Title: Senior research fellow at University of Debrecen

Category: Leadership and Decision Making

Profile: Attila Havas, PhD is a senior research fellow at University of Debrecen, research associate at CERS, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, regional editor of International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, and member of the editorial board of Foresight and STI Governance. His academic interests are in evolutionary economics of innovation, national and sectoral innovation systems, measurement of innovation, theory and practice of innovation policy, (technology foresight as a policy tool, and social innovation. He holds a PhD in economics (The Diffusion of New Technologies) from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1997.

He has participated in a number of international research projects on STI policies, innovation in Central and Easter European countries, as well as on foresight and prospective analyses, advised foresight programmes in several countries, has been a member of EU expert groups, and invited speaker at a number of international conferences and workshops on innovation and technology foresight.

In 1997-2000 he was Programme Director of TEP, the Hungarian Technology Foresight Programme. Previously he had worked for IKU, Innovation Research Centre, Budapest University of Economics (1990–97) and for other institutes in the field of industrial economics and industrial policy (1983–89). Studied and conducted research abroad at London School of Economics; MERIT, University of Maastricht; SPRU, University of Sussex, Falmer; PREST, University of Manchester; INTECH, UN University, Maastricht; and AIT, Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna.

Title: NBS & Circular Economy Lead

Category: Leadership and Decision Making

Profile:  Erzsébet Poór-Pócsi is an environmental engineer and sustainability expert with over 22 years of international experience advancing circular economy practices and nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban planning, water management, and climate resiliency. Currently serving as the NBS & Circular Economy Lead at Biopolus, she leads strategy development for integrated, sustainable urban ecosystems, with a focus on metabolic mapping, ecosystem restoration, and circular infrastructure.

Her career spans consultancy and leadership roles across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including positions at ERM Hungaria, AECOM, and BEE Environmental Communication. Erzsébet has contributed to numerous high-impact projects, including the Horizon 2020 euPOLIS and NextGen initiatives, as well as the DALIA Danube Region Water Lighthouse Action.

She holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut and has completed advanced training in circular economy, nature-based solutions, and complex project management. A frequent collaborator with global organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, she is committed to pioneering systemic solutions for resilient, regenerative cities.

Title:  Professor and Director of the Regional Department of Bioengineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro

Category:  Leadership and Decision Making

Profile:  Prof. Dr. Ashutosh Sharma is a globally recognized biotechnologist, innovation strategist, and sustainability leader, known for pioneering breakthroughs at the intersection of agriculture, biotechnology, and climate action. He currently serves as Head of Research and Development at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro, and is the Founding Director of the Centre of Bioengineering, where he has built one of Latin America’s most dynamic ecosystems for applied research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dr. Sharma also holds the position of Vice President of the Mexican Society of Micropropagation and Automatization and is a US-Mexico Foundation Fellow, fostering scientific exchange and collaboration between both countries. Dr. Sharma leads the prestigious Nestlé-Tec Research Collaboration, driving global innovation in carbon footprint reduction for the dairy industry, including methane mitigation, manure stream valorization, and CO₂ capture strategies — setting a benchmark for public-private partnerships in sustainable food systems.

He is the founder of WeClone, home to the world’s first mobile micropropagation lab, and the creator of the first cloned Kiri (Paulownia) tree in Latin America, accelerating reforestation and high-value agroforestry. His labs — NatProLab and the Plant Application Laboratory — have become centers of excellence in plant biotechnology, natural product research, and rural innovation. With 120+ scientific publications and patents, and as a keynote speaker at over 120 international conferences, he has also developed The EXPLANT, the first educational app for teaching plant tissue culture.

His leadership has earned numerous international and national awards, including recognitions from industry partners and academic bodies. Beyond academia, he mentors students and startups, advises multinational R&D initiatives, and works closely with farmers and policymakers to implement scalable, science-driven solutions for sustainable development. Driven by the belief that science must serve society, Prof. Dr. Ashutosh Sharma continues to shape the future of bioinnovation with purpose, impact, and integrity.