The international evaluation panel

Alexandre Esteban is programme manager at the Department of Research and Innovation of “la Caixa” Foundation. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has extensive experience in scientific research in the biotechnology field as a researcher at high innovative institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007-2014) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (2014-2016). He has managed Horizon2020 projects supported by the European Research Council and from the Science With and For Society programme to promote Responsible Innovation. He has also participated in the coordination of initiatives to promote innovation in health in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health). He is currently a member of the coordination committee of the CaixaResearch Validate and Consolidate start-up accelerator programmes (“la Caixa” Foundation) to promote biomedical projects in the initial and intermediate stages of technology transfer through financing and personalized support.

Anabel has broad experience in evaluation of technologies in life sciences, intellectual asset management, licensing, business development and new ventures. Since 2010, she has held managerial positions in technology transfer at three research excellence centers in Spain, CNB-CSIC (Biotechnology), CNIO (Cancer) and since 2019, at CRG (Genomics). Previously she worked for more than a decade in a spin-off (CropDesing) of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and in the multinational company BASF. She has implemented innovation processes and successfully supported establishment of numerous public-private research partnerships and IPR transactions. A chemist by training, she holds a Master’s in Science from the U. Wales, UK, a PhD in Biology from the Autonomous University in Madrid (ES), postdoctoral experience in Spain and Belgium and an Executive Master in Science and Technology Business from IE business school.

Anji is a technology transfer professional with more than 18 years’ experience of working with early-stage translational research. Anji has extensive experience of IP and contract management, licensing, business development of healthcare technologies and development of knowledge transfer policies. Her current role at LifeArc involves working with academic and charitable establishments to identify, cultivate, fund, and commercialise early-stage healthcare technologies, focusing on rare diseases and advance therapies. As a proponent for professional advancement in technology transfer, Anji developed and leads the LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer Training Fellowship programme. This collaborative initiative with AUTM, is designed to train and assist scientists to become technology transfer professionals. An advocate of equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Anji cofounded Global Equality, Diversity and Equality in Technology Transfer (GEDITT), an initiative with a mission to raise awareness and promote EDI in the technology transfer sector. Previous roles include Intellectual Property, Contract, Technology Transfer and Business Development positions at the Wellcome Trust, St George’s University London and Thomson Pharma. Anji holds an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics and Ph.D in Cancer Genetics from Imperial College, as well as an M.Sc. and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She is a certified project manager (PRINCE2), registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) and a certified licensing professional (CLP). Anji sits on the boards of AUTM, ASTP, and is a member of: the BioIndustry Association Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and AUTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.

I studied chemistry in Berlin and Edinburgh (1984-1990), did my PhD in Molecular Biology at Freie Uni Berlin, and hold an MBA from ESCP-EAP (Paris). I managed Biotech firms from 1997 to 2005 (Mologen AG, Crystax Pharmaceuticals). I am now partner at Mittepatent, Germany. Our IP practice started 2009 and has grown to over 40 team members this year; we provide patent and trademark work to a broad range of clients from leading European academia (Universities Zürich, Basel, Bern, ETH, Lisboa, Algarve, Max Planck), start-ups and large industry.

She has substantial experience in the pharmaceutical industry across R&D, commercial and administrative functions having held leadership positions in the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, the European Innovative Medicines Initiative and collaborated with NHS England, NICE and Public Health England. Neelam regularly supports companies with R&D, advising on the UK regulatory and access landscape, and is actively working to shape delivery of appropriate real estate infrastructure for life sciences companies. Other roles include seats on the advisory board of the Innovation Centre in Digital Molecular Technologies at the University of Cambridge, London Health Data Strategy Programme Stakeholder Board, and the board of the Health Research Authority.

