Competence in Implementation

Gonzalo Figuera (ES)

Gonzalo Figuera Díez-Picazo, SM in Technology and Policy (MIT), Engineer École Centrale Paris, Industrial Engineer UPM (Madrid), is an experienced business leader, consultant and entrepreneur, specialized in innovation-based organizations and digital transformation.

Currently, he works as Innovation Director at Innogate to Europe, a company specialised in managing international projects. He has over 20 years of previous experience working for large corporations and engineering companies (Telefonica R&D, INECO), large academic institutions (MIT, UPM), consulting companies (Cluster Consulting, now Oliver Wyman), and technology-based start-ups (N2S-GAMESA Group).

His fields of specialty include ICT (information and communication technologies), software, IoT (internet of things), automation, infrastructures, smart cities, energy and energy efficiency, renewables, bioenergy, cleantech, sustainable transport, electric vehicle, infrastructures and sustainability. He teaches courses on technology and innovation management, entrepreneurship, energy and energy efficiency, and acts as editor and contributor to publications, lectures and seminars related to his work.

Armela Dino (AL)

Armela is a science policy analyst at the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Government of Spain.

She is pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration at University College London focusing on efficacy of science policy instruments that aim at strengthening institutional excellence.

She has worked in developing countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and her native Albania.

Luis Delgado (ES)

Luis Delgado has a Ph.D. in Physics (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and a Diploma in Planning and Administration of Business (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). He is Executive Advisor at the General Secretariat of Universities in the Spanish Ministry of Education. He has a long experience working in Higher Education, Research and Innovation as well as in Planning and Management and on policy making at national and international level, for more than 30 years as:

Materials’ Researcher (CIEMAT, Spain),
Managing Director of Technological Centre (Madrid Institute of Technology)
Director of Planning and Management of Public Research Organization (IGME, 1993- 2002))
Deputy Director General of International Organisms and Programmes (2002 – 2007)
Coordinator of the Unit Universities and Researchers. DG Research and Technological Development. European Commission (2007 – 2009) in charge of the Modernisation Agenda for European Universities.
Deputy Director General of Modernization and Internationalization of Universities (Ministry of Education, 2009 – 2011).

He has represented Spain in in different international research and HE committees, programmes and organisms: BFUG, OECD – IMHE, Council of Europe; European Commission, the European University Institute, etc.

He is author or co-author of more than 150 papers on scientific journals, conferences, seminars and workshops on higher education, research, innovation, technology transfer, employability, management, international cooperation, etc.

Manuel Roque Muñoz (ES)

Manager with extensive multisectorial experience, from an integral vision of the company and a deep knowledge of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, to the business fabric and the public and institutional sectors.

Executive MBA by IE Business School, Master’s Degree in Economic and Financial Management by Centro de Estudios Financieros, Master’s Degree in Business Tax Consulting by IE Law School and Bachelor’s Degree in Economic and Business Sciences by CEU San Pablo.

Expert in entrepreneurship, innovation, private and public business and R&D financing and in the impact of emerging technologies on new business models and organizations, with great experience in the design of public policies and support programs aimed at entrepreneurs, at the creation of startups, spin-offs and innovative technology-based companies, the promotion of innovation and ICTs, the improvement of business competitiveness and the development of business financing instruments and R&D.

Currently Associate Director of Twice Consulting (strategic consulting, growth and business development and organizations) and Modelandum (consultancy and training in financial modeling).

Previously, Expansion Director of the Industrial Development Society (SODICAMAN, SA), Instituto de Finanzas y Sociedad de Aval de Castilla-La Mancha (raising of investments and financing of companies through venture capital, loans and Guarantees); Director of the Legal-Economic Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance of Castilla-La Mancha; Director of the European Business and Innovation Center (creation and development of companies, training, financing and business innovation); Counselor and founder of the Business Angels Network, GOBAN.

Mentor of startups, technology spin-off and companies (Global Mobile Challenge, TechHub, South Summit, IE, Area 31, Youth Business Spain, EOI, Yuzz) and associate professor in business schools (IE Business School and EOI) imparting various subjects (digital transformation of organizations and new business models, open innovation, design thinking, lean startup, business plan, finance and business financing and R&D) and business management in the ETS Of Industrial Engineers of the University of Castilla-La Mancha.

Alberto Tejero (ES)

Alberto Tejero is an expert in management and organization of technological innovation. He works at Technology Intelligence Unit (Centre for Technology Innovation, CAIT-UPM) in international innovation and technology intelligence projects. In addition, he is a lecturer of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and responsible of E&I online contents at Madrid Node (EIT Digital) since 2015, expert associate of the Royal Academy of Engineering in Spain and advisory board member of several Foundations and Councils in topics related to innovation, technology and education. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science. He is a PhD candidate at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). He worked as lecturer and research fellow at UPM (2010-2015), coordinator professor at CEPADE and ESCP Europe Business School (2014 and 2015) and senior ICT specialist at UPM (2002-2014).