Pre-conference | 13 May

Conference wrap-up

Conclusions and announcement of 35th Annual Conference host

Day 1 | 14 May

CONFERENCE OPENING

Hannes Raffaseder

President of EURASHE and CEO of St. Pölten UAS

Hannes is a Member of the Executive Board as Chief Research & Innovation Officer of St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences and leading coordinator of E³UDRES², the Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions.

Luís Loures

President, Polytechnic University of Portalegre

Luís Loures is a full professor and the President of the Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre. During his academic career he taught in several courses in different universities,  mainly regarding the fields of landscape architecture, urban and environmental planning, circular economy, climate change, bio-based solutions, and sustainability. Since 2023, he represents the Portuguese Polytechnics Coordinating Council (CCISP) at EURASHE.

Fermelinda Carvalho

Mayor of Portalegre

Fermelinda Carvalho (PSD) is Mayor of Portalegre since July 2022.

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Fernando Alexandre

Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation

Fernando Alexandre has been Minister of Education, Science and Innovation of Portugal since 2024. He has a PhD in Economics from Birkbeck College, University of London, and is Associate Professor with Aggregation at the University of Minho. In his previous roles, he has served as Pro-Rector, Director of the School of Economics and Management and Director of the Department of Economics; Secretary of State in the Portuguese Government (2013-2015); and Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council. His research interests include macroeconomics, financial markets and the development of the Portuguese economy. He is the author or co-author of eight books, several book chapters and articles published in journals such as Labor Economics, Small Business Economics, and the Journal of Technology Transfer among others.

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Vanessa Debiais-Sainton

Member of Cabinet, European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu

Vanessa Debiais-Sainton is a Member of Cabinet for European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu since December 2024. She previously served as Head of Unit for European higher education policies at the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, leading the development of the European Education Area’s higher education dimension. Vanessa played a pivotal role in initiatives such as European Universities alliances, the European student card, and the European Strategy for Universities. Prior to joining the Commission at the Directorate-General for research and innovation in 2006, she spent eight years working in the chemical industry.

Plenary Session

Mission orientated innovation in our regions

Moderator: Liam Brown

Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation, Technological University of the Shannon

With significant public and private sector experience, Dr Liam Brown has a proven track record in strategic development and operational management of research, development, innovation, community and enterprise engagement. He leads the RDI team across all TUS campuses, Ireland’s first cross-regional Technological University and is focused on areas that have clear social, cultural, economic and environmental impact regionally, nationally and internationally. Collaboration and addressing the needs of internal and external stakeholders – academic, industry and community is a key focus along with sustained growth of funding, postgraduate and postdoctoral research across the RDI continuum. Delivering for stakeholders through impactful projects and meaningful research output is the priority.  

Dr Brown represents TUS on several external boards and is the TUS lead for the European Universities Alliance: RUN–EU.

Koen Goethals

President, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Koen Goethals obtained a Master and a PhD in Biological Sciences from Ghent University
(UGent). He pursued a career as a researcher in the field of molecular genetics and in 2002
was appointed a tenured lecturer in Molecular Genetics at UGent.

In 2004 Koen started as Chief Academic Administrator of UGent, responsible for the administration and policy in research, education, personnel, juridical affairs, communication,
and internationalization. Together with the rector, the vice-rector, and the Chief Logistic
Administrator he was responsible for the daily management of UGent. In 2017 Koen changed gears and became President (“General Director”) of the HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Ghent, Belgium).

Astrid Hannes

Head of Projects, European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)

Astrid Hannes is Head of Projects at ERRIN, the European Regions Research and Innovation Network, a Brussels-based network of 120 regional organisations from 23 European countries. ERRIN supports its members in enhancing their regional R&I capacities and developing their innovation ecosystems. ERRIN translates EU policy into regional practice in projects covering natural resources, climate adaptation, low carbon, ICT, health and cultural and creative industries. Astrid has over 20 years’ experience in regional development, EU cooperation, and R&I leadership in academia.

Luc Hulsman

Programme Manager, Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN)

Luc has been dedicated to ‘the Northern-Netherlands case’ for 15 years now. Since joining SNN as a trainee immediately after obtaining his master’s degree in Economics at the University of Groningen, he contributed to the Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) in various positions. In his current position his main responsibility is the Northern Netherlands’ Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). The Northern Netherlands was one of the first regions in Europe to connect smart specialization to societal challenges and objectives.