Nuno Arantes-Oliveira is an entrepreneur, investor, and academic with a strong scientific background and a passion for innovation, particularly in Life Sciences and Healthcare. He is one of the four Partners at Clinical Research Ventures (CRV), a Boston-based global investment fund focused on clinical-stage biotech and medtech companies.
Nuno began his career as a graduate student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where his research on the genetics of aging resulted in several high-impact publications, including three in Science. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology and, since 2003, has founded and/or served as CEO of multiple companies in Europe and the U.S. across fields such as technology transfer, drug development, genomics, healthcare services, and aquaculture. These ventures have earned major international awards, raised tens of millions in funding, and achieved significant exits.
He has also supported leading research institutes in creating spin-offs and strengthening industry partnerships. Nuno served as President of P-BIO (Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization) from 2011 to 2015 and was a board member of Health Cluster Portugal from 2008 to 2013. He has held numerous advisory and expert roles internationally, including with government authorities and top-tier research organizations, and has negotiated collaborations across Europe, the U.S., China, Africa, and Latin America.
Nuno completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and other leading institutions. Until recently, he chaired the Investment Committee of 200M, a sovereign fund co-investing with top-tier private funds in Portuguese startups. He also maintains strong academic ties, having worked with the MIT-Portugal Program (2015–2018) and currently serving as an invited associate professor at NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA-SBE), where he teaches science-based entrepreneurship. Nuno lives in Paço de Arcos, near Lisbon, with his wife Sofia and their three children.

He began his career as an IP Manager in VIB’s technology transfer department and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2007. Jan later worked in the IP team at Bayer CropScience before returning to VIB, where he now oversees invention harvesting, business development, and IP protection strategies. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from Ghent University and completed EMBO fellowships in Seville and Finland. Jan is also a part-time professor at Ghent University.

Anabela Carvalho is a highly skilled European patent, trademark, and design attorney, with a strong focus on chemical and pharmaceutical matters. She was among the first professionals in Portugal to pass the European Qualifying Examination. Anabela is also a Portuguese patent and trademark attorney and an accredited industrial property agent. She holds a degree in Bioengineering from the University of Minho, Portugal. Known for her commitment to clients, she takes a strategic approach to ensure successful patent applications and strives to deliver the best possible solutions.

Miguel Cachão is an Agronomic Engineer at AVIPE (Association of Winegrowers of the Municipality of Palmela), where he has worked since 2011. He provides technical support to farmers in integrated pest management, irrigation, and nutrition, and is responsible for sprayer inspection and calibration. Miguel also assists farmers with investment projects and delivers training programs.
In recent years, he has become increasingly involved in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects, particularly at the European level. His work focuses on sustainability and circular economy initiatives in viticulture, including CO₂ sequestration from wine fermentation and the development of bio-fungicides. Miguel has contributed to several EU-funded projects such as EMBRACE, which promotes circular economy models in the agro-food sector, and REDwine, which explores CO₂ capture from winemaking to produce algae for use in food, cosmetics, and energy.
Miguel holds a degree in Animal Science, a postgraduate qualification in Foresight, Strategy, and Innovation, and is completing a second postgraduate degree in Oenology. His efforts aim to combine technical expertise with innovative solutions to enhance sustainability in the wine sector.

Sandra Sousa Joanes is Director of Investments and a member of the Investment Committee at BlueCrow Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm based in Lisbon, Portugal. She joined BlueCrow in 2020, bringing extensive experience in finance and investment management. Previously, Sandra served as Chief Financial Officer at VSM Capital SGPS (2016–2017) and worked as an Equity Analyst at Espírito Santo Investment Bank (BESI) for a decade.
Sandra holds an undergraduate degree from Instituto Superior de Gestão and a graduate degree from ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management. She has also completed advanced training in Artificial Intelligence at Técnico+ Formação Avançada. Her expertise spans investment strategy, financial analysis, and portfolio management, with a strong focus on supporting innovative companies and sustainable growth.

