Elisa Tarzia, Co-Founder & Vice-President, 351 Portuguese Startup Association, Board Member, European Startup Network, and Co-Founder & COO, Simplifyer

Elisa Tarzia is Vice President of the 351 Portuguese Startup Association and a board member of the European Startup Network, working to strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystems. With experience in community building, market scaling, and organizing major tech and VC events, she turns vision into sustainable growth. Currently leading growth operations at BRIDGE IN, she brings over a decade of expertise in strategy, marketing, and startup ecosystem development.

Erik Balck Sørensen, CIO, EIFO – Export and Investment Fund of Denmark

Erik Balck Sørensen is Chief Investment Officer at EIFO, where he has been part of the investment team since 2017. Before joining EIFO, he was a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of companies such as Billetto, BloggersDelight, Downtown, and TakeOffer. He has served as business angel, board member, and chairman for several companies and has lived and worked in the US, Belgium, and France. Erik brings extensive experience in startup management, fundraising, and strategic investment.

Gregor Schäfer, Research Associate, University of Bath

Gregor Schäfer is a Research Associate at the University of Bath. His research explores international student mobility, high-skilled migration, and the Europeanisation of academia, combining sociological theory with empirical analysis of transnational education and inequality. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, contributing to projects on migrant integration and academic mobility in Europe.

Hans Ravnkjær Larsen, Head of events and association, Dansk IT

Hans Ravnkjær Larsen is an experienced facilitator and meeting designer specializing in creating engaging, trust-based interactions for conferences, conventions, and events. He focuses on aligning design, content, and purpose to optimize meeting outcomes. A strong believer in serendipity and continuous learning, he thrives on connecting with passionate people. He is the former President of MPI Denmark (Scandinavia) and a recognized voice in event design and collaboration.

Hans Wandall, Professor, Group Leader, Deputy Head of Department (Innovation), University of Copenhagen

Hans Wandall is Professor at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Vice-Director of the Copenhagen Center for Glycomics at the University of Copenhagen. With extensive experience across healthcare, academia, and biotechnology, his work bridges glycobiology, genetic engineering, and cell biology with a focus on cancer and protein chemistry. Further, he combines a strong academic background with entrepreneurial experience and holds postdoctoral training from Harvard Medical School.

Herbert Mangesius, General Partner, Vsquared Ventures

Herbert Mangesius is a founding partner at Vsquared Ventures and was part of the founding team of its predecessor, Vito Ventures. Trained in mechanical and aerospace engineering, he previously conducted research at École Polytechnique, UCL, and the Technical University of Munich. He also co-founded 1E9 Denkfabrik with the former WIRED Germany team, organizing tech conferences. His work focuses on deep-tech entrepreneurship and frontier innovation.

Iiro Eerola, Policy Officer, Knowledge Valorisation and Technology Infrastructures Unit in DG RTD

Iiro Eerola is a Policy Officer in the E2 Unit for Knowledge Valorisation & Technology Infrastructures, Directorate E Prosperity, in DG Research and Innovation, European Commission. Since joining the Commission services in 2004 he has been working in various positions in the area of health research, personalised medicine, rare diseases and knowledge valorisation policy in DG Research and Innovation. Dr Eerola is an M.D., Ph.D. by training and holds an MBA. 

Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, LEO Pharma

Jacob Pontoppidan Thyssen is Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President at LEO Pharma, where he drives the company’s innovation strategy and advances its leadership in medical dermatology. A former professor and clinician in Copenhagen, Zurich, and San Francisco, his research on inflammatory skin diseases and allergy has gained international recognition with over 750 peer-reviewed publications. He brings deep expertise in immunology, inflammation, and translational R&D collaboration.

Jari Kinaret, Director of Chips JU, former Director of the Graphene Flagship

Jari Kinaret is Executive Director of the Chips Joint Undertaking, a European public-private partnership advancing research, innovation, and manufacturing in the semiconductor ecosystem. A Finnish physicist, he holds MSc degrees in Theoretical Physics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Oulu and a PhD in Physics from MIT. Before joining Chips JU, he served as Director of the €1 billion Graphene Flagship and has held academic positions in Copenhagen and Gothenburg.

