Speakers

Copyright: Hagen Gebauer

Dr Ellen Adams | Lightning Talk
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf / TU Dresden
Institute of Resource Ecology / Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life

Ellen Adams is a junior research group leader at HZDR and in the Physics of Life Excellence Cluster at TU Dresden. Ellen has always been interested in understanding the molecular properties of water molecules at interfaces. In particular, she wants to understand how water molecules near the surface of biomolecules, known as hydration water, influences biomolecule structure, function, and chemical reactivity. To this end, the Adams lab utilizes Terahertz spectroscopy to study the structure and dynamics of hydration water.

Copyright: A. Wirsig

Dr Larysa Baraban | Lightning Talk
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research

Larysa Baraban is an ERC Consolidator grantee and the head of the department „Nano-Microsystems for Life Sciences“ at Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (HZDR).  The main mission of the research is the development of smart miniaturized biosensing devices and systems using nanoscale materials and advanced microfluidics. These systems are very relevant to find new routes and parameters for the characterization of biomolecules and cells relevant for cancer.

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Dr hab. Dorota Bociąga | Lightning Talk
Łódź University of Technology

Dorota Bociaga is a professor at Lodz University and Technology and the supervisor of the Laboratory of 3D Bioprinting and Biomaterial Research. She has been a member of the Polish Association of Biomaterials for 20 years, where she has been the deputy president since 2017. For 15 years, she has been implementing and managing national and international research projects in the field of biomedical and material engineering focused on modern solutions for regenerative medicine. She conducts research on material solutions for use in 3D printing and 3D bioprinting as well as broadly understood tissue engineering.

Copyright: Selvita S. A.

Krzysztof Brzózka, PhD | Session: Disruptive Innovation
Ryu Therapeutics S.A., Krákow

Krzysztof Brzozka currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at Ryvu Therapeutics, a Kraków-based drug discovery and development company focused on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology. He is responsible for overseeing the management of early pipeline candidates, including their full development up to the clinical phase. Dr. Brzozka has successfully led the development of two first-in-class oncology programs at Ryvu, including the dual PIM/FLT3 inhibitor SEL24/MEN1703 and the CDK8 inhibitor SEL120, both of which have entered clinical trials. Beyond his work at Ryvu, Dr. Brzozka also holds positions on the board of Ardigen, a leading bioinformatics and precision medicine company, and played a pivotal role in the founding of NodThera, a biotechnology firm focused on developing therapeutics related to inflammasome biology. Dr. Brzozka received his Ph.D. degree from Ludwig Maximilian University and his MBA from the Stockholm University School of Business and the Krakow University of Economics Business School, making him well-equipped to bridge the worlds of scientific innovation and business.

Copyright: HZDR/Detelv Müller

Philipp Büttner| Session: Fostering Translation
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology

Philipp Büttner studied geoecology at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg until 2011. Since 2012, he has been working as a project coordinator at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology on the topic of mining waste. He is co-founder, initiator and coordinator of the BMBF WIR! Alliance recomine, which develops innovative and holistic solutions for mining waste in the border region of the Erzgebirge and has so far raised over 15 million euros in funding. A major focus of the alliance’s work is networking with Czech partners and developing cross-border projects.

Copyright: Katja Lesser

Prof. Alexey Chernikov | Lightning Talk
TU Dresden
Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat 

Alexey Chernikov conducts research at the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat as the Chair of Ultrafast Microscopy and Photonics at TU Dresden. He obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Marburg followed by an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral fellowship at the Columbia University of New York / USA. From 2016 he led an Emmy-Noether research group at the University of Regensburg and joined the Faculty of Physics at TU Dresden in 2021. Alexey is the recipient of the Heinz-Leibnitz-Award of the German Research Society and an ERC Consolidator Grant.

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Dipjyoti Deb | Session: Monetising Science
BSH Startup Kitchen

After finishing his research in the field of quantum phenomena at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dipjyoti Deb joined Bosch Research in Stuttgart as an expert in the Quantum technologies team. He was also at Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence in the heart of Silicon Valley and started to work with startups.

