Hussain Al Mahmoudi is a distinguished innovation strategist and business executive with over a decade of leadership experience in shaping Sharjah’s R&D and entrepreneurial ecosystem. As CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park since 2015, he has fostered academia-industry collaboration and positioned SRTI Park as the region’s leading innovation hub. He also leads the IASP West Asia–North Africa Division, and his past roles span university enterprise leadership, trade and commerce governance, and strategic roles in global corporations. 

Dr. Silvio Bitencourt da Silva is a Professor in the Professional Master’s Program in Business Law and MBA programs at UNISINOS, where he also manages Research, Development, and Innovation. With a Ph.D. in Business Administration, his academic expertise lies in interorganizational strategies, open innovation, and innovation policy. He co-authored a seminal study on the orchestration of city-level innovation networks—highlighting the Pacto Alegre initiative—and introduced new insights into network orchestration, including the essential “communicator” role in engaging civil society.

Dr. Khalid Aldakkan, Senior Vice President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), is an engineering and innovation strategist with over 25 years of experience across government, research, and private sectors. Since 2015, he has driven national innovation policy and industry transformation within Saudi Arabia’s premier R&D institution. Dr. Aldakkan specializes in R&D commercialization, ecosystem development, and international partnership-building, including facilitating technology companies’ soft-landing into the Saudi market through strategic institutional collaborations.

Ezequiel Mesquita is a dynamic innovation leader based in Buenos Aires, serving as Executive Director of the Buenos Aires Innovation Park and General Director of Entrepreneurs for the city government. With over 15 years of experience in industrial transformation and SME growth, he has spearheaded entrepreneurial support programs and innovation-driven urban development. His background spans leading a family enterprise, co-founding a foodtech startup, and contributing to regional expansion strategies.

Lamiae Benmakhlouf is the CEO of MITC S.A., leading the Technopark network across multiple Moroccan cities. Since joining in 2002, she has risen through leadership roles and became the first female CEO in 2016. She has steered strategic sectoral expansions and ecosystem development, positioning Technopark as a premier incubator for ICT, greentech, and cultural startups. An active mentor and governance figure, she serves on several boards and has played an instrumental role in regional and global innovation alliances.

Dr. Derya Çağlar is an accomplished urban planner and innovation leader, serving as General Manager of Ostim Teknopark since 2015. Holding a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Management and Environmental Economics, she has deep experience in academic research and planning. Dr. Çağlar plays a strategic role in Ostim’s startup and innovation ecosystem, including leadership in the Ostim Venture Capital Fund and initiatives like rent-incentive awards. She contributes regionally as a board member of both TGBD and the Ankara City Research Center.

Dr. Carina Rapetti is Director of the Innova Institute at La Salle – Ramon Llull University and Advisory Board member of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). With a Ph.D. in Innovation Ecosystems and extensive experience leading global projects on smart cities, innovation centers, and performance metrics for innovation districts, she combines academic expertise with hands-on leadership in building and managing innovation ecosystems worldwide.

Dr. Adriana Ferreira de Faria is President of ANPROTEC and Executive Director of CenTev/UFV (TecnoPARQ Viçosa), and currently serves as President of the IASP Latin American Division. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, post-doctorate in Innovation Management, and extensive academic and leadership experience in university-affiliated innovation ecosystems, she is a recognized authority in the governance and development of technology parks and entrepreneurial infrastructures.

Flávia Fiorin is the Executive Manager of Tecnopuc, the Science and Technology Park at PUCRS in Brazil. With academic credentials in Business Administration, Architecture, and Urbanism—and specialized training in innovation incubation—she leads operational strategy and ecosystem development. Flávia has guided the implementation of the “Tecnopuc Anywhere” initiative, elevated the park's international profile, and mobilized community-led responses during emergencies. Her leadership extends through regional innovation alliances and youth engagement programs.

Prof. Yuzhuo Cai is Professor at The Education University of Hong Kong. An internationally recognized scholar in higher education and innovation ecosystems, he has published more than 150 peer-reviewed works and serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Triple Helix as well as on the editorial boards of leading international journals. His research focuses on university–society interactions, the Triple Helix model, and graduate employability, contributing significantly to the understanding and development of entrepreneurial universities and knowledge-driven regional innovation.

Prof. Luiz Henrique Catalani is a Full Professor at the Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (USP), where he also coordinates the university’s Innovation Agency (AUSPIN). He holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and completed postdoctoral training in Germany and the USA. Serving as Dean from 2014 to 2018, he led departmental leadership prior to that role. His research portfolio spans polymers, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and biocompatible hydrogels and he has authored nearly 150 peer-reviewed works.

Prof. André Carlos Busanelli de Aquino, Director for Innovation at São Paulo State’s Secretary of Science, Technology & Innovation, leads the implementation of the Innovation District of São Paulo City. A Full Professor at USP’s School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities and researcher at IEA-USP, he holds a Ph.D. in Accounting and completed postdoctoral studies at the Sorbonne. A high-level CNPq research fellow, his scholarship focuses on innovation governance, public sector accountability, and the transformative impact of digital technologies on urban resilience and public finance systems.