Luc is a member of the regional core team that has coordinated the design of  the Northern Netherlands 2021-2027 RIS3, as well as its implementation. He is member of several working groups and networks related to S3 management, at the regional, national and European level. In this respect improvements in workings of the innovation ecosystem and support structure are important themes.

Ana Paiva

Portuguese Secretary of State for Science

PhD in Computer Science in the field of artificial intelligence; Master’s and undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Researcher and university lecturer.

She was the founder of INESC-ID’s group on Artificial Intelligence for People and Society (GAIPS), which she coordinated for twenty years.

Plenary Session

Regional skills ecosystems

Moderator: Ulla Preeden

Rector, Tartu Applied Health Sciences University

Ulla Preeden is the current Rector at Tartu Applied Health Sciences University. She also represents her institution within the Estonian Rectors’ Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (RCUAS).

Joe Leddin

Manager, Mid-West Regional Skills Forum

Joe Leddin is manager of the Mid-West Regional Skills Forum (MWRSF). The forum is part of a nationwide network of fora established by the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science to foster and establish stronger links between enterprise and education providers. A graduate of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Business & Marketing, Joe has a Msc in Third Sector Management from UCC.

Frank Melis

CEO & Founder, SMRT.bio

Throughout his career, Frank dedicated himself to fostering innovations that enhance communication and collaboration. With a zeal for transforming innovative concepts into reality, he assumed senior roles at leading tech firms like Digital Equipment, AT&T, Bell Labs, and IBM. Frank excels in knowledge acquisition, dissemination, and collective growth. For the last 20 years, he has founded enterprises centred around innovation and talent management via the SMRT.bio platform, shaping its strategic vision, objectives, and culture geared towards success. His expertise spans technology, product development, talent management, coaching, assessments, implementations, and global business expansion.

Joao Santos

Expert Consultant, Education and Training Policy

Joao Santos in an expert and consultant on education and training policy, and is based in Lisbon, Portugal. During his career of 33 years at the European institution he worked in various policy fields including Scientific research and development, Industrial policy, International trade, External relations, Structural policies, and Education and training policy. In his latest assignment at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission, he worked as a Senior expert, Deputy Head of Unit, and Acting Head of Unit, in the service responsible for vocational education and training as well as the policy orientation of the Erasmus+ programme in this sector. 

Day 2 | 15 May

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Carlos Torrecilla Salinas

Head of the Innovation, Policies and Economic Impact Unit, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre

Carlos holds two Master’s degrees (in Physics and Electronic Engineering) from the University of Granada and a PhD in Software Engineering from the University of Sevilla. He has more than 15 years of experience in the field of digital technologies and innovation, in particular in the public sector, and more than 10 years in the European Commission, where he has served in various Directorates-General.

Plenary Session

Harnessing talent in regions

Tiago Pereira

Executive Member of the Managing Authority of the Alentejo 2030 Regional Programme

Tiago Fernandes Teotónio Pereira was born in 1987, is a father, and hails from Marvão. He holds a degree in Political Science (ISCSP-UL), a postgraduate qualification in Economics and Public Policies (ISCTE-IUL), and a master’s in Public Policies and Projects (University of Évora). He is currently a PhD candidate in Management at the University of Évora. A former leader of youth and cultural associations, he is also an elected member of the Marvão Municipal Assembly. With experience as a trainer and manager in both public and private entities, he currently serves as an Executive Member of the Managing Authority of the Alentejo 2030 Regional Programme.

Vesa Saarikoski

Rector & CEO, JAMK University of Applied Sciences

CONFERENCE WRAP-UP

Jaana Puukka

International higher education policy expert, Innovation Engage

Jaana Puukka served the OECD for nearly ten years, leading HE reviews in regional development. Since 2013 she has been working with international organisations as well as governments, HE institutions and stakeholders. She is a member of advisory boards of HEIs and their alliances in Europe and beyond and has co-authored 30+ OECD reports which examine the role of HE in regional development and the underpinning arrangements in HEIs and governments.

IP Portalegre campus

Campus Politécnico, Portalegre, Portugal

https://www.ipportalegre.pt

Convento de Santa Clara

R. de Elvas 47, 7300-126 Portalegre, Portugal