"CTE offers me exciting prospects."
From student to specialist. Today, Michael Gempp is an IT specialist in charge of major projects such as Roche's pRED. In this interview, he talks about his personal career at ControlTech Engineering AG.
Michael, would you recommend the dual study program at CTE?
Michael Gempp: Yes , absolutely. Students do very meaningful work here. Their contributions shouldn’t just end up in a filing cabinet; they should be useful to both the client and CTE. When I started in 2013, the IT department consisted of five people focused on internal IT. At the same time, we supported a small number of clients with the operation of their OT infrastructures. This allowed me to quickly work independently, contribute, and be productive. Instead of just thinking through theoretical scenarios, I was already programming a visualization prototype for a client using LabVIEW while I was still a student. Experienced colleagues were always on hand to answer questions and offer support. This pilot project even resulted in a follow-up contract worth millions for CTE.
Is that why you stayed at CTE after completing your studies?
Michael Gempp: I had already been involved in interesting projects and wanted to apply the expertise I had gained directly to these projects and gain professional experience. At that time, we were already in the midst of positioning CTE as an IT specialist, and during that period we developed specialized infrastructure concepts and tailored solutions for an increasing number of clients. These encompassed both the networking and the operation of industrial production facilities, for example in the fields of chemical production or chemical waste disposal. I wanted to contribute to this development through my work and, at the same time, had the opportunity to further my professional development.
How have you been able to develop professionally?
Michael Gempp: As an IT service provider, we’re always on the cutting edge and keep up with important technologies and trends. Fortunately, CTE places great emphasis on continuing education so that we can support our customers with the latest state-of-the-art technology. Network-related topics are becoming increasingly important, especially in the field of industrial IT. Accordingly, we have continued to build our expertise in this area. I had the opportunity to complete various training courses and certifications in network security, routing, and switching. This specialized knowledge, in turn, has opened up new opportunities for me.
"As an IT service provider, we are in tune with the times. Accordingly, great importance is attached to further training."
What opportunities have your further training courses opened up for you?
Michael Gempp: Throughout my career, it has always been important to me to continue developing both technically and strategically. CTE has also made significant strides in the IT/OT sector and can now draw on a comprehensive portfolio of concepts, solutions, and services it has developed. On the one hand, this gives me the opportunity to support and take responsibility for exciting large-scale projects as an IT specialist, leveraging my technical expertise. On the other hand, I can also contribute to strategic decisions to generate the greatest possible added value for both the company and the customer.
Do you have an example of an exciting project that you were recently able to implement?
Michael Gempp: For Basellandschaftliche Verkehrsbetriebe (BLT), I had the opportunity to develop an extremely extensive network infrastructure designed to monitor the systems of the tram rail network. For example, the system constantly checks whether the switches are being heated correctly and are at the proper temperatures, ensuring that they function properly at all times. I’m currently working as an IT expert on Roche’s pRED project . Developing real-world solutions together with the client gives me great pleasure and makes every day special.
"The great thing about my IT job in an industrial environment is that it involves real products. If I can help to ensure that streetcar services in the region run smoothly, that's great!"
Do you emphasize the authenticity of a work?
Michael Gempp: The great thing about my IT job in the industrial sector is that we’re not just shuffling bits around—we’re actually working on real products. If I can help ensure that tram service in the region runs smoothly or that a life-saving cancer drug is developed in the future at the new Roche research center, pRED, that’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?!
Other exciting topics from our everyday life:
