A graduate of the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), Laurent Taupin began his career in numerical simulation before joining the Renault Group, where he spent twenty years working in France and internationally, notably in South Korea. There, he led engineering teams and helped establish global technical frameworks.
Starting in 2012, he became fully engaged in exploratory innovation initiatives. In particular, he led the EOLAB project, a demonstration vehicle presented at the Paris Motor Show, before becoming chief engineer for autonomous vehicles. There, he developed a systemic approach to mobility, integrating technologies, infrastructure, and usage patterns, with a particular focus on their practical implementation.
He continues this trajectory at Ecov, as a member of the executive committee and director of advanced development programs. There, he leads several foundational innovation projects and helps shape a vision for large-scale shared mobility, integrating vehicles, services, and infrastructure.
“Joining Leonard is a natural next step. What drives me is not just thinking about possible futures, but taking it a step further to test them against reality—from concept to experimentation. At Leonard, it’s about imagining these futures based on trends and weak signals, then translating them into risks and opportunities for VINCI’s business lines, in support of their strategic choices,” says Laurent Taupin
His career at the intersection of innovation, engineering, and mobility naturally aligns with the key topics Leonard explores: construction, mobility, and energy. It is this understanding of the industrial and technological world that he will bring to the group’s foresight team.
“Foresight is at the heart of Leonard’s DNA. Our mission is to inform the group’s long-term decisions with rigor and a strong grounding in the field. Laurent embodies this exact standard: his background in innovation and mobility on the global stage, combined with his experience at Ecov—at the heart of the VINCI ecosystem—makes him the ideal person to build bridges between early warning signs, foresight, and innovation,” adds Julien Villalongue, Director of Leonard.