Dr Stéphane CROS, Senior Scientist, CEA-Liten, France
Dr Stéphane CROS has a Ph.D. in physico-chemistry in 2002 from the University Paris VI, working nanocomposite organic/inorganic materials. After a first experience in the field of polymer processing, he joined the CEA in 2004 to develop the thematic of encapsulation, gas barrier measurements and barrier materials in the Organic PV team. Since 2005, he is working in the Department of Technological Research within the French National Institute for Solar Energy (CEA/INES) He is now in charge of the stability issues regarding Perovskite based PV technologies (single junction and tandem with silicon).
Dr Luca Belforte, Technical Fellow for battery materials Centro Ricerche FIAT (CRF), Italy
Luca Belforte (male), Dr. General Physics, University of Torino, 2003. He currently works at Centro Ricerche FIAT (CRF), part of the Stellantis group, in the Sustainable Raw Materials department as Technical Fellow for battery materials. He is experienced in microscopy and surface characterization. He was the scientific responsible for CRF of H2020, FP7 and FP6 European funded projects: E-STARS, NANOPRIM, TERASEL, SMARTONICS, NANOBAT, NANOMECOMMONS.
David Cutler, Project Engineer, Composite Solutions, UK
David Cutler joined Haydale in March 2023. Strong background in chemistry, material science and Lean 6 Sigma project management. Previously a project leader in construction materials for Saint-Gobain, British Gypsum and Project Engineer for SmartIR a spin Graphene technology company from Manchester University leading activities in space and defense.
Dr Beatriz Alonso Rodriguez, R&D Director, KIVORO, Spain
Dr Beatriz Alonso obtained her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of the Basque Country (Spain) in 2011. During her PhD, she focused on the research of the asymmetric synthesis of organic molecules, and she did a shot stay at the University of Oxford. After completing her PhD, she joined GRAPHENEA in September 2011 as Research Scientist where she combined her work as a researcher with the production control of the graphene-based derivatives. In 2018 she started leading the R&D department of the team focus on the graphene oxide materials being responsible of the founded projects, both European and national, and private projects with companies from different sectors. She is expert in graphene oxide materials and its adaptation to different applications what helps in the developing of new additives in KIVORO.
Peter Greaves, Principal R&D Engineer – Blade Structures, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, UK
Peter Greaves is the Principal R&D Engineer (Blade Structures) working in the Research Technical Capability directorate at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. He studied Mechanical and Design Engineering at Newcastle University, which led to a brief stint working in the offshore industry. After this, he obtained an MSc in renewable energy, also from Newcastle University. His doctoral studies at Durham University were focused on bi-axial fatigue testing of wind turbine blades, and he continues to be heavily involved with blade testing at ORE Catapult. His research interests are mainly on structural simulations of blades and blade testing.
Dr Luca Sorbello, Director, Halocell, Italy
Luca Sorbello holds a Master of Arts in “Business Organization and Management” from the Engineering Management school at Tor Vergata. Since 2004 he has been an adjunct professor at Tor Vergata University in Rome. From 2005-2008 Luca completed his Ph.D. in Industrial Management at the University of Tor Vergata (Rome). From 2011 to 2018, Luca Sorbello was Executive Sales and Marketing Manager of Greatcell Solar group. He has subsequently been appointed as Managing Director for Greatcell Solar Italia.
Dr Elvira Villaro, CTO Chief Technology Officer, Avanzare, Spain
Elvira Villaro, PhD Chemistry, focused on nanomaterials and composites.
She is specialized in the new and advance materials sector, in particular in graphene and other 2D nanomaterials and its composites. Her research involves the development and characterization of nanomaterials with new functionalities and advanced properties, applicate to energy, packaging, automotive and building sectors.
She has more than ten years of professional experience in coordination, supervision and execution of collaborative R&D projects (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, FP7, etc.) in materials, nanomaterials and composites. She has undertaken different tasks including: project management, technically and economically, coordination of the research groups and entities involved (as Project Coordinator), research and development, analysis and design, data gathering and evaluation of results. She has also seven years of experience in the preparation and submission of proposals for national and international funding calls (EUROSTARS, SME Instrument, EIC Accelerator, HE, H2020).
