Patents and innovation in European universities

David Matthews, International Editor, Science|Business
David is the International Editor at Science|Business, where he reports on European research and technology policy. He focuses on geopolitics, funding innovation and sectors such as artificial intelligence and nuclear fusion. Previously, he was the Europe correspondent for Times Higher Education. David is based in Berlin and covers the intersection of science, technology and global innovation.

Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, European Patent Office
Yann joined the European Patent Office (EPO) as Chief Economist in 2016. He brings extensive experience in providing economic insights on patents, innovation and economic growth. Yann regularly contributes his high-level expertise and analysis to public and expert forums. Previously, he led the Chair on IP and Markets for Technology at MINES ParisTech, where he was a professor of economics and lectured on the economics of intellectual property.

Josep M. Garrel, President, European University Association
Josep is the former Rector of Ramon Llull University (URL), Spain, and was elected European University Association (EUA) President in 2023. Josep holds a doctorate in electronic engineering and has held several leadership roles at URL, including  Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation (2002-2010) and Secretary General (2006-2010). He co-founded the Intelligent Systems Investigation Group, specialising in AI and machine learning, and has conducted research at Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.

Alexandr Hobza, Chief Economist, Directorate-General for Research & Innovation, European Commission
Alexandr is Chief Economist at the Directorate-General  for Research & Innovation, European Commission, where he leads evidence-based policymaking on science, technology and innovation. He served as a Vice-Chair of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy. Previously, he worked on structural reform assessments and advised the Director-General of DG ECFIN. Alexandr holds a PhD from the Prague University of Economics and Business and a degree in quantitative economics from the Free University of Brussels (ULB).

Fabrice Lefebvre, Vice-President Metrics & Impact, ASTP
Fabrice is a chemical engineer with a PhD in chemical sciences and a management degree. He has held leadership roles in R&D and innovation, managing profit centres in large and small companies. Since 2018, he has been the President of SATT Nord, a technology transfer office for 13 PROS and universities, and in 2024, Fabrice became Vice-President of Metrics and Impact at ASTP Board.

Francesco Lissoni, Professor of Economics, Bordeaux School of Economics
Francesco is Professor of Economics at the Bordeaux School of Economics, a Research Associate of the Department of Political Economy at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan and a Fellow of the Collaborative Institute on Migration in Paris. A PhD graduate of the University of Manchester, his research focuses on the economics of science, innovation and knowledge diffusion, with expertise in university-industry technology transfer and STEM international migration.

Peter Neuhäusler, Coordinator of Business Unit Competitiveness and Innovation Measurement, Fraunhofer ISI
Peter is Coordinator of the Business Unit Competitiveness and Innovation Measurement at the Competence Center Innovation and Knowledge Economy at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in Karlsruhe, Germany. His research focuses on patent statistics, bibliometrics and innovation indicators. Peter holds a doctorate in innovation economics from TU Berlin, where he also serves as a research fellow at the Chair of Innovation Economics. 

Reinhilde Veugelers, Professor, KU Leuven
Reinhilde is a full professor at KU Leuven in the Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation. She is a Senior Fellow at Bruegel and Peterson Institute for International Economics. Her research focuses on global innovation value chains, climate change innovation and young innovative companies. She has served as an advisor to the European Commission and on the ERC Scientific Council, contributing to science and innovation policy.

Fernando Conesa Cegarra, Director UPV-Innovation, Polytechnic University of Valencia
Fernando is the Director of the knowledge transfer office at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).  With a PhD in innovation systems, he leads UPV’s technology transfer activities, spin-off programs and proof-of-concept initiatives. He is a certified Registered Technology Transfer Professional and has advised tech transfer offices in Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. Fernando also co-founded RedTransfer, a Spanish association of tech transfer managers.

Cornelia Peuser, Stream Leader Diversity & Transformation, Observatory on Patents and Technology, European Patent Office
Cornelia is a Stream Leader in the Observatory on Patents and Technology at the European Patent Office (EPO), responsible for making patent data and information accessible to a wider audience. She coordinates Observatory projects and acts as a liaison between internal and external stakeholders. Cornelia brings her background in economics and experience in the IP service industry to her role at the EPO.

Yiannis Dimitrakopoulos, Technology Transfer Office Manager, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Yiannis is the Technology Transfer Office Manager at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). He holds a BSc in mathematics, with postgraduate studies in the field of Operational Research and Business Mathematics and also holds a PhD in Operational Research, focusing on queueing theory and stochastic optimisation. He manages NKUA’s IP portfolio, supports the launch of university spinouts and provides training workshops for researchers and technology transfer offices across Greece.