João Inácio is Co-Founder and General Partner at Biovance Capital, a €51M investment fund focused on early-stage biotech companies across Europe, developing innovative therapeutics in all disease areas and modalities, including small and large molecules, vaccines, cell, and gene therapies.
A medical doctor by training, João holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from the University of Porto and Harvard Medical School. His career spans multiple dimensions of the healthcare sector, from consulting and biotechnology to start-ups in artificial intelligence and microbiome research. Before founding Biovance Capital, João worked on projects developing new therapies and cutting-edge technologies, combining scientific expertise with entrepreneurial vision.
He has lived and worked in Boston for nearly six years, gaining experience in one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems. João is passionate about fostering innovation in healthcare and supporting companies that aim to deliver transformative solutions for patients with unmet medical needs.

Alexandre Esteban is programme manager at the Department of Research and Innovation of “la Caixa” Foundation. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has extensive experience in scientific research in the biotechnology field as a researcher at high innovative institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007-2014) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (2014-2016). He has managed Horizon2020 projects supported by the European Research Council and from the Science With and For Society programme to promote Responsible Innovation. He has also participated in the coordination of initiatives to promote innovation in health in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health). He is currently a member of the coordination committee of the CaixaResearch Validate and Consolidate start-up accelerator programmes (“la Caixa” Foundation) to promote biomedical projects in the initial and intermediate stages of technology transfer through financing and personalized support.

Anabel has broad experience in evaluation of technologies in life sciences, intellectual asset management, licensing, business development and new ventures. Since 2010, she has held managerial positions in technology transfer at three research excellence centers in Spain, CNB-CSIC (Biotechnology), CNIO (Cancer) and since 2019, at CRG (Genomics). Previously she worked for more than a decade in a spin-off (CropDesing) of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and in the multinational company BASF. She has implemented innovation processes and successfully supported establishment of numerous public-private research partnerships and IPR transactions. A chemist by training, she holds a Master’s in Science from the U. Wales, UK, a PhD in Biology from the Autonomous University in Madrid (ES), postdoctoral experience in Spain and Belgium and an Executive Master in Science and Technology Business from IE business school.

Anji is a technology transfer professional with more than 18 years’ experience of working with early-stage translational research. Anji has extensive experience of IP and contract management, licensing, business development of healthcare technologies and development of knowledge transfer policies. Her current role at LifeArc involves working with academic and charitable establishments to identify, cultivate, fund, and commercialise early-stage healthcare technologies, focusing on rare diseases and advance therapies. As a proponent for professional advancement in technology transfer, Anji developed and leads the LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer Training Fellowship programme. This collaborative initiative with AUTM, is designed to train and assist scientists to become technology transfer professionals. An advocate of equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Anji cofounded Global Equality, Diversity and Equality in Technology Transfer (GEDITT), an initiative with a mission to raise awareness and promote EDI in the technology transfer sector. Previous roles include Intellectual Property, Contract, Technology Transfer and Business Development positions at the Wellcome Trust, St George’s University London and Thomson Pharma. Anji holds an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics and Ph.D in Cancer Genetics from Imperial College, as well as an M.Sc. and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She is a certified project manager (PRINCE2), registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) and a certified licensing professional (CLP). Anji sits on the boards of AUTM, ASTP, and is a member of: the BioIndustry Association Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and AUTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.

I studied chemistry in Berlin and Edinburgh (1984-1990), did my PhD in Molecular Biology at Freie Uni Berlin, and hold an MBA from ESCP-EAP (Paris). I managed Biotech firms from 1997 to 2005 (Mologen AG, Crystax Pharmaceuticals). I am now partner at Mittepatent, Germany. Our IP practice started 2009 and has grown to over 40 team members this year; we provide patent and trademark work to a broad range of clients from leading European academia (Universities Zürich, Basel, Bern, ETH, Lisboa, Algarve, Max Planck), start-ups and large industry.

Silke Meyns is Head of the IP Group at ETH Transfer. She studied Chemistry at the University of Hamburg and earned a PhD in Food Science from ETH Zurich. Silke began her career at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), where she led an analytical laboratory for nine years before joining ETH Transfer in 2001 as a technology transfer manager. After further training in intellectual property law, she became Head of the “Patents and Licenses” group until 2022. Silke also holds a CAS in General Management from the University of Zurich and is an active member of swiTT, GDCh, LES, and ASTP.

