IFI Management Team

Our Management Team is responsible of the orchestration of all IFI activities.

Elena Barrenetxea (ES)

Elena Barrenetxea is a research assistant with IFI. She is pursuing a degree in Economics and International Business at the University of Alcalá. It is worth mentioning that her Thesis Project is carried out in collaboration with IFI due to Elena’s interest in decarbonization, a field in which the consultancy has been working for some time.

Regarding technical skills, Elena stands out for her proficiency in three languages: English, Spanish, and Basque. Additionally, she has completed her university degree in English, which has facilitated the acquisition of technical vocabulary.

Alejandro Tosina, Chief Advisor

Alejandro is a senior manager and advisor in the fields of innovation, digital transformation and public-private collaboration. Telecommunications Engineer from the University of Seville, he has an Executive Master in Business Management and Administration (ExMBA) from the IE Business School and a Master in Economics and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

From 2019 onwards, he has held management positions in strategic consulting firms like SILO, DELOITTE and GRANT THORNTON, having supported multiple public and private entities in their growth and innovation strategies. From 2017 to 2018 he was appointed Director of Digital Economy at RED.ES, a national public agency, dependent on the Secretary of State for the Information Society and Digital Agenda, in charge of promoting the digital transformation of the Spanish economy.

Previously, he has worked for 12 years at the CDTI (Center for Industrial Technological Development), with responsibility for evaluation and monitoring of RDI business projects, financial support for recently created technology-based companies, design of RDI financing instruments, including Public Procurement of Innovation, quality and process management, and he was National Representative and Contact Point of the 7th EU R&D Framework Programme.

He is currently also an expert trainer in European Funds for CEOE Campus and the International School of Public Services (EISP).

José Manuel Leceta, Chair

Leceta1 José Manuel Leceta is the Chairman of the IFI High-Level Advisory Board. Former DG of Red.es from 2016-2018. Former Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) from 2011 to 2015. Former International Director of the Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) from 2004-2010.

Jose Manuel was Director General of Red.es, the Spanish Government Digital Transformation Agency from November, 2016 to July, 2018 where he revamped the 15 years old organization with a new Strategic Plan, Operational Plan and innovative culture. Before, following a European-wide competition involving circa 200 candidates, José Manuel was appointed Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in 2011 nurturing partnership relations with EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and inspiring first offerings as an Institute for Europe which he codified later as visiting fellow of the European University Institute (EUI).

Formerly, before joining EIT, he was CDTI’s International Director from 2004 to 2010, where he successfully raised the Spanish participation in the EU R&D Framework Programs by 50 %. He also represented Spain in CREST, Eureka and TAFTIE – serving as Executive Secretary in 2010 – and widened CDTI´s Overseas Network with Delegations in India and the US, successfully launching a set of Bilateral Programs.

Having joined CDTI in 1992 to foster Spain´s role and leadership in the practical applications of space, he became Head of Department for Technologies and Space Programs at CDTI in 1996. From 200 to 2002 he was Chairman of the European Space Agency Ariane Board and Vice-Chairman of Telecommunication Board. Also, he played a pivotal role in pioneer space initiatives, notably ESA´s water mission SMOS, AMERHIS (first Hispasat on-board digital multiplexers) and EGNOS-Galileo.

A Telecommunications Engineer from the Technical University of Madrid, José Manuel also studied Business Administration and has diplomas in Space Studies (ISU), Strategic Management of ICT, Economics of Telecommunications, International Studies and Economics and Management of Innovation. He started his business career in Finland in 1987, working thereafter in space industry in France, Spain and Japan.

Ivan Garcia (CTO)

Ivan Garcia Miranda, Chief Technology Officer of Insight Foresight Institute is Experienced Business Administration Professor. He is an associate professor at the Engineering Management Area at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid since 2010. He obtained his Industrial Engineering degree from Universidad de Gijón in 2000 and his Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering in 2009. From 2000 until 2010 he worked for several firms in projects related with innovation, grant administration, engineering management and MIS, including ERP implementation. His research interests focus on Technology-Enhanced Innovation, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Totti Könnölä, CEO

Dr. Totti Könnölä, Managing Director of Insight Foresight Institute, is experienced executive, advisor and speaker in the realm of innovation, entrepreneurship and digitalisation to transform society towards sustainable pathways. He has coordinated many strategic foresight, appraisal, evaluation and decision-making processes together with industry management, research directors, policy-makers and other stakeholders.

He has attained experience in Europe and the Americas in the areas of management, research and policy advice especially in: i) the JRC-IPTS of the European Commission and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), ii) research and technology organisations and universities like IE Business School, Politechnical University of Madrid (UPM), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Helsinki University of Technology, Aalto University, Comillas Pontifical University (ICAI) and ESERP Business School and iii) venture caps, consultancies and industries like eGauss Business Holding I+T, Insight Foresight Institute, Impetu Solutions, Gaia Group and Stora Enso.

In particular, by founding and heading two digital innovation consultancies (previously Impetu Solutions and currently Insight Foresight Institute), Könnölä has gained first-hand experience in startups and activated an extensive network of collaborators around the world. He was also instrumental in scaling up the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and played an active role in the development of EU foresight capabilities and research and innovation policy benchmarking systems of the European Commission (JRC), incl. monitoring the innovation system of Finland.

He is an international advisor and board professional experienced in innovation practice, foresight methodologies and digital platforms for private sector, governments, European Commission and international organisations. For instance, Könnölä is a nominated member of ‘los 100 de Cotec’, a group of experts for Cotec Foundation for Innovation and a Member of the Advisory Boards of CARISMA Innovation for Climate Mitigation, Sustainability College Bruges and FOM Asesoramiento Tecnológico.

Könnölä is associate professor in business and engineering schools (UPM, ESERP, UNIR, etc.) and an accredited public university professor by the Ministry of Education of Spain. He holds Dr.Tech and Lic.Tech in Systems Analysis from Helsinki University of Technology and MSc in Environmental Economics from Helsinki University. He has also attended in Executive Education on Science and Innovation Policy Evaluation in the University of Manchester (MIoIR). He is a co-author of Palgrave Macmillan Book ‘Eco-innovation: When competitiveness and sustainability shake hands’ translated to Spanish and Chinese; an co-author of over hundred scientific publications; an experienced conference speaker and member of scientific committees. Könnölä writes also for daily press and professional magazines contributing to societal discussion on innovation, digitalisation and sustainability.

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