Pete Longdon has a PhD in Chemistry and MSc in Ferrous Metallurgy from Leeds University. He joined the steel industry as a researcher in 1990 and lead numerous internally and European funded research projects in both coatings and corrosion. From 2000 until 2010 he lead the Coated Products Department of Tata Steel's R&D Division, a multi-country Department which had the responsibility of developing improved and new coated products and processes for all Tata Steel's major market sectors. Since 2010 Pete has been tasked with seeking out new technologies across all of Tata Steel's process, product and application interests and encouraging collaboration with external partners, particularly industry-based organisations, via Tata Steel's open innovation initiative.