Dr. Pamela Tranter is Head of the Translational Research Group at University College London (UCL), a role she has held since 2016 after joining the group in 2014. She has extensive experience in drug discovery, having worked in the pharmaceutical industry at Ciba-Geigy and Novartis. At Novartis, Pamela led the Respiratory Disease Ion Channel Group, where she implemented advanced automated electrophysiology technologies to accelerate the development of ion channel targets.

Pamela holds a PhD in Platelet Biochemistry from the Royal Free Hospital Medical School. Throughout her career, she has led multiple thrombosis and respiratory projects, managed cross-functional and global teams, and developed strong expertise in translational research. At UCL, she plays a key role in connecting academia with industry and funding bodies, supporting advanced therapy projects such as AAV and CAR-T cell therapies, and fostering innovation through strategic partnerships.

Ana Rita Santos is a scientist at VIB Discovery Sciences in Belgium, specializing in biotechnology and bioengineering. She holds an Integrated Master’s degree in Biological Engineering (2015) from Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon) and a PhD in Biotechnology and Biosciences (2023) through the BIOTECnico program, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich.

Her research focuses on downstream processing of clinically relevant biomolecules, with a strong emphasis on biomanufacturing strategies to improve accessibility to healthcare. Ana Rita has contributed to multiple projects involving nanostructures, biosensors, and advanced drug delivery systems, and has authored several scientific publications. She is also actively engaged in science communication and outreach initiatives.

Anabela Carvalho is a highly skilled European patent, trademark, and design attorney, with a strong focus on chemical and pharmaceutical matters. She was among the first professionals in Portugal to pass the European Qualifying Examination. Anabela is also a Portuguese patent and trademark attorney and an accredited industrial property agent. She holds a degree in Bioengineering from the University of Minho, Portugal. Known for her commitment to clients, she takes a strategic approach to ensure successful patent applications and strives to deliver the best possible solutions.

She has substantial experience in the pharmaceutical industry across R&D, commercial and administrative functions having held leadership positions in the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, the European Innovative Medicines Initiative and collaborated with NHS England, NICE and Public Health England. Neelam regularly supports companies with R&D, advising on the UK regulatory and access landscape, and is actively working to shape delivery of appropriate real estate infrastructure for life sciences companies. Other roles include seats on the advisory board of the Innovation Centre in Digital Molecular Technologies at the University of Cambridge, London Health Data Strategy Programme Stakeholder Board, and the board of the Health Research Authority.

Nuno Arantes-Oliveira is an entrepreneur, investor, and academic with a strong scientific background and a passion for innovation, particularly in Life Sciences and Healthcare. He is one of the four Partners at Clinical Research Ventures (CRV), a Boston-based global investment fund focused on clinical-stage biotech and medtech companies.
Nuno began his career as a graduate student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where his research on the genetics of aging resulted in several high-impact publications, including three in Science. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology and, since 2003, has founded and/or served as CEO of multiple companies in Europe and the U.S. across fields such as technology transfer, drug development, genomics, healthcare services, and aquaculture. These ventures have earned major international awards, raised tens of millions in funding, and achieved significant exits.
He has also supported leading research institutes in creating spin-offs and strengthening industry partnerships. Nuno served as President of P-BIO (Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization) from 2011 to 2015 and was a board member of Health Cluster Portugal from 2008 to 2013. He has held numerous advisory and expert roles internationally, including with government authorities and top-tier research organizations, and has negotiated collaborations across Europe, the U.S., China, Africa, and Latin America.
Nuno completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and other leading institutions. Until recently, he chaired the Investment Committee of 200M, a sovereign fund co-investing with top-tier private funds in Portuguese startups. He also maintains strong academic ties, having worked with the MIT-Portugal Program (2015–2018) and currently serving as an invited associate professor at NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA-SBE), where he teaches science-based entrepreneurship. Nuno lives in Paço de Arcos, near Lisbon, with his wife Sofia and their three children.

