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The Speakers
Katie GALLUSMODERATOR
Geographer, and International Moderator
Katie Gallus is a geographer, freelance journalist, and moderator passionate about future-oriented topics and people dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition to her work as a freelance journalist for media outlets such as Deutsche Welle, ZDF, HR, and SWR, she has worked for the United Nations in New York City, conducted research in the Georgian Caucasus, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, and Brazil; lived in central Cameroon near cocoa fields, worked as a filmmaker in Sierra Leone, and independently travelled to Iraq, Eritrea, and Ethiopia for research purposes.
Katie Gallus works in English, German, and French on digital ideas, globalization, international development cooperation, and human-environmental relationships. She is a trained lifeguard and mediator for crisis regions and serves as an honorary ambassador for Deswos e.V. and the educational initiative German Dream.
Dominik WICHMANNMODERATOR
Co-Founder, and CCO of Looping Group
Dominik Wichmann attended the Berlin School of Journalism and studied political science, philosophy and American cultural history in Munich, Erfurt and Harvard. After eight months as an editor at the “Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin”, he became its editor-in-chief in 2000. At the same time, he completed his doctorate in Erfurt in 2006. In 2011, Wichmann joined “stern” as deputy editor and was promoted to the editor-in-chief at the beginning of 2013, which he led alone from the middle of the same year. In 2015, he became not only editor-in-chief but also co-managing director of the conference and innovation platform Digital Life Design from Burda. In 2017, he co-founded the content agency Looping Group, which he still leads today.
Jules BESNAINOUExecutive Director, Cleantech for Europe
Jules is the executive director of Cleantech for Europe, the initiative bridging the gap between the European cleantech community and policymakers. He chairs Cleantech for Europe’s Investor and Scale-up coalitions, conveying the experience and input of the cleantech community to policymakers in Brussels and beyond. Jules is also a member of the European Commission’s Innovation Fund Expert Group. He started his career in San Francisco and London, advising the world’s foremost cleantech investors, corporates and governments for more than a decade. Jules is based in France and graduated summa cum laude from Sciences Po Paris.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Suzanne Zamany ANDERSENCEO, NitroVolt
Disrupting Industry - Clean Solutions for Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present solutions driving industrial transformation through electrification, low-carbon production, and innovative materials – the carbon-neutral future of heavy industry starts here.
Read more about the startups here.
Mark Boris ANDRIJANIČformer Minister of Digital Transformation, Slovenia; Member of the EIT Governing Board
Mark Boris Andrijanič specializes in European tech and innovation policy, AI governance, and digital government. He serves on the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He advises leading European tech scaleups and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on GovTech. From 2021 to 2022, he served as Slovenia’s first Minister of Digital Transformation, leading EU negotiations on the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act during Slovenia’s EU presidency. In July 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukraine Peace Prize for coordinating EU tech support during the early stages of the war. He holds degrees from the University of Ljubljana and the University of Oxford.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Cathryn CLÜVER ASHBROOKExecutive VP, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is a German-American economic and political analyst and strategist, former Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations and currently Executive Vice President at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, based in Berlin. For over a decade she directed three research initiatives at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, including the Future of Diplomacy Project and the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship, both of which she co-founded. In previous roles she served on the Management Board of the European Policy Centre (Brussels) and as a strategy consultant at Roland Berger in Shanghai, Beijing, Hamburg, and Paris. She started her career as a broadcast journalist for CNN-International in Atlanta and London. She is an Eisenhower and Truman Project Fellow and serves on several non-profit advisory boards in Europe. Cathryn is a graduate of Brown University, the London School of Economics and the Harvard Kennedy School, and retains academic affiliations in Europe and the United States.
Beyond the Economics, Stupid! Advancing European Prosperity
Leaders from business, policy, and civil society engage in an open dialogue about what it really takes to advance European prosperity in a fragmented global economy and amidst growing populism.
Shiv BHAKTACEO, Active Surfaces
Powering Tomorrow – Breakthroughs in Clean Energy Generation and Storage
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present innovative solutions for renewable energy generation, energy storage, and battery lifecycle technologies – the building blocks of a resilient, decentralized energy future.
Read more about the startups here.
Susanna CAMPBELLChairman & Co-Founder, Syre
Susanna Campbell is a business builder, investor, advisor, and experienced board member/chairperson with a long background in private equity investing. She has spent the last nine years focusing on scaling green transition companies based in Scandinavia. She is co-founder and chairman of Syre, aiming to hyperscale production of circular polyester textiles. She also serves on several boards, including scale-ups Stegra (green steel), Evroc (cloud services) and Network of Design (NOD). She is also Senior adviser at Norrsken VC, one of the leading European impact VC funds.