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Barbara Diehl | Session: Disruptive Innovation
Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND)

Barbara Diehl is a proven expert in entrepreneurship, innovation and education and has been facilitating partnerships with science and business at SPRIND since December 1, 2020. Prior joining SPRIND, she had a successful career in the UK and Ireland for ten years. In Oxford, she led early-stage investment programs and an executive education program for fast-growing small businesses (Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses growth program). She has also been a member of the investment committees for a variety of seed investment funds.

Copyright: Antje Krämer

Dr Tobias Dornheim | Lightning Talk
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
CASUS – Center for Advanced Systems Understanding

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Dr Mohamed Elgendy | Lightning Talk
TU Dresden

Mohamed Elgendy is an expert on Cancer Metabolism. His group at the University Hospital Dresden investigates the interplay between metabolism and different processes of tumorigenesis. He obtained his PhD from Trinity College Dublin and his MSc from Ghent University and has worked in 6 EU countries. Dr Elgendy is a recipient of competitive funds including ERC Starting Grant and prestigious personal awards from Umberto Veronesi Foundation and Berlucchi Foundation for Cancer Research.

Petr Fiala | Panel Discussion
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Copyright: Frank Fitzek, CeTI/TU Dresden

Prof. Frank Fitzek | Keynote May 17th
TU Dresden
Cluster of Excellence CeTI

Frank Fitzek is a professor and head of the “Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks” at TU Dresden. He is the spokesman of the DFG Cluster of Excellence CeTI and the 6G-life hub in Germany. His current research is in the areas of 5G/6G communication networks, in-network computing, network coding, compressed sensing, post-Shannon theory, quantum and molecular communication, as well as human-machine interaction in the virtual worlds.

Copyright: Fraunhofer IWS

Markus Forytta | Session: Public Engagement

Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Dresden

Markus Forytta is Head of Corporate Communications at the Dresden-based Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS. He has been working in PR, marketing, events, graphics, and motion pictures for almost two decades and draws on a broad experience in these fields. For over five years now, he has devoted himself specifically to science communication.

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Dr Beate Fröhlich | Session: The Best Minds

Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism

Dr Beate Fröhlich is responsible for the SPIN2030 campaign at the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism. SPIN2030 is an agenda for developing Saxony’s role in science up to the year 2030 by improving the perception of the diversity, attractiveness and excellence of Saxony as a science location – regionally and nationally. Before that, she was responsible for implementing Saxony’s interdepartmental digitization strategy at the Saxon State Ministry of Economics, Labor and Transport and worked as deputy head ath the Saxon Digital Agency.

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Dr Anna Gawrońska | Lightning Talk

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Poznań Institute of Technology

For 16 years Dr Gawrońska has been supporting hospitals in improving the management of the flow of medical products. Cooperating with IT companies, regulators, and industry associations she helps implement solutions that increase patient safety and the comfort of the work of nursing staff. She advises on the implementation of GS1 barcodes in accordance with the legal requirements.

Copyright: Ben Gierig

Sebastian Gemkow | Opening
Saxon State Minister for Science, Culture and Tourism

Copyright: Irena Walinda

Dr Volker Hahn | Session: Public Engagement (Moderator)
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig

Dr Volker Hahn is Head of Media and Communication at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). He has worked for many years as a science journalist for German television (3sat, SWR, HR, Deutsche Welle). Springer Nature published his book „Die souveräne Expertin – 77 Tipps für die verbale Wissenschaftskommunikation“.

Copyright: Ben Gierig

Dr Andreas Handschuh | Session: Research for Transfer and Structural Change
State Secretary at the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism

Copyright: HZDR/A. Wirsig

Philipp von Haymerle | Lightning Talk (Moderator)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
CASUS – Center for Advanced Systems Understanding

Copyright: Christian Hueller

Zohreh Hosseinzadeh | Lightning Talk
University of Leipzig

She is head of ophthalmic research department, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, University of Leipzig. Her research focus is to understand retinal physiology and pathophysiology towards finding therapy. She has been awarded several national and international grants and prizes including: ERCstg award, Marie curie-DN, DFG individual grant, Tübitak award, DAAD German-Australia cooperation fund, Cambridge bursary from eye trust, Pro-Retina grant in cooperation with University of Harvard, excellent PhD student award.