Jan Demolder is Head of Intellectual Property at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
He began his career as an IP Manager in VIB’s technology transfer department and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2007. Jan later worked in the IP team at Bayer CropScience before returning to VIB, where he now oversees invention harvesting, business development, and IP protection strategies. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from Ghent University and completed EMBO fellowships in Seville and Finland. Jan is also a part-time professor at Ghent University.

Alexandre Esteban is programme manager at the Department of Research and Innovation of “la Caixa” Foundation. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has extensive experience in scientific research in the biotechnology field as a researcher at high innovative institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007-2014) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (2014-2016). He has managed Horizon2020 projects supported by the European Research Council and from the Science With and For Society programme to promote Responsible Innovation. He has also participated in the coordination of initiatives to promote innovation in health in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health). He is currently a member of the coordination committee of the CaixaResearch Validate and Consolidate start-up accelerator programmes (“la Caixa” Foundation) to promote biomedical projects in the initial and intermediate stages of technology transfer through financing and personalized support.

Anabel has broad experience in evaluation of technologies in life sciences, intellectual asset management, licensing, business development and new ventures. Since 2010, she has held managerial positions in technology transfer at three research excellence centers in Spain, CNB-CSIC (Biotechnology), CNIO (Cancer) and since 2019, at CRG (Genomics). Previously she worked for more than a decade in a spin-off (CropDesing) of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and in the multinational company BASF. She has implemented innovation processes and successfully supported establishment of numerous public-private research partnerships and IPR transactions. A chemist by training, she holds a Master’s in Science from the U. Wales, UK, a PhD in Biology from the Autonomous University in Madrid (ES), postdoctoral experience in Spain and Belgium and an Executive Master in Science and Technology Business from IE business school.

Anji is a technology transfer professional with more than 18 years’ experience of working with early-stage translational research. Anji has extensive experience of IP and contract management, licensing, business development of healthcare technologies and development of knowledge transfer policies. Her current role at LifeArc involves working with academic and charitable establishments to identify, cultivate, fund, and commercialise early-stage healthcare technologies, focusing on rare diseases and advance therapies. As a proponent for professional advancement in technology transfer, Anji developed and leads the LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer Training Fellowship programme. This collaborative initiative with AUTM, is designed to train and assist scientists to become technology transfer professionals. An advocate of equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Anji cofounded Global Equality, Diversity and Equality in Technology Transfer (GEDITT), an initiative with a mission to raise awareness and promote EDI in the technology transfer sector. Previous roles include Intellectual Property, Contract, Technology Transfer and Business Development positions at the Wellcome Trust, St George’s University London and Thomson Pharma. Anji holds an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics and Ph.D in Cancer Genetics from Imperial College, as well as an M.Sc. and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She is a certified project manager (PRINCE2), registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) and a certified licensing professional (CLP). Anji sits on the boards of AUTM, ASTP, and is a member of: the BioIndustry Association Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and AUTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.

I studied chemistry in Berlin and Edinburgh (1984-1990), did my PhD in Molecular Biology at Freie Uni Berlin, and hold an MBA from ESCP-EAP (Paris). I managed Biotech firms from 1997 to 2005 (Mologen AG, Crystax Pharmaceuticals). I am now partner at Mittepatent, Germany. Our IP practice started 2009 and has grown to over 40 team members this year; we provide patent and trademark work to a broad range of clients from leading European academia (Universities Zürich, Basel, Bern, ETH, Lisboa, Algarve, Max Planck), start-ups and large industry.

Silke Meyns is Head of the IP Group at ETH Transfer. She studied Chemistry at the University of Hamburg and earned a PhD in Food Science from ETH Zurich. Silke began her career at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), where she led an analytical laboratory for nine years before joining ETH Transfer in 2001 as a technology transfer manager. After further training in intellectual property law, she became Head of the “Patents and Licenses” group until 2022. Silke also holds a CAS in General Management from the University of Zurich and is an active member of swiTT, GDCh, LES, and ASTP.