Panel: Disrupting Industry – The Challenges of Scaling Innovation
An engaging conversation exploring the gap between early-stage innovation and full-scale commercial deployment. Industry pioneers and successful entrepreneurs share insights on scaling challenges, regulatory hurdles, and the support systems needed to transform European startups into global leaders. The discussion examines how Europe can create conditions for innovation to flourish at scale, showcasing the role BMW Foundation’s RESPOND program can play in this.
Clare MURRAYCo-Founding Partner, Blume Equity
Clare is passionate about supporting high-growth companies on their sustainability journeys. She is a recognised authority within the sustainable investing space from ESG through to impact investing and is a frequent author and speaker on the topic.
Prior to founding Blume, Clare worked at the growth equity impact firm, LeapFrog Investments. She previously worked at BlackRock, helping to develop BlackRock’s Sustainable Investment Platform and advising institutional investors. She has deep experience developing impact measurement frameworks, working with companies on sustainability initiatives and ESG best practices, and building ESG policies. Clare started off her career at Goldman Sachs. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and a BA from Duke University.
Clare has worked and lived in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Originally from NYC, Clare enjoys living in Amsterdam, where she can be found cycling around with her family (and dog) in her backfeits.
Panel: Disrupting Industry – The Challenges of Scaling Innovation
An engaging conversation exploring the gap between early-stage innovation and full-scale commercial deployment. Industry pioneers and successful entrepreneurs share insights on scaling challenges, regulatory hurdles, and the support systems needed to transform European startups into global leaders. The discussion examines how Europe can create conditions for innovation to flourish at scale, showcasing the role BMW Foundation’s RESPOND program can play in this.
Pablo CASTELLANOS RAMELLICo-Founder, BATx
Powering Tomorrow – Breakthroughs in Clean Energy Generation and Storage
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present innovative solutions for renewable energy generation, energy storage, and battery lifecycle technologies – the building blocks of a resilient, decentralized energy future.
Read more about the startups here.
Anne-Laure DE CHAMMARDMember of the Executive Board and Executive Vice-President, Siemens Energy
Anne-Laure de Chammard holds a Master of Public Administration at Harvard and Master’s degrees in science and engineering from French Grandes Ecoles.
She started her career in the USA, as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Before joining Siemens Energy, Anne-Laure de Chammard was CEO of ENGIE Energy Solutions International (€4 billion turnover, 20,000 employees, in over 20 countries, in Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Asia Pacific), in charge of decarbonization of industries and territories through energy efficiency services and low-carbon energy production.
Now she is a member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy. As Group EVP, she heads one of the 4 global divisions, the "Transformation of Industry" global business area, supporting industries throughout their energy transition (€5 billion turnover, 14,000 employees, in over 60 countries). She is also responsible transversally for the Europe and Asia Pacific Regions (€20 billion revenue, 55 factories and 70,000 employees in 60 countries).
She is also a Board Member of Renault Group, a multinational automobile manufacturer.
Opening Keynote – Europe in the World
How can Europe navigate competition and collaboration while maintaining its values and democratic principles? Speakers examine the geopolitical landscape, rising importance of technological sovereignty, and the imperative for European unity to sharpen Europe´s global economic and geopolitical competitive edge.
Kirsten DUNLOPCEO, Climate KIC
As head of Europe’s leading climate innovation initiative, she drives systems transformation for climate resilience and sustainability. With over 30 years’ experience in academia, consulting, finance, and design, she promotes regenerative approaches to governance and investment. Previous roles include leadership positions at Generali, KPMG, and Second Road, where she pioneered strategic innovation and experiential learning. She serves on advisory boards including the European Commission’s ESIR group. She holds a PhD in Cultural History from the University of East Anglia and a BA in Art History from the University of Sydney.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Shiva DUSTDARDirector, Head of the EIB Institute
Shiva Dustdar currently serves as the Head and Director of the EIB Institute, which brings the values and mission of the EIB Group close to society through non-commercial activities supporting its climate, innovation and development priorities. Shiva has 30 years of experience in the financial industry working for large private and public institutions in New York, London and Luxembourg. Since joining EIB in 2003, she has worked in risk management, lending, investing and advising in innovative companies. Until June 2022, Shiva headed the Innovation Finance Advisory (IFA) Division in the EIB, which she built and scaled up into a successful innovation financing advisory programme covering green, digital, gender-smart and health-related sectors.