Copyright: Česká hlava 2022

Prof. Ilona Hromadníková | Keynote May 16th
Charles University, Prague, Česká Hlava Prize 2022

Ilona Hromadníková is the head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, located in the Institute for Mother and Child Care. She is the founder of the field of non-invasive prenatal diagnostics based on fetal microchimerism. The results of her work have been recognized nationally and internationally.  She is also a recent recipient of the Czech Head of 2022, Lorem Award.

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Dr Jan Kalina | Lightning Talk
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Institute of Computer Science

Jan Kalina obtained his doctoral degree in mathematics. With a focus on more applicable research, he gradually became passionate about building bridges betwen machine learning and medical informatics. He has experience with biostatistical data analysis and loves science popularization.

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Petra Köppl | Session: Public Engagement
Czech Academy of Sciences

Petra Köppl is a PR specialist and Communications Manager at the Academy of Science in the Czech Republic. She represents the country in EUPRIO and the European Particle Physics Communication Network (EPPCN), which was established by the CERN Council. She served as the Manager of Czech and English online and print communication at Charles University in Prague.

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Prof. Stefan Kornhuber | Session: Disruptive Innovation
Hochschule Zittau-Görlitz

Stefan Kornhuber got the the chair in High Voltage Engineering and Electromagnetic Theory at the University of Applied Science Zittau/Görlitz in 2014. The main research topics are outer and inner electrical interfaces of polymeric materials, test and measuring methods and methods for technical diagnostics. He is member and also convener of different working groups at IEEE, CIGRE, IEC and DKE. In 2021 he received the CIGRE Technical Council SC D1 Award and in 2022 the IEC 1906 Award.

Copyright: Pawel Sosnowski

Michael Kretschmer | Panel Discussion
Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony

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Antonín Kusbach | Lightning Talk
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Global Change Research Institute

Antonín Kusbach is a Physical Geographer currently working on a PhD at TU Dresden. His interest lies in nature and bio-physical interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. He also enjoys outdoor sports, botany, and curious talks with alike enthusiasts.

Helena Langšádlová | Opening
Minister of Science, Research and Innovation of the Czech Republic

Copyright: Detlev Müller

Dr Franziska Lederer | Lightning Talk
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology

Franziska Lederer studied biology at the University of Rostock. From the beginning, her research interests focused on biomolecules and their interaction with metals. Since 2018, Dr. Lederer has headed the junior research group BioKollekt at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. Here, she uses innovative, molecular biological methods to develop new technologies for recycling valuable raw materials.

Copyright: K. Schmidt/IAP

Prof. Karl Leo | Session: Monetising Science
TU Dresden

Karl Leo studied physics in Freiburg and Stuttgart and was a postdoc at AT & T Bell Laboratories and the RWTH Aachen. In 1993, he became professor of optoelectronics at the TU Dresden. He is the head of the Institute of Applied Physics and director of the interdisciplinary center „Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials“ (DC IAPP), which bundles the research to organic semiconductors at the TU Dresden. In 2021 he was honored with the European Inventor Award in the “Lifetime Achievement” category. Leo received the award for his trailblazing work in organic semiconductors, which is reflected in more than 20 European patents and numerous successful spin-offs.

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Joanna Lipner | Session: Monetising Science
Pikralida, Poznan

Joanna Lipner is managing director at Pikralida. She graduated of the PhD studies at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences and worked for three years in the Medical Chemistry Department of Celon Pharma SA,  where she was responsible for the design and synthesis of drug candidates. From 2015 to 2018 she worked at OncoArendi Therapeutics SA, where she was responsible for the management of complex preclinical and clinical innovative drug development projects with budgets of approximately 15 million Polish złoty (PLN).

Copyright: Antje Gildemeister

Prof. Miguel Mahecha | Keynote May 16th
University of Leipzig
Remote
Sensing Centre for Earth System Research

Miguel Mahecha is a professor at the Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research, the Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. His main scholarly interests focuse on understanding ecosystem responses to climate extremes as well as the human environment nexus during extremes. His research is based on the latest data-driven research methods using big data and AI methods.

