Pierre Ponthiaux obtained his Ph.D., in Materials Science, in 1990 at the doctoral school of Ecole Centrale Paris. In 1997 he got his academic qualification to conduct research, and he became full professor in 2009. The title of Doctor Honoris Causa of ’’Dunarea de Jos’’ University of Galati (Ro) was conferred to him in July 2010. At the Ecole Centrale Supelec, his research team on "Mechanical-chemical behaviour of surfaces – Tribocorrosion" was closely related to fields of “Physico-chemistry of interfaces” and “Life cycle of materials”. Since Nov 2015 he has been Honorary Professor of Paris-Saclay University - France. He is Secretary of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the CEFRACOR (F), and Founder & Vice-Chairman of the Working Party (WP18) on Tribocorrosion of the European Federation of Corrosion (EFC). He is a member of the Scientific Board of ‘’Journal of Bio- and Tribo-Corrosion’’ launched in 2015 by Springer, as well as “The Annals of Dunarea de Jos” – Univ. Of Galati. Fascicle IX. Jean-Pierre Celis is emeritus professor with the KU Leuven, as well as visiting professor at Kyoto University 2015-2016 His Work focusses on Surface Technology, Degradation of Materials, Materials for microelectronics, Surface engineering and tribology. In addition, he serves as the scientific coordinator of the research group on Surface Engineering and Tribology, KU.Leuven. He is a Board Member & Director R&D of spin-off company Falex Tribology N.V. He is a member of the editorial boards of “Industrial Lubrication and Tribology”, “International J. of Surface Science and Engineering”, “Tribocorrosion”, and “Metallurgical Research and Technologies”. Dr. Celis is presently the founder & chairman of Working Party (WP18) on Tribocorrosion, European Federation of Corrosion (EFC).