Jordi Ràfols is the founder and CEO of Innoget.com, one of the largest online open innovation networks. He has more than 20 years of experience working on open innovation and technology transfer, and internet business. He has been directly involved in hundreds of open innovation projects in a wide range of different industries and has worked with several international companies in the evaluation, development, and deployment of their open innovation programs. 

As part of the Catalan national program “Startup Catalonia,” he acted as a business coach for technology-based startups, helping them to develop and implement their strategy and accelerate business growth. He has been a managing partner at Science2Society.eu, one of the largest EU-funded projects in the field of technology transfer and open innovation aimed at developing new processes to enhance industry-academia collaboration. 

Jordi holds an MBA at ESADE Business School and a corporate finance degree at IE (Instituto de Empresa in Madrid) and has been involved in corporate venture and valuation projects. As an innovation conference speaker, he has shared his view on open innovation and collaborative R&D and innovation ecosystems in many international and cross-industries events in Berlin, London, Edinburgh, Boston, Paris, Singapore, and Barcelona. He has also given lectures to MBA program alumni at ESADE Business School on online open innovation business models.

Niels Kuschinsky spent more than 8 years in management consulting in various industries and several functional areas (incl. digital). He has more than 11 years of experience in the home appliance industry. Currently, he is responsible for the Global Digital Transition Department that is driving BSH Home Appliance's digital Transition with a focus on consumers across different digital touchpoints, including the Home Connect platform for WiFi-enabled home appliances of Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Gaggenau, and Thermador. Prior to that, he was responsible for defining BSH's digital strategy and the build-up of new digital capabilities.

Bettina Siggelkow is leading the global Circular Plastics Economy Initiative EcoCircle as part of Clariant’s Sustainability Transformation. 

Bettina has nearly 20 years of commercial experience in specialty chemicals and polymers with P&L responsibility. In her current role, she is leading Clariant’s corporate initiative on circular plastics economy, including the strategic approach, supporting business implementation, and the initiation of value chain cooperations. Bettina lead recently the Encapsulation Business of Clariant and, prior to this, was responsible for the global marketing and product management department Fuel. Prior to Clariant, she has held different strategic and marketing positions at LyondellBasell.

Bettina is German, holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and is located at Clariant’s innovation headquarter in Frankfurt.

Dr. Jutta Pils is an environmental soil surface chemist by training and had various diverse positions in Research and Development organizations. With her broad foundation and extensive experience in science, she incorporated technology-based transformative innovations that not only create business value but also are socially and environmentally sustainable. Her experience spans across corporate, non-profit, and startup companies. Dr. Pils serves as the R&D Digital Value Delivery Leader at DuPont, identifying and implementing digital technologies to resolve global business challenges. Prior to rejoining DuPont, she was leading the R&D organization of a chemical surfactant company focusing on technology impacting water sustainability in arid regions of the world, as well as working with science-based startup companies in the US and Israel. Dr. Pils started her career at DuPont - Crop Protection working in the discovery and development organizations leading up to a Six Sigma Black Belt role in sales and marketing. She serves on the scientific review committee funding Israeli research advancing environmentally sustainable technologies. Dr. Pils earned her Ph.D. from Iowa State University with a focus on Environmental Soil Chemistry and Water Resources, and an executive M.B.A. from Temple University. In her free time, she is restoring coral reefs, enjoys underwater photography, and is an avid animal lover.

With over 25 years of experience driving growth and building organizational capability to innovate and transform with firms like Procter & Gamble, Cisco, and Avery Dennison, Martin comes with world-leading hands-on knowledge and experience, turning innovation concepts and ideas into real business outcomes. In 2006, Martin relocated to China to start up the Asia Pacific Innovation Center for a Fortune 500 company. While a seasoned practitioner of innovation leadership and management, Martin is also an experienced entrepreneur. In 2012 he began his own innovation practice, working closely with senior business leaders in firms like Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Cisco, L’Oréal, Auchan, Inchcape, and others. 

Contracted with Cisco Services as their Senior Innovation Architect, Martin was tasked to develop and deploy a ground-breaking business growth program. In 2013, that program was awarded the HBR/McKinsey M-Prize for “Innovating Innovation.” Since starting his own business, Martin has been working with Fortune 500 firms in China to design and deliver incubation and acceleration programs. More specifically, he designed and rolled out the idea acceleration programs for Intel China’s Ideas2Reality Program, which receive the International Innovation Award in 2017 from Enterprise Asia. Now based in Hong Kong, Martin serves as the SVP of Strategy & Business Practices at the Fung Group, working with businesses across the group to search for and develop new business and operating models. 

