Ales Jurca has been pioneering the use of 3D foot scanning in the footwear industry for over two decades. As VP of Footwear Research at Volumental, he leads global projects analyzing millions of 3D foot scans to better understand how shoes fit real feet.

Before joining Volumental, Ales worked as Chief R&D Manager at Alpina, where he introduced 3D scanning into last design and footwear retail. He has since managed large-scale foot measurement studies for organizations like the Swiss Army and EU Project Dorothy.

Ales holds an MSc in Robotics and Biomechanics from the University of Ljubljana and is completing his PhD at Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, focusing on AI-driven shoe sizing and fit prediction. His research, published in Footwear Science, continues to shape how modern footwear design aligns with natural human anatomy.