Alberto Fernández Vicente AIMEN Technology Center, Spain
Alberto Fernández has more than 25 years of experience in the field of materials science of metallic and polymer-based composite materials. As part of his research activities, he has been involved in numerous National and European projects leading with the optimization of steel processing and laser-based surface treatment and cladding of metal-based components for improved wear and corrosion behaviour. During the last 10 years, he has oriented his research interests towards the understanding and controlling of optimized process parameters during the manufacturing of composite products, using state-of-the-art liquid composite moulding techniques and more advanced additive manufacturing processes, such as fused filament/pellet fabrication and automated fibre placement technologies. This includes the application of new spectroscopic and NDT techniques for monitoring of materials transformation and defects occurrence during laser-based AM of metals and polymers and automated laying-up of composites. In 2015, he joined the business development unit at AIMEN, where he has been significantly active in the promotion and generation of concept ideas for developing AIMEN´s R&D capabilities and competences within Regional, National and EU framework programs. This includes previous R&D topics together with digital methods applied to composite manufacturing, sensors and systems for product and process systems monitoring, functional materials for energy generation and storage, and high-performance materials for improved durability of and industrial assets. He has published more than 25 national and international paper and has collaborated and managed the elaboration phase of more than 100 proposals. Currently, he is coordinating the participation of AIMEN in several National and EU associations and elaborating the strategic vision of the Technology Centre with respect to Advanced Composite Technologies.
Lourdes Blanco Salgado, CTO Chief Technology Officer, AIMEN Technology Center, Spain
Lourdes Blanco Salgado holds both a MSc in Chemistry (Physical-Chemistry) and a MSc in Welding Engineering from the University of Vigo (Spain). She has experience in non-destructive inspection of materials. She has more than 10 years of experience in composite materials and testing. She was involved in several projects in the field of advanced manufacturing processes for composite and multi-materials for the automotive, naval, aeronautical and wind sectors.
Dr Marta Mirolo, Scientist, European Synchrotron (ESRF), France
Marta Mirolo is a scientist at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. She earned her Ph.D. at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the Swiss Light Source, focusing on spectroscopy studies of lithium-ion battery surfaces. In 2020, Marta joined ESRF as a researcher, working on beamline ID31 to enhance her expertise in diffraction techniques. Since 2023, she has been part of the ESRF’s Structure of Materials group, contributing to the EU-funded ReMade@ARI project, which supports research in circular economy by facilitating access to European research infrastructures. In this role, Marta specializes in X-ray diffraction facilities, assisting researchers in selecting and utilizing the most suitable beamlines for their experiments.
Ferry Kienberger, Country Manager, Keysight Technologies Austria GmbH
Austria
Ferry Kienberger is Keysight Austria Country Manager and Keysight Labs Group leader on battery research since 2015. Prior to this he was Scientist at Agilent Technologies from 2007 to 2015. His university education includes a PhD in Technical Physics and the Habilitation in Nanotechnology, both at JKU Linz. The scientific track record includes 140+ scientific peer reviewed publications (including Nature Publishing Group, AAAS Science, PNAS USA, and IEEE Transactions) with an H-factor 41 and 5000+ citations; he supervised 10 PhD theses. He was coordinator and lead partner in 15+ EU projects for Keysight and Agilent, 7 national projects, 2 international projects, and 3 metrology EU projects. He serves as a vice-chair for the Horizon Europe program and is a former member of the OECD business and industry advisory council.