Christophe is a research and development (R&D) executive with 25 years of experience in leading and transforming international R&D and quality teams in the FMCG sector (food, household cleaners, cosmetics). Christophe is passionate about bringing meaningful innovations to the market that can impact business, people, and the planet at scale. He held leadership roles in designing business and technology strategies and implementing end-to-end innovation processes across several companies (Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Mars, and Danone) with launches of multiple, consumer-preferred, commercially successful products.

Most recently, as SVP of global R&I for Danone, he led the re-design of the company’s innovation portfolio and built new capabilities around consumercentricity, design thinking, open innovation, and digital R&I. An inclusive leader and talent developer, Christophe believes in solving problems through collaborations across functions and companies by bringing together diverse views and capabilities. Christophe is French, holds a PhD in chemistry, and lives next to Paris.

After being a UX-Designer developing digital products, a.o. for Airbus Defence and Space, Jelto joined Airbusiness Academy as an expert for Design Thinking and Innovation. He has broad expertise in innovation methodologies, and he created an innovative learning path for corporate innovators aiming to provide deep knowledge on the right tools and mindsets needed to make innovation and transformation happen. At the same time, he is an innovation coach working closely with the Airbus Innovation Ecosystem. Today, as a Leadership & Transformation Manager at APSYS - An Airbus Company, he designs leadership training, coaching, and mentoring programs for a more innovative and collaborative company culture to pave the way for a more sustainable transformation.

Christina is a Food Innovation Passionista aiming to be a part of changing the food system for the better. With a core focus on Food Science and Nutrition, Christina is the Managing Director of Seiss Food & Nutrition Valley, driving collaboration between sectors to innovate better and faster. She is further a co-Director at the Founder Institute's Swiss Chapter, supporting early-stage startups to get off to a great start and on the advisory board of two startups.

Christina holds a Master's degree in Food Science & Technology from the University of Copenhagen and a Master in European Food Studies from Wageningen University.

She spent the first 12 years of her career at Mondelez in roles across R&D, Innovation management, Marketing, and Strategy before she moved on to working with entrepreneurs and startup collaborations. She has studied and worked in 14 different countries and has a special devotion to the Ocean.

Claudia's early career as a Mechanical Engineer, MSc in Rotor Dynamics and Research, over 22 years, made her an expert in Predictive Maintenance (PdM) strategies. 

Claudia has advised multinationals in different sectors across the world (Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East), focusing on transforming organizations through Digital Strategies. Her work at Royal Dutch Shell to globally develop and deploy the PdM Artificial Intelligence Strategy caught the attention of the international media and investors. Her developments have saved multinationals millions of dollars in costs and expenditure. 

In Oct 2020, amongst many others, Shell PdM Artificial Intelligence global program obtained the Constellation Supernova Award in the "Data to Decisions" category.

Her program and department were recognized for the innovative application of disruptive technology.

Claudia's passion for developing talent around the world makes her an international leader, with a clear appreciation for cultural diversity, inclusion, and gender parity, particularly in the Energy sector. She is also a promoter of Renewables (Solar micro grid) & NBS (Nature Based Solutions)

Claudia serves as a board member in several companies and is the creator of "The FUTURE is 50/50". Claudia is an international speaker (English & Spanish) of Digital Transformation.

Experienced Research & Development Leader with a track record of delivery in the consumer health care business. Ability to succeed in different industry sectors in a broad spectrum of roles and cultures. Project management specialist with knowledge of building a PMO to drive and organize innovation pipelines and major organizational change. A professional who can translate business strategies into action.

Simon is a sustainability and circular economy professional with over 10 years of experience in sustainability within cosmetics and retail. In his current role, Simon plays a leading role in reinvigorating a culture of informed risk-taking and adventure within the packaging, design experiences, and circular economy inspired thinking at The Body Shop.

Rafael Michalczuk, Senior Technology & Funding Manager at Swarovski, is supporting research, development, and innovation projects within interdisciplinary and cross-functional teams at Swarovski, especially with key enabling technologies involved (e.g., additive manufacturing, printed electronics, artificial intelligence, robotics). Additionally, he is the founder of the innovation & funding consulting agency InnoPotentials. In this capacity, he serves a broad portfolio of clients (from startups, SMEs to large companies and R&D institutions) to develop innovative business ideas, secure funding, and support the customers' overall innovation journey.

Michal Dunaj is leading the area of Exploration & EU Universities Network at Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T-Labs), an applied research and exploration Lab in the Deutsche Telekom Group (DT). Michal has experience in establishing the fields of R&D Roadmaping, R&D Strategy, and Technology Exploration. He was Program head of 3 years of Telekom Innovation Contest – a competition connecting startups with T-Labs and the business operations of DT in Europe, and in other challenges and co-creation formats with industry & academia. 

He holds a Ph.D. in management of innovation, where he addressed innovation barriers in applied research within open eco-systems. Today he indeed connects industry-academia for T-Labs and oversees research operations and trials in DTAG footprint countries. 