She has substantial experience in the pharmaceutical industry across R&D, commercial and administrative functions having held leadership positions in the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, the European Innovative Medicines Initiative and collaborated with NHS England, NICE and Public Health England. Neelam regularly supports companies with R&D, advising on the UK regulatory and access landscape, and is actively working to shape delivery of appropriate real estate infrastructure for life sciences companies. Other roles include seats on the advisory board of the Innovation Centre in Digital Molecular Technologies at the University of Cambridge, London Health Data Strategy Programme Stakeholder Board, and the board of the Health Research Authority.

Anabela Carvalho is a highly skilled European patent, trademark, and design attorney, with a strong focus on chemical and pharmaceutical matters. She was among the first professionals in Portugal to pass the European Qualifying Examination. Anabela is also a Portuguese patent and trademark attorney and an accredited industrial property agent. She holds a degree in Bioengineering from the University of Minho, Portugal. Known for her commitment to clients, she takes a strategic approach to ensure successful patent applications and strives to deliver the best possible solutions.

Nuno Arantes-Oliveira is an entrepreneur, investor, and academic with a strong scientific background and a passion for innovation, particularly in Life Sciences and Healthcare. He is one of the four Partners at Clinical Research Ventures (CRV), a Boston-based global investment fund focused on clinical-stage biotech and medtech companies.
Nuno began his career as a graduate student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where his research on the genetics of aging resulted in several high-impact publications, including three in Science. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology and, since 2003, has founded and/or served as CEO of multiple companies in Europe and the U.S. across fields such as technology transfer, drug development, genomics, healthcare services, and aquaculture. These ventures have earned major international awards, raised tens of millions in funding, and achieved significant exits.
He has also supported leading research institutes in creating spin-offs and strengthening industry partnerships. Nuno served as President of P-BIO (Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization) from 2011 to 2015 and was a board member of Health Cluster Portugal from 2008 to 2013. He has held numerous advisory and expert roles internationally, including with government authorities and top-tier research organizations, and has negotiated collaborations across Europe, the U.S., China, Africa, and Latin America.
Nuno completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and other leading institutions. Until recently, he chaired the Investment Committee of 200M, a sovereign fund co-investing with top-tier private funds in Portuguese startups. He also maintains strong academic ties, having worked with the MIT-Portugal Program (2015–2018) and currently serving as an invited associate professor at NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA-SBE), where he teaches science-based entrepreneurship. Nuno lives in Paço de Arcos, near Lisbon, with his wife Sofia and their three children.

Jan Demolder is Head of Intellectual Property at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
He began his career as an IP Manager in VIB’s technology transfer department and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2007. Jan later worked in the IP team at Bayer CropScience before returning to VIB, where he now oversees invention harvesting, business development, and IP protection strategies. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from Ghent University and completed EMBO fellowships in Seville and Finland. Jan is also a part-time professor at Ghent University.

Jane has extensive experience in developing therapies to clinical benefit gained from >25 years working in large pharma and academia. Her experience has spanned the drug discovery pathway from target validation, lead optimisation, candidate selection through to the clinic and to marketing authorisation. Jane is a molecular/cell biologist with a degree in biochemistry and PhD from the University of Surrey, from where she joined Glaxo Group Research in 1993. Jane has lead 4 programmes to clinical candidate selection.

Dr. Maryam Atakhorrami is Global Department Manager for Digital Health, IVD, and Regulatory Affairs at Novo Nordisk. She is an accomplished healthcare innovation consultant with over 16 years of leadership experience across industry, academia, and healthcare systems. Maryam has worked with organizations such as Philips, AINOSTICS, UCL, UCLH BRC, and HDRUK London. She is an expert evaluator for the European Commission and Enterprise Ireland, focusing on disruptive technologies and healthcare R&D. Maryam holds a PhD in Biophysics and has extensive experience in building partnerships, commercializing research, and advising health tech start-ups. She has published widely and holds several patents in health technology innovation.