Copyright: HZDR

Dr Denys Makarov | Session: Disruptive Innovation
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research

Denys Makarov received his Master Degree (2005) at the National University of Kyiv in Ukraine, followed by a Ph.D. in physics (2008) from the University of Konstanz in Germany. Currently, he is head of department “Intelligent materials and systems” at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and leads the Helmholtz Innovation Lab FlexiSens. With his activities, Denys Makarov made a decisive contribution to the development of the field of curvilinear magnetism and stimulated research on spintronics on flexible, bendable and stretchable surfaces. Mechanically flexible and skin-conformal magnetic field sensors enable new application scenarios for human-machine interfaces, eMobility and medicine. These activities are supported via major national and European projects. Denys Makarov is Senior Member of the IEEE and Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe.

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Václav Marek | Session: The best Minds
Česká hlava PROJEKT
Director

Václav Marek, director of the non-profit organization Česká hlava PROJEKT z.ú. He is the director of the company, which has been offering prizes for the best Czech scientists, engineers and researchers for 23 years. He also organizes a competition for particularly talented students.

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Dr David Michel | Session: The best Minds
State Chancellery of Saxony, International Relations, European Affairs and Development Cooperation

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Ulrike Michel-Schneider | Session: Fostering Translation (Moderator)
Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU)

Ulrike Michel-Schneider is currently a PhD student at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). Prior to her PhD project, she studied Business Administration and received her Bachelor from San Francisco State University and her MBA from HHL – Graduate School of Management, Leipzig.

Mateusz Morawiecki | Panel Discussion
Prime Minister of Poland (requested)

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Christian Odoj | Session: Fostering Translation

CTO & Co-Founder OSTWALD GmbH

Christian Odoj studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University Dresden before he starts working for 9 years in serial development of powertrains at the BMW Group in Munich. He has been one of Ostwald’s founders and Chief Technology Officer since 2021. The Ostwald GmbH focuses on hydrogen powertrain development for mobile applications and transfers this new technology to OEMs and in series production.

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Signe Ratso | Opening

Deputy Director-General of Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (online participation)

Signe Ratso is Deputy Director-General and a member of the Management Board of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission. She is Chief negotiator, responsible for negotiations of association agreements with third countries associated and future potential associated countries to the EU R&I programmes Horizon Europe and Euratom, association policy and its interlinkages with EU R&I international cooperation strategy. She is also responsible for Open Innovation and for citizens’ engagement and social innovation in research and innovation policy. Signe Ratso has always been involved in international affairs. Before joining the Commission she worked as Deputy Secretary General (from 1994 to 2005) at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia.

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Prof. Dr Florian Röhrbein | Lightning Talk

Chemnitz University of Technology

Florian Röhrbein is a computer scientist and professor for neurorobotics. He has founded several deep-tech start-ups and is chief editor of a journal on neurorobotics.

Copyright: HZDR/C.Reichelt

Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt | Opening
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Scientific Director

Sebastian M. Schmidt started his scientific career at the University of Rostock and at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. He completed his doctorate in theoretical physics in Rostock in 1995. After a scholarship at Tel Aviv University and as a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at Argonne National Laboratory (USA), he took over the leadership of an Emmy Noether junior research group sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG), at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in 2000. From 2007 to 2020, he served as a member of the Board of Directors at the Forschungszentrum Jülich for the areas of matter and information. Since 2012 he holds a professorship for physics at RWTH Aachen University.

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Dr Simone Schopf | Lightning Talk

Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP
Medical and Biotechnological Applications

Dr Simone Schopf received her PhD from the Chair of Microbiology at the University of Regensburg and was subsequently part of the Environmental Microbiology Group at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg for 6 years. Since 2019 she is group leader for biotechnological processes at the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP in the field of medical and biotechnological applications.

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Martin Smekal | Session: Fostering Translation
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Centre of Administration and Operations

Martin Smekal has been the Head of Technology Transfer Office at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic since 2022. In his role, he supports scientists in being better prepared to apply their research. Amongst other things, the Technology Transfer Office provides researchers with financial support, which allows them to make breakthroughs at various stages of technology and knowledge development. It also helps with raising money to build prototypes, to cover the costs of testing, to recruit new team members in charge of commercialization, or to find investors to set up and launch spin-off companies.

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Dr Piotr Sobecki | Keynote May 16th
National Information Processing Institute
Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence

Piotr Sobecki is responsible for overseeing the development of web-app-based decision support tools that employ AI He is also involved in the research and development of AI applications in the field of medicine, with a focus on machine learning, computer vision, and optimization algorithms.