Jean-David Malo, Acting Director for ERA & Innovation, DG RTD

Jean-David Malo is Acting Director for ERA and Innovation at the European Commission’s DG RTD. He previously led the European Innovation Council and its executive agency, EISMEA, shaping key EU innovation initiatives such as the EIC, VentureEU, and InnovFin. Trained at INSEEC Paris and UC Berkeley, he has held leadership roles in European research and financial instruments since 2001. Earlier in his career, he worked at ARMINES and CPDC in France. He is also the proud father of two sons.

Jean-Michel Dalle, Managing Director, Agoranov

Jean-Michel Dalle is Professor at Sorbonne University and Managing Director of Agoranov, a leading Paris-based incubator that has supported over 600 deeptech startups, including several unicorns. He chairs the national Committee for University Innovation Clusters and co-founded Rise Europe, advancing innovation across European universities. A graduate of École Polytechnique, ENSAE, and EHESS with a PhD in Economics, he is also a member of the France 2030 Supervisory Board.

Jekaterina Novikova, Deputy Head of Unit Innovation Policy and Access to Finance, DG RTD

Jekaterina Novikova is Deputy Head of the Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit at the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation, where she contributes to the European Innovation Act and related initiatives. Since joining the Commission in 2005, she has worked across policy and finance domains. With expertise in AI, natural language processing, and healthcare-focused machine learning, she bridges European innovation policy, regulation, and emerging technologies.

Jens Nielsen, CEO, BioInnovation Institute

Jens Nielsen is an internationally recognized scientist known for his pioneering work in systems and metabolic engineering. He has trained more than 280 researchers, published over 850 papers with 130,000+ citations, and holds more than 50 patents. Founder of six biotech companies, he is a member of 13 academies, including EMBO, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and all three US National Academies. In 2019, he was knighted by The Queen of Denmark for his scientific contributions.

Jes Broeng, Director and Professor, DTU Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship

Jes Broeng is Professor and Director of DTU Entrepreneurship and a serial high-tech entrepreneur with a PhD from DTU. His work focuses on innovation and the translation of university research into industry. He has co-founded six companies, served in executive roles for over a decade, and sits on several startup boards. With research experience in the UK and the US, including UC Berkeley, his expertise spans photonics, technology transfer, business development, and early-stage investment.

Johanna Stiernstedt, Director, EIT Manufacturing North

Johanna Stiernstedt is Director of EIT Manufacturing North, where she leads innovation initiatives and partnerships across the Nordics, Baltics, and the UK to strengthen Europe’s manufacturing ecosystem. With a background in chemistry (BSc, MSc, PhD), she has held senior roles in both academia and industry - including at Morgan Advanced Materials and Swerea IVF - and brings extensive experience in materials science, industrial innovation, and sustainable manufacturing.

Jörg Hübner, Director, DTU Nanolab

Jörg Hübner is Director of DTU Danchip, the National Center for Micro- and Nanofabrication at the Technical University of Denmark. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart, a PhD in Photonics from DTU, and completed executive education at Harvard Business School. With experience spanning academia and industry, including leadership roles at Sparkolor in Silicon Valley, he specializes in technology transfer, photonics, and micro- and nanofabrication.

Jukka Heikkilä, Professor, University of Turku, and EUSAiR representative

Jukka (Jups) Heikkilä is Professor at the Turku School of Economics, and an active contributor to the EUSAiR Project, focusing on legal and ethical frameworks for responsible AI. Holding a PhD in Information Systems from the Helsinki School of Economics, he specialises in innovation management, enterprise architecture, and IT strategy. With extensive experience in academia, research and industry collaboration, he has led initiatives integrating technology, governance and business transformation.

Julia Reinaud, Senior Director, Breakthrough Energy

Julia is an expert in energy and climate policy with over 20 years of experience leading international initiatives that integrate sustainability, innovation, and investment. At Breakthrough Energy, she helped establish major partnerships with the European Commission and EIB, including a €100 million Venture Fund and the €820 million EU–Catalyst partnership. She previously held leadership roles at the European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks, and the Institute for Industrial Productivity.

Karina Fog, Senior Director, H. Lundbeck A/S

Karina Fog is Senior Director of Neuroscience Research at Lundbeck and Biology Area Lead for Protein Aggregation, Folding & Clearance, overseeing research in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. With 29 years of experience in drug discovery, she has led teams, advanced multiple candidates to clinical trials, and managed numerous academic and industry collaborations. Her work bridges early research, clinical development, and partnerships in translational neuroscience.

