Speakers

Since 2024, she has served as European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation. Her mission is to place research and innovation, science, and technology at the heart of the European economy by encouraging investment and cooperation, creating the right conditions for researchers to thrive and develop new skills, and fostering the innovation needed to achieve the EU’s goals of competitiveness, security, and sustainability.

She was a member of the Bulgarian Parliament and served as Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017–2021), Minister of Justice (2015–2017), Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works (2013–2014).

She holds a Ph.D. in Management and is a public administrator and university professor, with a professional career marked by leadership and the design and implementation of public policies in the areas of the environment, sustainability, and urban management.

For nearly two decades, he held strategic leadership positions at the Porto City Council, spearheading projects focused on organizational transformation, innovation, the circular economy, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation. At the same time, he is active in higher education and scientific research.

He currently serves as Vice President of the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Norte), contributing to the implementation of regional development and territorial cohesion policies.

An Associate Professor with tenure at the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, she is a researcher at IN+ – Center for Studies in Innovation, Technology, and Policy, where she directed the Laboratory of Technology Management and Policy (until 2021) and conducts research in the areas of innovation, commercialization, and technology adoption.

She served as President of the National Innovation Agency (ANI), Scientific Director of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Partnership (2012–2021), Scientific Coordinator of CEiiA – Center for Engineering and Product Development (2018–2021), and Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Education and Science Statistics. She served as an advisor to the Minister of Economy for Innovation and Technology (2016) and to the Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Higher Education (2009–2010).

Since 2024, he has served as Vice President of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) for the Oeiras Campus .

Full professor at the University of Porto and professor at Carnegie Mellon University (Africa). He served as director of schedule CMU-Portugal schedule , leading the collaboration between Portuguese and U.S. universities for several years. Founder and CEO of Veniam, a technology company specializing in smart networks and mobility, with international operations. He has direct experience in launching deep tech startups, technology transfer, and securing international funding for R&D.

He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from IST, an MBA from NOVA SBE, and has studied cybersecurity in the United States. With experience in the ICT, banking, and retail sectors, he has served as a consultant to the President of the Republic and the Government of Portugal. He is the Director-General of COTEC Portugal, the country’s leading business network for technological innovation.

A full professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lisbon, he holds a Ph.D. from Newcastle University (United Kingdom). He has had a distinguished career in the fields of biotechnology, microbiology, and animal nutrition; he is the author of dozens of scientific publications and is the inventor and co-founder of the biotechnology company NZYTech.

He is currently the Rector of the University of Lisbon and has held other academic leadership positions, notably that of Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Since April 2026, he has also served as President of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP).