Interview with Jennifer Krempf, Commercial Vice President Mobility Science at Dow

2. Which mobility concept currently inspires you the most and why?

I’m especially inspired by the growing focus on circularity in mobility. It’s encouraging to see how the industry is starting to look beyond just vehicle performance and really consider the full lifecycle, from design and production to reuse and recycling. At Dow MobilityScience™, we’re contributing to that shift by developing materials that support recyclability, enable disassembly, and fit into closed-loop systems. It’s not just about making better vehicles; it’s about helping our customers build solutions that are truly sustainable, long-term.

One example I’m particularly proud of is our work on circular seating solutions. We’ve developed polyurethane foams like SPECFLEX™ CIR, made from recycled mobility waste, and INFINAIR™ 3D Loop polyolefin-based materials that are breathable, and designed for mechanical recyclability. These innovations help our customers meet performance and sustainability goals without compromise, and they show what’s possible when we design with the full vehicle lifecycle in mind.

3. What innovations in your field will most change the way we move around cities in the next five years?

Advanced materials will continue to play a critical role in enabling the next generation of urban mobility. The evolution of battery architecture – like cell-to-pack and cell-to-vehicle designs – is transforming how we think about performance and efficiency. But these innovations only succeed with the right materials: adhesives, foams, potting and sealants that can handle tight spaces, high heat, and long-term durability. As shared and autonomous fleets grow, the pressure to deliver smarter, lighter, and safer systems will intensify. Materials science is the quiet enabler behind that progress, and it’s thrilling to be part of it.

4. How do you promote the integration of different mobility forms to create a seamless and efficient transportation infrastructure?

While we don’t design infrastructure directly, our materials are foundational to making those transport solutions efficient, cost-effective, and reliable. Whether it’s longer battery life, faster charging, or quieter cabins, we anticipate the needs of multi-modal fleets and design accordingly. We also collaborate with OEMs across segments, from passenger cars to buses and micro-mobility, to ensure our solutions are versatile and ready to meet the demands of a connected world.

5. How do you see the role of public and private partnerships in promoting innovative mobility solutions?

Collaboration is essential. No single organization can decarbonize transportation independently, and that collaboration is the only way to enable the development of solutions that can affect meaningful change. At Dow, we work closely with OEMs, Tiers, and the broader ecosystem to develop materials under real-world conditions, on the road and even on the racetrack.

Our partnership with Jaguar TCS Racing in Formula E is a great example; it serves as an intensive testbed that helps us accelerate innovation and shorten product development cycles. These partnerships are where science meets purpose, and where we see the future of mobility taking shape.

6. What are the biggest challenges you currently face in your segment, and how are you addressing them?

Balancing performance, safety, and sustainability is a constant challenge – especially as EV designs become more complex. To meet that challenge, we continue to invest in our localized production hubs and to applying a systems approach across the vehicle lifecycle, from material design and component engineering to recycling infrastructure and end-of-life recovery.

At the same time, the regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. We’re seeing growing pressure to meet stricter environmental and safety standards across regions, which adds complexity but also creates opportunities for innovation. We’re aligning our innovation pipeline with evolving policy frameworks and actively engaging with regulators and industry partners to help shape realistic, science-based policies that support progress without compromising feasibility.

7. How important is user experience to you, and how do you gather and integrate user feedback?

User experience is everything. Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of both sustainability and performance credentials when choosing a vehicle, especially those who are looking to join the e-mobility transition for the first time. At the same time, the quietness and comfort that is becoming increasingly synonymous with vehicles in the electric age is redefining perceptions of the quality that needs to be delivered – and the user is at the heart of that experience.

As a result, a holistic approach to vehicle design, and therefore material formulation, needs to be considered – covering everything from acoustic insulation, cabin comfort, and vehicle weight reduction. Each directly influence how drivers and passengers perceive quality, and that feedback is collected through OEM, tiers and field testing. These insights help us fine-tune formulations to deliver quiet, light, and safe EVs, while allowing us to balance those considerations with sustainability and production efficiency.

8. Which essential future topic receives too little attention from the public?

We have a hugely exciting opportunity to help educate the public on how materials science companies like us are helping the industry rethink how vehicles are designed, to help move business’ sustainability credentials further forward. Many consumers make their own choices in sustainable living, so it’s important for us to be able to show the good work that’s being done for them to make decisions they feel are informed. For decades, simple deconstruction at the end of vehicles’ service-life was not a primary consideration; it has been difficult to separate materials, and the use of certain fixing techniques to bind them together has made recycling and waste reduction a significant challenge.

We’ve made it our mission to work with the industry to reset the wheel in this respect. An end-to-end approach with circularity in mind – starting with material formulation, through to production, installation in vehicles, and eventually re-use – is what’s required to effect change; adjusting individual components in this process is not efficient and won’t achieve the results required to make meaningful progress. It’s hugely motivating for us to be able to share the breakthroughs we are making to help the industry take steps towards meeting its sustainability obligations, both in the near- and long-term future.

9. In which area of mobility do you see the greatest potential and where is the greatest need for improvement?

The EV battery pack holds great potential here, and there is a continuous need for innovation and improvement in the technology involved. It’s the heart of the vehicle and the major contributor to cost and emissions. By rethinking how batteries are made, used, and reused, we can unlock massive sustainability gains. But it will take cross-industry collaboration – OEMs, suppliers, recyclers, and regulators working together – to make that vision a reality.

10. IAA MOBILITY is the leading global mobility platform, bringing together innovators from all spectra of mobility. Who do you want to connect with this coming September and why?

The future of mobility depends on deep collaboration – meeting customer needs with fit-for-purpose products, supported by secure, localized supply chains and innovation. I’m especially looking forward to conversations that challenge our thinking and spark new ideas; that’s where the real breakthroughs begin.