Dr Krzysztof Koziol, Head of the Electric Carbon Nanomaterials Group, Cranfield University, UK
Dr Krzysztof Koziol is the Head of the Electric Carbon Nanomaterials Group. His current research is in the area of synthesis and applications of substrate-bound and gas-phase-grown carbon nanotubes, with a particular focus on chirality control of carbon nanotubes. In addition, he is exploring two methods of making carbon nanotube fibres; the first is based on direct and continuous spinning from carbon nanotube aerogel, where up to 70 meters per minute of fibres can be achieved. These fibres show exceptional mechanical properties – a combination of strength, stiffness and toughness – but also very high electrical and thermal conductivity. The second method is based on spinning Carbon Nanotube fibres from liquid dispersion of well-defined structures of carbon nanotubes. During his previous research projects, he developed various methods for the synthesis, purification, chemical modification and fabrication of highly aligned nanotubes and polymer composites. In addition he discovered a new synthesis route which solves the problem of the chirality control challenges of carbon nanotubes. Using this process he has been able to synthesise armchair or zigzag type nanotubes. His other current research interests include: post treatment and applications of pure carbon nanotube and carbon nanotube polymer composites as well as design and testing of various devices based on carbon nanotube wire technology.
Immaculada Miracle Montserrat
Energy Area Leader & Business Development Manager, Leitat, Spain
Immaculada Miracle Montserrat is Energy Area Leader & Business Development Manager in the field of management and promotion of European cooperations. Immaculada currently performs this role at the LEITAT Technological Center (Barcelona, Spain) and previously at the Institut National de l’Énergie Solaire (Bourget-du-Lac, France), where she defined a medium-term strategic business plan and suggested ways to better promote its services in new market segments, helping to increase the number of partnerships by 30%. Previously, she worked as a project coordinator at the same French technology centre, as well as at the United Nations (UN) (Geneva, Switzerland) promoting South-South and Triangular Cooperation between governments, international organisations and the private sector to consolidate green industrial policies, finance and green cities. Her contribution to European projects on energy poverty was realised during her experience at the NGO Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo (Barcelona, Spain). Immaculada holds a degree in Political Science and Administration from the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain) and a master’s degree in international development -focused on Energy, Europe and Human Rights- from the prestigious Sciences Po University (Paris, France). She has additional ongoing training in business development and solar photovoltaic and thermal engineering. Last but not least, she has co-authored six books, and articles in scientific and governance journals, which have had a wide impact not only on European projects but also on renewable energy platforms. Three of them to be highlighted are:
- Miracle Montserrat, I. (2024). Colaboración pública y privada en materia de comunidades energéticas locales: especial referencia a la iniciativa empresarial. En A. Galán Galán y I. Zamora Santa Brígida, Comunidades Energéticas Locales (pp. 185-203). Fundación Democracia y Gobierno Local.
- Miracle Montserrat, Immaculada (2023). La Transición energética y el cambio climático, catalizadores de la igualdad de género. Perspectiva de género en el sector energético en Iberoamérica, in L. Carlos Mussó (Eds.), Perspectiva de género en el sector energético en Iberoamérica (p. 12-25), UTEG, https://www.uteg.edu.ec/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Libro-ASIDE.pdf.
- Del Guayo Castiella, I., and Miracle Montserrat, I. (2021). ‘El COVID-19 y los consumidores vulnerables. Reflexiones a propósito del Real Decreto-ley núm. 37/2020, de 22 de diciembre de 2020’, Club Español de la Energía, Cuadernos de Energía Nro. 65., https://www.enerclub.es/frontNotebookAction/Biblioteca_/Publicaciones_Enerclub/Cuadernos/Art_CEN65.
Eduard Borràs
Area Manager, Bioelectrochemical Technologies Area, Leitat, Spain
Eduard Borràs Camps holds a degree in Environmental Sciences (2005) and a PhD in Environmental Science and Technology (2011) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His research experience has focused on environmental biotechnology in projects related to bioremediation, waste valorization, and bioelectrochemical systems (BES). He was a visiting researcher at the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory of the Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. His recent professional career has focused on the execution and management of projects for energy production (biogas and hydrogen), CO₂ conversion, nutrient recovery, pollutant removal, and drinking water production in various international and national R&D projects. In addition, he has participated in several conferences and published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and book chapters. He has been an assistant and associate professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an associate professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. He currently works as an Area Manager in the Bioelectrochemical Technologies Area in the Circular Economy and Decarbonization Department of Leitat. He is a member of the International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET) and a representative of Leitat at the CO₂ Value Europe platform.