Michal is open to share and learn ideas leading to creative leadership in technology, and he is committed to the unconventional exploration of new fields. Human curiosity and creativity in the right setup will yield hidden business opportunities with positive real-life impact. 

Born in Sweden in 1962. Finished his studies with a Bachelor's in Business and administration. Per started to work for IKEA in 1992 in the local Italian purchasing organization. Moved to Sweden in 2000 to the product development and supply chain headquarter of IKEA situated in the small town of Älmhult. Working first with global strategic purchasing and later with product development projects. Since 2008 working with Sustainability, the first years with product related questions and communication, and since September 2014 with Resource and Waste management and Circular IKEA for Ingka Group.

Markus Laubscher leads the circular economy efforts at Orbia with a focus on water cycles, durable plastic value chain, and regenerative agriculture. Internally he works on the implementation of pilot projects in Orbia’s business groups, tracks progress, and assures knowledge management and capacity building. Externally, he builds and maintains partnerships with key public and private players, as well as NGO’s in the field. Before taking on this role in 2020, Markus led the circular economy efforts at Royal Philips, which he had the opportunity to initiate in 2013. He is a physicist by training with a Ph.D. from EPFL Switzerland and has worked in innovation for the last 20 years.

Jason LaRoche is Clinical Innovation Leader at Janssen Pharmaceuticals. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, where he has held various positions in supply chain management, clinical development, clinical innovation, and strategic business development. In his current role, Jason is responsible for helping define the clinical trial of the future, advancing clinical research as a patient-centric care option, and minimizing the impact of clinical research on the environment. Jason holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MS in Operations Research from the University of Florida. He is also APICS CSCP certified.

Miha Bobič defended his diploma thesis at the University of Ljubljana in 1996 from fluid mechanics. In the year 2000, he defended the Master of Science thesis at the University of Ljubljana from Measurements and Control Theory. In 1996 he started as an engineer in Danfoss, and in 2004, he became a Director of R&D for Mechanical Controls. In 2010 he was promoted to Senior Director of R&D for Electronic and Mechanical Controllers, Heat Exchangers, and District Heating Substations. In 2017 he took over business development and in 2019 became Vice president of business development and product portfolio, being responsible for P&L of 4 business units. He remains in that position until today. Between 2004 and 2019, he participated in various business and administration courses at various business schools (Iedc, Insead, Ashridge, and IMD). Besides this, Miha Bobic is an active member of standardization bodies, Slovenian national innovation committee, Chamber of commerce, and lectures on some engineering schools. Since 1996 he also published several articles from the field of mechanical engineering, electrotechnics, management of innovation, economics, and human resources. 

Dr. Joshua Robinson is a Sr. Director on the Business Development team at Zymergen, focused on building strategic, broad partnerships as well as successfully delivering on a number of signed client collaborations to deliver more sustainable, ‘greener’ products to the world. Josh has also led business development efforts at Apostle Bio, a start-up focused on developing liquid biopsy diagnostic tests. Prior to joining Zymergen, Josh was an Open Innovation Leader at Clorox, focused on establishing technical partnerships to support internal Clorox R&D for all non-cleaning business units, which include Burt’s Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch, GLAD, Kingsford Charcoal, Fresh Step Litter, and Brita Water Filtration. In addition, Josh was a founding team member and the Director of R&D at Nirmidas Biotech, Inc., a company spun out of Stanford University in 2013. Nirmidas Biotech worked to develop fluorescence amplifying platform technology for point-of-care diagnostic devices. To start his career, Josh was a senior application scientist at Beckman Coulter, Inc., focused on protein and particle characterization instruments. Josh holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Stanford University, working under Prof. Hongjie Dai. His graduate research, which focused on developing biocompatible graphene and other nanomaterials for in vivo cancer diagnostics and therapy, helped create the foundation for bio-based applications for graphene and resulted in over 2 dozen publications that have been cited over 18,000 times.

Chantelle started her 18.5-year career at Kimberly Clark, having completed a Chemical Engineering Degree with Honours in Environmental Management as a Process Engineer. Chantelle has held various roles across all sectors of Kimberly Clark (Tissue, Feminine Care & Baby and Child Care) including, Value Stream Leadership, Project Manager for a large capital installation, Marketing, Regional Product Development including working in Nigeria and most recently as EMEA R&E Front End Innovation Leader. Chantelle has been instrumental in driving consumer-inspired innovation to guide longer-term strategy for EMEA BCC whilst leveraging the Kimberly Clark cross-regional, cross-functional Front End Innovation community to delight consumers, meet their needs, and fueling BCC growth. Chantelle is based in Johannesburg and is proudly South African.