to the development and proof-of-concept of our initial prototypes since day one.

Prof. Lydéric Bocquet

Co-Founder | Scientific Advisor

Professor Lydéric Bocquet is a world-renowned physicist and nanofluidics expert at ENS and a Director of Research at the CNRS. A member of the French Academy of Sciences, he is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including two major medals from the CNRS (Silver and Innovation) and multiple grants from the European Research Council (ERC). He has co-founded several start-ups to translate his laboratory's groundbreaking research into industrial solutions.

Frédéric Hammel

Co-Founder | Strategic Advisor

Frederic Hammel, An experienced serial entrepreneur with an MBA from the Collège des Ingénieurs and over 25 years in startup development. He is the Managing Director of Ethera and a former partner at Elaia, a Venture Capital fund. His strategic expertise is invaluable in challenging the company's projects and guiding its long-term vision.