Lorenzo Bautista
Group Leader of Surface Technologies, R&D Advanced Materials Division, Leitat, Spain
Dr Lorenzo Bautista has a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and a Chemical Engineering degree by the University of Barcelona (UB). He holds also a Postgraduate in Paint Technologies by Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS). He has taken part in different research projects, published in different scientific journals, and presented results in international congresses. At present, Lorenzo Bautista works as Surface Chemistry Area Manager in the Applied Chemistry and Materials Department of LEITAT. He coordinates R&D projects related to sustainable and circular materials and surfaces, including nano-enabled coatings. He specialized in several applied research areas such as surface preparation and functionalization by plasma technologies; printing inks, paints, coatings and adhesives; encapsulation; surface cleaners; lubricants; surface disinfection technologies and surface analysis. He is currently a representative of Leitat at the Advanced Materials Clúster of Catalonia (Clúster MAV) and at the Spanish Technology Platform of Advanced Materials and Nanomaterials (Materplat).
Marcel Boerrigter
Scientific Referee – Functional Materials and Processing, Leitat, Spain
Marcel Boerrigter has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Hogeschool Enschede (Saxion University of Applied Sciences), Enschede, The Netherlands (1996). From 1997 until 2012 he worked at the European Membrane Institute (EMI) in The Netherlands. He performed confidential contract research for companies/institutes worldwide and research in various European projects, in the field of membrane science and technology. Since October 2012 he has been developing his career in the Functional Materials & Processing group at LEITAT Technological Center, currently as Scientific Referee. His main focus is on proposals promotion, project management as well as dissemination activities related to investigation and development of new membranes based on nanomaterials for the separation and purification in widespread applications such as water and wastewater treatment, recycling, gas treatment, energy devices, biomedical applications and chemical industry.
His main competences involve membrane development and fabrication (flatsheet, hollow fiber and nanofibers for applications in Microfiltration (MF), Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), Reverse Osmosis (RO), Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO), Pervaporation, Gas separation and Electrodialysis, among others.
Prof. Sivaram Arepalli
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, USA
Dr. Arepalli is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University. He received his Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur and did postdoctoral work at Univ. of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. During 2013 to 2014, he was the Vice President at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), Hampton, Virginia and supported NASA Langley. From 2009 to 2013, he was a Senior Professor in the Department of Energy Science at Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. He was the Chief Scientist of the Applied Nanotechnology Program and Reentry Plasma Diagnostics Program at NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston and worked there for 22 years. He received global recognition for his work on single wall carbon nanotubes. He is an Associate Fellow of AIAA and was nominated as a Fellow of APS. His current focus is on nanomaterials for energy applications as well as nanocomposites for aerospace structures, environmental sensors and bioimplants.
Dr Ana Bankovic Cassidy
Senior Innovation Manager, Cambridge Nanomaterials Technology Ltd. UK
Dr Ana Bankovic Cassidy is a Senior Innovation Manager at CNT Ltd. At the CNT Ltd she has been working for more than four years on customised patent landscaping, technology monitoring and market research reports, preparation of the Impact section of the Horizon Europe and Innovate UK proposals and exploitation, dissemination and innovation management tasks in the projects She has wide project management, innovation management, business architecture development and computation modelling experience. Ana graduated from the Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade Serbia, winning the award for the best BSc (Honors) Thesis of the year 2007. The main aim of her PhD study and further research was to identify and explain specific kinetic phenomena that occur in positron transport in electric and magnetic field due to non-conservative nature of positronium formation. Ana applied the basic phenomenology of charged particle swarms to study the interaction of positrons with biologically relevant molecules, in order to develop and establish a benchmark for Monte Carlo codes used in positron emission tomography (PET) modelling. Her research activities were undertaken in Centre for Non-Equilibrium Processes at the Institute of Physics in Belgrade, Serbia, a large interdisciplinary group with interests ranging from theoretical, numerical and experimental studies of low temperature plasmas, to studies of positron swarms and their applications, modelling particle detectors and conducting experiments at applying plasma physics methodologies to medicine and biological applications. As a Visiting Researcher at the Open University, Milton Keynes in 2014/15, she worked on quantum chemistry treatment of positron interactions with atoms and molecules using the UKRmol quantum chemistry software.