Electra Gizeli is a Professor in the Dept. of Biology at the University of Crete and Affiliated Researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). She has served as an industrial consultant and as a member of the experts' committee for defining the area of advanced micro-nano-bio systems and devices in Greece. Currently, she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Joint Undertaking EDCP3 and evaluator of numerous funding bodies (Welcome-Trust; the EU; HFSP, etc.). Her scientific interests include biosensor and biophysics as well as nanotechnology, molecular diagnostics, and micro-engineering . The transfer of innovative concepts from the lab to the end-user has been a main focus of her work, with emphasis on the development of molecular diagnostic tools at the point-of-care for global application in healthcare and agrofood safety. She is the co-founder of two spin-out companies of IMBB-FORTH: BIOPIX DNA Technology and Advanced Wave Sensors Diagnostics (AWS Dx).

Alexandre Esteban is programme manager at the Department of Research and Innovation of “la Caixa” Foundation. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has extensive experience in scientific research in the biotechnology field as a researcher at high innovative institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007-2014) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (2014-2016). He has managed Horizon2020 projects supported by the European Research Council and from the Science With and For Society programme to promote Responsible Innovation. He has also participated in the coordination of initiatives to promote innovation in health in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Health). He is currently a member of the coordination committee of the CaixaResearch Validate and Consolidate start-up accelerator programmes (“la Caixa” Foundation) to promote biomedical projects in the initial and intermediate stages of technology transfer through financing and personalized support.

Anabel has broad experience in evaluation of technologies in life sciences, intellectual asset management, licensing, business development and new ventures. Since 2010, she has held managerial positions in technology transfer at three research excellence centers in Spain, CNB-CSIC (Biotechnology), CNIO (Cancer) and since 2019, at CRG (Genomics). Previously she worked for more than a decade in a spin-off (CropDesing) of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and in the multinational company BASF. She has implemented innovation processes and successfully supported establishment of numerous public-private research partnerships and IPR transactions. A chemist by training, she holds a Master’s in Science from the U. Wales, UK, a PhD in Biology from the Autonomous University in Madrid (ES), postdoctoral experience in Spain and Belgium and an Executive Master in Science and Technology Business from IE business school.

Anji is a technology transfer professional with more than 18 years’ experience of working with early-stage translational research. Anji has extensive experience of IP and contract management, licensing, business development of healthcare technologies and development of knowledge transfer policies. Her current role at LifeArc involves working with academic and charitable establishments to identify, cultivate, fund, and commercialise early-stage healthcare technologies, focusing on rare diseases and advance therapies. As a proponent for professional advancement in technology transfer, Anji developed and leads the LifeArc-AUTM Technology Transfer Training Fellowship programme. This collaborative initiative with AUTM, is designed to train and assist scientists to become technology transfer professionals. An advocate of equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Anji cofounded Global Equality, Diversity and Equality in Technology Transfer (GEDITT), an initiative with a mission to raise awareness and promote EDI in the technology transfer sector. Previous roles include Intellectual Property, Contract, Technology Transfer and Business Development positions at the Wellcome Trust, St George’s University London and Thomson Pharma. Anji holds an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics and Ph.D in Cancer Genetics from Imperial College, as well as an M.Sc. and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. She is a certified project manager (PRINCE2), registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) and a certified licensing professional (CLP). Anji sits on the boards of AUTM, ASTP, and is a member of: the BioIndustry Association Cell & Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and AUTM Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.

I studied chemistry in Berlin and Edinburgh (1984-1990), did my PhD in Molecular Biology at Freie Uni Berlin, and hold an MBA from ESCP-EAP (Paris). I managed Biotech firms from 1997 to 2005 (Mologen AG, Crystax Pharmaceuticals). I am now partner at Mittepatent, Germany. Our IP practice started 2009 and has grown to over 40 team members this year; we provide patent and trademark work to a broad range of clients from leading European academia (Universities Zürich, Basel, Bern, ETH, Lisboa, Algarve, Max Planck), start-ups and large industry.