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Prof. Christian Stegmann | Research and Transfer for Structural Change

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY | German Center for Astrophysics

Prof. Christian Stegmann is the director of astroparticle physics at the German Electron Synchrotron DESY and heads the DESY site in Zeuthen. He is a co-initiator of the German Center for Astrophysics DZA, a large research center that is set to be established in Saxony. The DZA is a joint initiative of German astronomy and astroparticle physics for a national center for astrophysical research with international impact, which promotes resource-saving digitization, develops new technologies, provides transfer, and creates new perspectives, firmly rooted in the Lausitz region.

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Gideon Stein | Lightning Talk
University of Jena
Computer Vision Group

Ambitious Machine Learning Scientist with special experience in Time Series Process- ing, Causal Inference and Deep Learning. Recognized consistently for excellent per- formance and contributions to new develop- ments by the FSU Jena and ITMO University. Strengths in independent research and the development of new ideas supported by a curious perspective on the world.

Copyright: HZDR/A. Wirsig

Dr Peter Steinbach | Lightning Talk (Moderation)

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

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Dr Ondrej Stepanek | Lightning Talk

Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague

Ondrej Stepanek established an independent research group at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague in 2016. The group uncovers the molecular and cellular aspects of T-cell mediated immunity in the context of infection, autoimmunity and cancer.

Copyright: HZDR/Christoph Reichelt

Dr Diana Stiller | Lightning Talk (Moderator)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Administrative Director

After studying business administration at the TU Dresden, Diana Stiller initially worked as a senior consultant for the auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers AG. At the end of 2010, she switched to the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf: initially she served as consultant to the then administrative director. She later became head of “Finance, Financial Controlling and Third Party Funds”. Her focus was mainly on commercial accounting and controlling as well as on liquidity planning and budgeting. In parallel, she completed her doctorate at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava in 2015. From 2017 until 2020, Stiller served as head of administration and led the Finance and Accounting department at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. Among other areas there, she has overseen the strategic control and orientation of administrative processes.

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Prof. Piotr Suwalski | Session: Disruptive Innovation
Medicine S.A.
Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration | Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw

Piotr Suwalski is a Professor of cardiosurgery, scientists and innovator. Deputy editor-in-chief of the American medical journal „INNOVATIONS“. Author of over 250 publications in well-known scientific journals around the world. Head of the Cardiac Surgery Clinic of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and professor at the Medical Center of Postgraduate Education. Former president of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS). Chairman-elect of the Cardiac Surgery Section of the Polish Cardiac Society. Member of several committees such as 21st Century Cardiothoracic Surgical Society, Nucleus Cardiovascular Working Group, European Society of Cardiology, New Technology Committee European Society for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Guideline Committee European Society for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. He has received several awards for his scientific work at conferences of scientific societies. Together with the team of his clinic, he is the winner of the TERAZ POLSKA award for cardiosurgical treatment with the use of minimally invasive techniques.

Copyright: Crispin Iven-Mokry

Dorit Teichmann | Session: Monetising Science (Moderator)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Dorit Teichmann works as an innovation manager at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf as well as a start-up manager at TU Dresden in the field of life sciences, thereby actively fostering the transfer of academic inventions into applications. Dorit Teichmann graduated in Business Administration from the University of Leipzig and holds a license in economics from University II in Lyon. After her studies she worked more than ten years in product management of a chemical company as well as in the marketing and business development of a pharmaceutical company.

Copyright: Benedikt Preisinger

Dr Julian Thiele | Lightning Talk

Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden

Julian Thiele is professor for organic chemistry at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and group leader at Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden. His ERC- and Volkswagen Foundation-supported research focuses on adaptive, dynamic soft matter – primarily polymer structures made by microfluidics and high-resolution additive manufacturing. Julian is fellow of the Young Academy of Europe, and his work has been recognized by the Culture Award Bavaria as well as the Georg Manecke Award of the GDCh.

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Violeta Trifunov | Lightning Talk
University of Jena
Computer Vision Group

Violeta Trifunov is a doctoral candidate at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, in the Department of Computer Science at Computer Vision Group. Her interests lie in the fields of machine learning, deep graphical models, and time series causality analysis.