Lars Frølund, Deep tech investment expert and executive, MIT Lecturer & EIC Board Member

Dr. Lars Frølund is a leading voice on deep tech investment and mission-driven innovation, with a career bridging academia, venture capital, and policy. At MIT, he lectures on innovation and technology strategy, while serving on the boards of the European Innovation Council and the EIC Fund. Today, Lars is forming the new EU Scale-Up Fund — a multi-billion euro initiative designed to bridge Europe’s late-stage financing gap and support the growth of globally competitive deep tech companies

Laura Klitgaard, President, IDA

Laura Klitgaard is President of the Danish Society of Engineers (IDA), Denmark’s largest professional association for STEM professionals. She is a civil engineer with degrees in architecture and construction management. Before her election to IDA’s leadership, she worked as a client adviser in both the public and private sectors and held leadership roles within IDA for many years.

Laura Smoliar, CEO, Quantum Denmark

Laura Smoliar is CEO of Quantum Denmark, based at the Niels Bohr Institute, a key initiative in the Danish National Strategy for Quantum Technology. The organization connects researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry to turn quantum research into commercial applications. With experience from Silicon Valley as a technologist, founder, and venture investor, she previously established the Berkeley Catalyst Fund. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley.

Laurent Samama, Managing Director, Jolt Capital

Laurent Samama is an experienced executive with a career spanning major corporations and high-growth technology start-ups. He has held senior roles at Orange, NEC, and Nokia, including VP of Business Development and Country Manager for France, and later led global business units. He also guided smaller tech firms such as DxO Labs, Coronis Systems, and Varioptic through growth, fundraising, and successful exits. His expertise spans IT and clean technology, and he serves on several boards.

Laurits Bach Sørensen, Senior Partner and Co-founder, Nordic Alpha Partners

Laurits Bach Sørensen is Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Nordic Alpha Partners, one of Europe’s first private equity firms dedicated to sustainable growth investments. With three decades of experience as investor, CEO, and board member, he has helped scale transformative companies across e-mobility, electrification, water-tech, and recycling. Under his leadership, Nordic Alpha Partners has mobilized over €1 billion toward technologies driving the green transition. 

Line Christa Amanda Sørensen, Chief Commercial Officer, Trifor and Angel Investor

Line Christa Amanda Sørensen is an entrepreneurial business growth executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in the tech industry across Europe, the US, and the Middle East. Her focus lies in making tech innovation both profitable and impactful - driving startups and scale-ups in SaaS, AI, deep tech, enterprise sales, M&A and organic growth. Since 2010 she has actively invested in early-stage firms as co-founder of Nordic Fintech Angels and partner at her own micro-fund ZAD.

Lisa Ericsson, Head of & CEO, KTH Innovation & KTH Holding

Lisa Ericsson is CEO of KTH Holding and the founder and head of KTH Innovation, where she has driven university-based entrepreneurship since 2007. With over 25 years of experience in innovation, she holds board roles across the Swedish innovation ecosystem and serves on the advisory council of the national IP office, PRV. She has a background in business administration with studies in Örebro, MIT, and Cambridge, and is known for her strong commitment to creating impact through innovation.

Lone Ryg Olsen, Director of Enterprise & Innovation, Aarhus University

Lone Ryg Olsen is Executive Vice President for Enterprise and Innovation at Aarhus University, where she leads efforts to translate research into societal impact and business growth through The Kitchen, one of Denmark’s leading research-based entrepreneurial hubs. With over 25 years of leadership experience, she has served as Vice Chair of the Committee on Innovation Policy. She is recognized for building strong academia-industry collaborations and fostering deep tech ecosystems.

Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, Chief Scientific Advisor to CSO, Novo Nordisk A/S

Lotte Bjerre Knudsen is Chief Scientific Advisor in Research & Development at Novo Nordisk. Holding degrees from the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen, she co-invented liraglutide and has led biology research programs for liraglutide and semaglutide from diabetes to obesity. With extensive experience in drug discovery and development, she has represented Novo Nordisk in multiple FDA committees and received major awards, including the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Award.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen is the former Chief Scientific Officer of Novo Nordisk, where he led global R&D, medical, and regulatory activities and oversaw the development and approval of more than 20 medicines. He joined Novo Nordisk in 1991 as Head of Growth Hormone Research and later served as Executive Vice President for Diabetes R&D. He has chaired the board of the University of Copenhagen and served as President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences.