Nuno Arantes-Oliveira is an entrepreneur, investor, and academic with a strong scientific background and a passion for innovation, particularly in Life Sciences and Healthcare. He is one of the four Partners at Clinical Research Ventures (CRV), a Boston-based global investment fund focused on clinical-stage biotech and medtech companies.
Nuno began his career as a graduate student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where his research on the genetics of aging resulted in several high-impact publications, including three in Science. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology and, since 2003, has founded and/or served as CEO of multiple companies in Europe and the U.S. across fields such as technology transfer, drug development, genomics, healthcare services, and aquaculture. These ventures have earned major international awards, raised tens of millions in funding, and achieved significant exits.
He has also supported leading research institutes in creating spin-offs and strengthening industry partnerships. Nuno served as President of P-BIO (Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization) from 2011 to 2015 and was a board member of Health Cluster Portugal from 2008 to 2013. He has held numerous advisory and expert roles internationally, including with government authorities and top-tier research organizations, and has negotiated collaborations across Europe, the U.S., China, Africa, and Latin America.
Nuno completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and other leading institutions. Until recently, he chaired the Investment Committee of 200M, a sovereign fund co-investing with top-tier private funds in Portuguese startups. He also maintains strong academic ties, having worked with the MIT-Portugal Program (2015–2018) and currently serving as an invited associate professor at NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA-SBE), where he teaches science-based entrepreneurship. Nuno lives in Paço de Arcos, near Lisbon, with his wife Sofia and their three children.

Jan Demolder is Head of Intellectual Property at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
He began his career as an IP Manager in VIB’s technology transfer department and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2007. Jan later worked in the IP team at Bayer CropScience before returning to VIB, where he now oversees invention harvesting, business development, and IP protection strategies. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from Ghent University and completed EMBO fellowships in Seville and Finland. Jan is also a part-time professor at Ghent University.

Jane has extensive experience in developing therapies to clinical benefit gained from >25 years working in large pharma and academia. Her experience has spanned the drug discovery pathway from target validation, lead optimisation, candidate selection through to the clinic and to marketing authorisation. Jane is a molecular/cell biologist with a degree in biochemistry and PhD from the University of Surrey, from where she joined Glaxo Group Research in 1993. Jane has lead 4 programmes to clinical candidate selection.

Dr. Maryam Atakhorrami is Global Department Manager for Digital Health, IVD, and Regulatory Affairs at Novo Nordisk. She is an accomplished healthcare innovation consultant with over 16 years of leadership experience across industry, academia, and healthcare systems. Maryam has worked with organizations such as Philips, AINOSTICS, UCL, UCLH BRC, and HDRUK London. She is an expert evaluator for the European Commission and Enterprise Ireland, focusing on disruptive technologies and healthcare R&D. Maryam holds a PhD in Biophysics and has extensive experience in building partnerships, commercializing research, and advising health tech start-ups. She has published widely and holds several patents in health technology innovation.

Lino Dias is Vice President at Bayer AG, leading the global Smallholder Farming initiative within the Crop Science Division. Since 2015, his work has focused on empowering smallholder farmers and building profitable, sustainable food value chains. He conceived the Better Life Farming (BLF) alliance—a consortium of Bayer and partners from the public and private sectors—launched in 2018. Today, BLF operates in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Honduras, with nearly 1,900 centers reaching over 700,000 farmers, and is expanding to other regions. This initiative received special recognition from the UNECE for its stakeholder engagement, and Lino recently co-authored a Harvard Business Review case study on BLF.
Lino maintains strong ties with academia and recently became an Invited Professor at the University of Lisbon. He began his career at Bayer in 2001 in R&D and has since led numerous business projects worldwide in areas such as supply chain, communication and change management, IT, product management, and strategic marketing. Previously, he served as management support to the CEO.
He holds a degree and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lisbon (Instituto Superior Técnico) and completed an internship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA). Throughout his career, he has attended executive programs at leading business schools in the UK, Spain, and Switzerland. Lino speaks six languages fluently, is married with four daughters, and has received several international awards, as well as a City Medal from his hometown, Portalegre, Portugal.