Dr. Josep Miquel Piqué is a Telecommunications Engineer from La Salle–UPC, MBA, and Doctor in Innovation Ecosystems from Universitat Ramon Llull, with executive diplomas from MIT and UC Berkeley. He is Founding President of XPCAT, Vice-President of APTE, XVII President of IASP, and former President of the Triple Helix Association. He serves as an expert for the European Commission’s DG REGIO and as a member of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies. He is an active author, international speaker, and advocate for the Triple Helix model, working to advance knowledge-based economies and smart cities worldwide.

Nuno Augusto is President of TecParques, the Portuguese Association of Science and Technology Parks, and Director of Madan Parque – Almada/Setúbal Science and Technology Park. He has extensive experience in managing innovation infrastructures, fostering collaboration between universities, industry, and government to drive regional competitiveness. Under his leadership, TecParques has strengthened its role in promoting digital transformation, sustainability, and international partnerships. Committed to the growth of Portugal’s innovation ecosystem, Nuno plays a strategic role in shaping policies and programs that enhance the impact and visibility of science and technology parks nationally and abroad.

Mozhgan Yazdianpour is Director of International & Scientific Cooperation at Isfahan Science and Technology Town (ISTT), where she has advanced global partnerships for nearly three decades. She has organized international workshops on science park and incubator management across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and played a key role in establishing UNESCO-affiliated initiatives. A former International Board Member of IASP, she is a regular speaker at leading innovation forums, promoting cross-border collaboration and strengthening Iran’s role in the global science park network.

Juan Pablo Suárez is Director of the Parque Científico y Tecnológico at UTPL in Ecuador and Past President of the Latin American Division of IASP. He has led the park’s growth as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer, fostering strong university–industry collaboration. A recognized leader in the region, he actively promotes the role of science and technology parks in driving economic and social development across Latin America.

Ahmed Alnawab is the Executive Director of Technovalley, a leading innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, where he champions governance frameworks and technology-driven partnerships. With deep experience in building collaborative infrastructures, he fosters connections among academia, industry, and government to grow entrepreneurship and research-led innovation. Ahmed is known for championing policies that strengthen science and technology parks, enhance ecosystem governance, and align strategic priorities to support national innovation objectives.

Alejandro Gutiérrez Acosta is co-founder of AKAIO, an AI-powered innovation platform by Kyra Group AI that integrates the GIMI methodology with advanced data analytics to accelerate trend detection, foresight, and strategic matchmaking. AKAIO connects companies with startups, researchers, and partners worldwide, enabling rapid identification of growth opportunities and innovation pathways. Often described as the “Tinder of innovation,” the platform streamlines decision-making and collaboration, helping organizations adapt to emerging technologies and market shifts with speed and precision.

Dr. Simone Stülp is Secretary of Innovation, Science, and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. With a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering and extensive experience in academia, technology parks, and research funding, she leads state programs such as Inova RS, Startup Lab, and RS Talentos. She is recognized for advancing public–private collaboration, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience in the region.

Dr. Luiz Carlos Pinto da Silva Filho is Secretary of Innovation for Porto Alegre, Brazil, and a Full Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul’s School of Engineering—where he also served eight years as Dean. He coordinates the Pacto Alegre Innovation Pact and leads research groups specializing in materials engineering, disaster risk management, and innovation. Renowned for bridging academia, public policy, and urban innovation, he plays a central role in shaping Porto Alegre’s knowledge-driven urban transformation.

Dr. Juan A. Bertolin is Managing Director of Espaitec, the Science and Technology Park of Jaume I University in Castellón, Spain. With a background in physics and over 15 years of experience in innovation management, he has positioned Espaitec as a key link between academia, industry, and the regional economy. An active contributor to international networks such as the Triple Helix Association, he is recognized for his work on innovation ecosystem models, Living Labs, and smart regional development strategies.

Dr. Muhammad Al-Saggaf is President of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), ranked #1 in the Middle East and Africa and among the world’s top universities. He is leading a comprehensive transformation that elevated KFUPM’s global standing to #67 and into the Top-100 across all engineering disciplines. KFUPM is also recognized as #4 worldwide in US patents granted.

He introduced the pioneering AI+X® platform, integrating artificial intelligence across all academic programs, and launched more than 90 new interdisciplinary programs in areas such as cybersecurity, renewable energy, smart cities, and bioengineering. Under his leadership, KFUPM expanded graduate education, attracted scholars from 67 countries, and opened all programs to women, achieving the world’s highest female enrollment in engineering.

Through these initiatives, Dr. Al-Saggaf is positioning KFUPM as a global hub for innovation, talent, and future-ready education.

Head of Department Innovation and Knowledge Economy

Rainer finished a business training in wholesale and import/export trade. After this, he studied social science at the University of Mannheim. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Since October 2000 he is employed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe. From 2008 till June 2019, Rainer Frietsch was Deputy Head of the Competence Center “Policy – Industry – Innovation” and Coordinator of the Business Unit Innovation Indicators. Since July 2019 he is Head of the Department Innovation and Knowledge Economy.

His work focuses on patent statistics, bibliometrics, economic and social indicators, performance of research systems and research organizations, knowledge and technology transfer.