Maja Hortst, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University

Maja Horst is Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Aarhus University and holds a PhD in sociology of knowledge from Copenhagen Business School. Her research centres on science and technology studies, public communication of science, and the governance of innovation. She has previously held positions as Professor of Science Communication at University of Copenhagen, Professor of Responsible Technology at DTU and been chair of the Board of the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Maksym Plakhotnyuk, CEO and Founder, ATLANT 3D Nanosystems

Maksym Plakhotnyuk is CEO and Founder of ATLANT 3D, a deep tech company developing the world’s first atomic-scale manufacturing platform. He invented the first atomic layer advanced manufacturing technology, enabling atomic-precision fabrication of materials and devices. Holding a PhD in Nanotechnology and Photovoltaics, he has 15+ years of experience in nanotech and semiconductors. A Fulbright scholar and Hello Tomorrow Grand Winner, he is globally recognized for advancing nanofabrication.

Margrethe Vestager, Chair of Board of Governors, DTU

Margrethe Vestager is Chair of the Board of Governors at DTU and a former Executive Vice President of the European Commission for “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age” as well as Commissioner for Competition. She is widely recognized for her leadership in European competition and digital policy, where she pursued landmark antitrust cases and promoted fair and transparent markets. Before her EU tenure, she served as Denmark’s Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior.

Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, DTU

Marianne Thellersen is Senior Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU, where she drives initiatives bridging research, education, and business. With over 30 years of experience, she has advanced innovation across academia and industry, including roles at Novo Nordisk and Novozymes. At DTU, she has strengthened the university’s innovation ecosystem, notably through DTU Skylab. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and executive education from Stanford and CBS.

Marion Pötz, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School

Marion Poetz is Associate Professor of Innovation Management at the Department of Strategy and Innovation at Copenhagen Business School. Her research explores how science and innovation can be organized to tackle complex societal challenges in health and sustainability, focusing on the dynamics and impacts of open, collaborative knowledge production. She is also Chair of the Association for Advancing Science and Innovation, which organizes the annual Open Innovation in Science (OIS) Research Conference.

Markus Perkmann, Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Vice-Dean (Research & Faculty), Imperial Business School; Academic Director, Imperial Enterprise Lab

Markus Perkmann is Vice-Dean and Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Imperial College Business School. He has published widely on topics including university-industry relations, science-based entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. He is the founding Academic Director of the Imperial Enterprise Lab and has advised the European Commission on the topic of university-industry collaboration.

Michael Jensen, Co-Founder & CEO, Biomia

Michael Jensen is CEO and Co-founder of Biomia, a biotech company developing nature-inspired therapeutics. Before founding Biomia in 2023, he was Principal Investigator at the Center for Biosustainability at DTU, leading research on biosensors, genome engineering, and machine learning-guided cell optimization. With over 15 years in biotechnology, he has co-authored more than 80 publications, raised over €20 million in research funding, and is co-inventor on four patents.

Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board, EIC

Michiel Scheffer is President of the European Innovation Council Board, bringing over 30 years of experience across business, academia, and public policy. A Dutch national with a PhD in geography, he has served as regional minister for economy, education, and Europe in Gelderland and as a member of the European Committee of the Regions. With a strong background in innovation, breakthrough technologies, and impact investment, he has helped establish nearly ten companies.

Mikkel Hippe Brun, Chief Strategy Officer, Entrepreneur, Board Member, Session

Mikkel Hippe Brun holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and is Chief Strategy Officer at Session - a service marketplace platform. He has previously co-founded Tradeshift, a global supply chain digitization and payments company. Mikkel has served as Chairman of the Tiger Council, under the Danish Chamber of Commerce, formulating a 2042 vision for Denmark and now serves on different boards and as Head of the Copenhagen Elias node (European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability).

Mikkel Sørensen, Managing Director, DTU Skylab

Mikkel Sørensen is the founding director of DTU Skylab, the innovation hub of DTU, and CEO of DTU SkyFactory. He has led Skylab’s growth from a small pilot to an award-winning 60-person innovation center supporting 400 startups annually. Holding an Executive MBA from DTU and master’s degrees from the University of Copenhagen and the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, he is also partner in TechStation Invest, co-founder of Stormglas and RealBee, and board member in several ventures.

Mikko Välimäki, Co-CEO, IQM

Dr. Mikko Välimäki is Co-Chief Executive Officer at IQM Quantum Computers, where he leads the company’s commercial operations in a dual-CEO model. He also serves as Executive Chairman of Ellie Technologies, driving strategic oversight and growth. Previously, he co-founded and led Tuxera Inc. as CEO, scaling it globally in embedded file systems. Dr. Välimäki holds a PhD in Software Business from Aalto University and a Master’s in Law from the University of Helsinki. 