Copyright: Lohrmanns Brew

Dr Sophia Vatterodt | Session: Monetising Science
Lohrmanns Brew

Sophia comes from Franconia and practically grew up with beer. One of her favorite games as a child was the category game „City, Country, River, Beer Brand“. Later she studied food chemistry and became a beer sommelier. It’s no surprise that she was involved in brewing beer at the Technische Universität Dresden, held seminars on the subject and was immediately on board when Lohrmanns was founded.

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Udo Werner | Session: Fostering Translation

TUDAG TU Dresden Aktiengesellschaft

Udo Werner studied law in Jena and Frankfurt a.M. and passed both state law examinations. A fully qualified lawyer, he is also a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a ›Master in Public Administration‹ degree. He began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. As a board member of medium-sized stock corporations, the native of Zittau was primarily responsible for corporate strategy, mergers & acquisitions, human resources, legal affairs and finance. He played a key role in the realignment of the state-owned investment company of the Free State of Thuringia.As of October 1, 2020, Udo Werner was appointed member and as of January 1, 2021, spokesman of the TUDAG Executive Board. He is primarily responsible for the Group’s finances and for overseeing the company’s vast number of shareholdings.

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Dr Jan-Martin Wiarda | Moderation

Jan-Martin Wiarda is a science journalist, political scientist and economist. He studied in Munich and Chapel Hill (USA). Editorial training at the German School of Journalism. Author for Süddeutsche Zeitung, Brand Eins, Financial Times Deutschland, Tagesspiegel and others. Eight years as editor in Hamburg at DIE ZEIT in the education department „Chancen“. Three years head of communications at the Helmholtz Association. Since 2015 freelance journalist, author and moderator. 2016 dissertation at HU Berlin.

Copyright: Kaspars Filips Dobrovolskis

Marcin Witkowski | Session: Public Engagement
National Agency for Erasmus+ Fund

Marcin Witkowski specializes in international marketing and intercultural communication and science communication. Following his doctoral studies he continued to give lectures on principles of PR/marketing, public policy, political systems and international affairs to students of AMU, University of Economics and other HEIs in Poland and abroad.  Experienced NAFSA workshop proposal reviewer and EAIE sessions evaluator, working as a volunteer at NAFSA Annual Conferences from 2012. Voted Poland’s Internationalization Star in the field of Marketing by the jury of the 2020 nationwide competition under the patronage of several top governmental and non-governemental agencies devoted to international PR and marketing of higher education.

Copyright: AK Weigand

Prof. Jan J Weigand | Research and Transfer for Structural Change

TU Dresden | Member of the Pool of Experts, Center for the Transformation of Chemistry

Jan J. Weigand is professor for inorganic molecular chemistry at TU Dresden and member of the expert pool of the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry. One of his main research interests is the development of new and sustainable synthesis routes to novel cationic and neutral phosphorus compounds and their use in synthetic applications of fundamental and industrial relevance. Weigand’s research group is involved in “solvent extractions”, novel recycling strategies and technical chemistry applications with a special focus on sustainable phosphorus chemistry.

Dr Minshen Zhu | Lightning Talk

Chemnitz University of Technology

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Arkadiusz Żurek | Lightning Talk
Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Arkadiusz Żurek is a lecturer and business practitioner with several years of international experience. Currently PhD Candidate at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology at the Department of Maintenance and Operation of Logistics, Transportation and Hydraulic Systems, scientific discipline: Mechanical Engineering (due to completed on June 2024). From 2020 Associate Lecturer at Witelon Collegium State University in Legnica, Poland and previously Lecturer - practitioner also at Warsaw School of Economics, Poland (2012-2018), Kozminski University in Warsaw, Poland (2013-2019) and The International School of Logistics and Transport in Wrocław, Poland (2017-2019). Guest Lecturer at Eurasia Business and Economics Society in Instanbul (Turkey, 2012), Lviv Polytechnic National University (Ukraine, 2017), also partipant at Erasmus Mobility for Teaching program at Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru, Lesotho (2019), International Business Academy in Kolding, Denmark (2022) and Patrium University in Oradea, Romania (2022).