Muriel Attané, Secretary General, EARTO – European Association of Research & Technology Organisations

Muriel Attané is Secretary General of EARTO, representing over 350 research organizations across 30+ countries. With more than 20 years of experience in EU public affairs, she has led strategic engagement with EU research and innovation policy. During her tenure at TNO, she expanded EU RD&I fundraising and partnerships across major programs. She specializes in building strong European networks that enhance the impact of research organizations in dynamic political and economic environments.

Peter Heather, Professor, King’s College London

Professor Peter Heather joined the Department of History at King’s College London in January 2008 as the Chair of Medieval History. He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School, before moving to New College Oxford to complete his undergraduate degree and doctoral work. Prior to joining King’s, Peter Heather worked at University College London, Yale University and Worcester College, Oxford. Peter’s research interests lie in the later Roman Empire and its successor states.

Peter Trillingsgaard, Director, DI Manufacturing

Peter Trillingsgaard is Director of DI Produktion, where he leads efforts to strengthen Danish manufacturing firms’ competitiveness and voice in policy and innovation. He joined DI Produktion after serving as Group Vice President for Communication, Public Affairs & Sustainability at Grundfos, and earlier held leadership roles at LEGO. His career combines deep experience in corporate leadership, public affairs, and sustainability with a track record in bridging industry and policy. 

Ricardo Marvão, Co-founder and Board Member, Beta-I

Ricardo Marvão is Co-Founder and Partner at Beta-i, a collaborative innovation platform driving startup ecosystems globally. He has over a decade of international experience in the space industry—having worked with organizations like ESA, Inmarsat, Airbus—and co-founded EvolveSpace Solutions, a space tech startup. Ricardo also leads several education and entrepreneurship initiatives in Portugal, such as the European Innovation Academy and Singularity University Portugal, aimed at nurturing future innovators.

Silvia Lenaerts, Rector Magnificus, Eindhoven University of Technology

As Rector Magnificus of Eindhoven University of Technology, Silvia works on the university's mission to educate future professionals, drive research & innovation, and create socio-economic value through collaboration with industry and public sector stakeholders. A chemist by training with a PhD from imec and KU Leuven, she has bridged academia and industry in sustainable energy, air purification, and innovation. In addition, she has helped launch innovation hubs such as The Beacon and BlueApp.

Simone Lavizzari, Investment Manager, JOIN Capital

Simone Lavizzari is an Investment Manager at Join Capital, a European deep-tech venture fund. With a PhD in Semiconductors and an engineering background, he has over 12 years of experience developing and commercializing technologies across startups and corporates. For the past five years, he has focused on investing in critical European technologies from Seed to Series B. He also holds an Executive MBA from GSOM and a financial certificate from the London School of Economics.

Sine Linderstrøm, Director of SMEs and Entrepreneurship, DI

Sine Linderstrøm is Director of SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), Denmark’s largest business organization, where she works to strengthen structural conditions for small and early-stage companies. With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public policy and capital markets, she has held key roles at the Danish Export and Investment Fund and Finance Denmark. Her expertise spans leadership, public affairs, political strategy, and strategic communications. 

Steen Andersen, Senior Researcher, The Danish National Archives

Steen Andersen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish National Archives, specializing in 20th-century political and economic history, including the German occupation, post-war reconstruction, and Danish business history. He has published widely on Denmark’s role during World War II and the Cold War and teaches at Copenhagen Business School. Known for combining archival research with historical analysis, he is a recognized voice in Danish debates on history and national identity.

Stefan Drüssler, Chief Operating Officer, UnternehmerTUM

Stefan Drüssler is Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of UnternehmerTUM, where he leads entrepreneurship education, startup programs, and international partnerships. With a passion for innovation and scaling startups in Europe, he oversees operations across a 400-person organization. Before joining UnternehmerTUM in 2017, he worked as a strategy consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, focusing on growth and transformation projects.

Steffen Thirstrup, Chief Medical Advisor, European Medicines Agency

Steffen Thirstrup is Chief Medical Officer at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A medical doctor with a PhD in pharmacology and specialization in clinical pharmacology and internal medicine, he has extensive experience in regulatory science and respiratory medicine. Before joining EMA, he co-chaired the European Commission’s working group on biosimilar market access and served as scientific lead for the IMI PROTECT collaboration on pharmacoepidemiological research.

Stephen Ezell, Vice President for Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)

Stephen Ezell is Vice President for Global Innovation Policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and Director of its Center for Life Sciences Innovation. He also leads the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance. His expertise spans science and technology policy, competitiveness, and trade. He is coauthor of Innovation Economics and Innovating in a Service-Driven Economy and holds a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Suzanne Zamany Andersen, CEO & Co-founder, NitroVolt

Suzanne Zamany Andersen is CEO and co-founder of NitroVolt, leading the commercialization of decentralized green ammonia production using air, water, and electricity. Holding a PhD from the Technical University of Denmark, she has advanced lithium-mediated electrochemical ammonia synthesis. Through NitroVolt, she aims to revolutionize fertilizer production by enabling on-site nitrogen generation, reducing emissions, and strengthening supply-chain independence.

Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the Board, EIC Fund

Svetoslava Georgieva is a permanent member of the Investment Committee of InvestEU, the European Commission’s flagship programme to mobilize over €370 billion in investments across Europe. She previously served as Executive Director of Bulgaria’s Fund of Funds, managing a €600 million portfolio of debt and equity mandates, and represented Bulgaria in the Pan-European Guarantee Fund. She holds degrees from University College London and ESCP Business School.

Teresa Neves, Board Member, EIC

Teresa Neves is an academic and entrepreneur with nearly three decades of expertise in innovation, emerging technologies, and education. She holds a PhD in Protein Biophysics and Biophotonics and founded BioNanoPhotonics A/S, pioneering UV-light methods for micro-arrays and nanoparticle drug delivery. Her work spans major European projects and she serves as Program Committee Member for the SPIE Photonics West Bios session and as board member for the European Innovation Council.

Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Teresa Riesgo is Secretary General for Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and President of the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI). A Full Professor of Electronics at the Technical University of Madrid, she holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and has led over 60 research projects. With more than 25 years of experience, she oversees Spain’s innovation policy and promotes entrepreneurship in deep tech and advanced technologies.

Thomas Bjørnholm, Chief Scientific Officer, The VILLUM Foundation

Thomas Bjørnholm joined the Villum Foundation in 2018 after serving as Prorector for Research and Innovation at the University of Copenhagen, where he held overall responsibility for research and innovation across all academic disciplines. He is a Professor of Materials Chemistry and was a co-founder and former Director of the Nano-Science Center at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.

Thomas Forner, Founder & CEO, Focused Energy

Thomas Forner is CEO and Founder of Focused Energy, leading the company’s mission to advance laser fusion technology. With over two decades of experience as CEO and CFO in high-tech industries, he has driven growth, innovation, and organizational transformation across global markets. Combining financial expertise with entrepreneurial vision, he excels in scaling companies sustainably and strategically. Under his leadership, Focused Energy has emerged as a key innovator in the fusion sector.

Thomas Riisgaard Hansen, Director, DIREC

Thomas Riisgaard Hansen is Head of the Digital Research Centre Denmark (DIREC), a national partnership of all Danish universities working to make Denmark a leader in digital research and innovation. A computer scientist with a PhD from Aarhus University and visiting experience at UC Berkeley, he co-founded the award-winning health tech company Cetrea, later acquired by Getinge Group. He is also an active investor and mentor, bridging academia, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation.

Tommy Ahlers, Investor, Giant Ventures, former Danish minister of Higher Education and Science

Tommy Ahlers is a Danish tech entrepreneur, investor and former politician. He co-founded ZYB and later built up Podio before its acquisition by Citrix. He served as Minister for Higher Education and Science in Denmark from 2018 to 2019 and was a Member of Parliament for Venstre from 2019 to 2021. Today, he is a founding partner at Look Up Ventures, Venture Partner at Giant Ventures, acts as adjunct professor at DTU, and chairs the green think tank CONCITO and the Danish metro/subway. 

Ulrik Hedegaard Brorson, Group Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Grundfos Holding A/S, and Chairman, Manufacturing Academy of Denmark (MADE)

Ulrich Hedegaard Brorson is Vice President of Group Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at Grundfos, where he has spent 19 years driving innovation and process excellence in manufacturing. Holding a master’s degree in manufacturing technology, he has led advancements in production efficiency and technology implementation. In addition to his role at Grundfos, he serves as Chairman of the Board of MADE, Denmark’s national cluster for advanced manufacturing.