Shiva started her career in 1993 at J.P. Morgan in Investment Banking in New York working in M&A, Project Finance and Emerging Markets before joining Fitch Rating Agency in 1999 to set up its European High Yield rating business. She holds a BA (Magna cum Laude) in Economics from Columbia University in New York and an Executive MBA from London Business School (LBS). Shiva is an innovation finance expert and regular speaker on innovation and impact financing, gender smart investing, digital and green financing and actively engaged in networks that promote sustainable and mission-oriented financing.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Christoph GEBALDCo-Founder, Climeworks
Christoph Gebald is the co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks, a global leader in high-quality carbon removal, combining decades of expertise in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology with holistic carbon removal solutions. Climeworks is creating a clear pathway to making carbon removal a reality by offering diversified portfolios of high-quality carbon removals across engineered and nature-based solutions. With more than 15 years of experience in direct air capture, Christoph is considered an expert and among the creators of this growing and crucial industry. In 2023, he was recognized by TIME among the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action. Christoph has given keynotes and spoken on panels at high level global events such as the World Economic Forum, COP and Microsoft’s CEO Summit. For three years in a row, he has been selected as a Digital Shaper by Swiss newspapers, BILANZ and Handelszeitung. Christoph is a mechanical engineer by training, holding a master’s degree with distinction, and a Ph.D. from ETH Zurich. During his Ph.D. he researched direct air capture technologies and founded Climeworks on this basis together with Jan Wurzbacher in 2009. As co-CEO, Christoph oversees the financial, commercial, project development, communications and human resources side of the business.
Dialogue Session – Closing the Carbon Loop
An intimate fireside chat about one of Europe's most significant opportunities: shaping the future of zero-carbon economies. This session explores how Europe can turn climate challenges into competitive advantages through innovative technologies and business models that close the carbon loop, creating sustainable economic growth.
Markus FORSTMEIERVP Business Development DACH, InnoEnergy
Dr. Markus Forstmeier has 25 years of international professional experience in the field of sustainability and energy, gained in a number of management positions in corporations and start-ups.
Currently he serves as Business Development Officer at InnoEnergy. In his role he enables start-ups in the sustainable energy and energy storage space winning first pilots and commercial contracts in the DACH region.
Before this was the Head of Business Development & Sales at H-TEC SYSTEMS, a German provider of PEM electrolyzers where was responsible for building and growing a global business.
Previously he had the role of a Vice President Business Development at Electrochaea, a leading start-up in biological methanation.
Prior to this he served as the Head of New Business Development at SGL Carbon, commercializing carbon-based products for energy and mobility applications.
Previously he worked as Director Corporate Strategy Energy at Siemens AG and served as Lead Engineer on Renewable Energy Systems and Water Treatment at General Electric.
Markus holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from TU Berlin, and an Executive MBA from Augsburg University and University of Pittsburgh.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Paolo GENTILONIFormer EU Commissioner for the Economy; Former President of the Council of Ministers of Italy
Paolo Gentiloni served as European Commissioner for Economy from 2019 to 2024. He previously served as Prime Minister of Italy (2016–2018), Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2014–2016), and Minister of Communications (2006–2008). As of December 2024, he serves as Co-Chair of the UN Group of Experts on the Debt Crisis. He is also a Nonresident Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe and Adjunct Professor at Università Cattolica in Milan.
From 2001 to 2019, Gentiloni was a member of the Italian Parliament. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Broadcasting Services Watchdog Committee (2005–2006) and as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee (2013–2014). Earlier in his career, he worked as a professional journalist and served as Councillor for the City of Rome (1993–2000). He was among the 45 founding members of the Democratic Party (Partito Democratico – PD), leading it as President from 2018 to 2019. Born in 1954, Gentiloni graduated in Political Science from Sapienza University of Rome. His most recent book is La sfida impopulista (“The (Un)populist Challenge,” Rizzoli). He is a columnist for La Repubblica.
Beyond the Economics, Stupid! Advancing European Prosperity
Leaders from business, policy, and civil society engage in an open dialogue about what it really takes to advance European prosperity in a fragmented global economy and amidst growing populism.
Herbert HAINERPresident, FC Bayern Munich; former CEO of Adidas-Group
Herbert Hainer, born on 3 July 1954 in Dingolfing, is one of the most influential figures in German business and sport. After studying business administration at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, his career took him from Procter & Gamble to sportswear manufacturer adidas, where he held various management positions from 1987 onwards. From 2001 to 2016, Hainer was CEO of the adidas Group and shaped the company into one of the world's leading sporting goods manufacturers. Under his leadership, adidas continued to grow economically while standing for authenticity, innovation and social commitment.
His passion for sport and his management expertise led him to succeed Uli Hoeneß at the helm of FC Bayern in 2019, where he had been a fan since his teenage years and where he now serves as president and chairman of the supervisory board, with a view beyond men's football to women's football and FC Bayern basketball. At the German record champions, Hainer stands for serious, long-term business management and family cohesion – always balancing sporting success, economic stability and social responsibility.
With a clear eye for current challenges such as diversity, sustainability and digitalisation, Herbert Hainer provides important impetus – not only for FC Bayern: he combines economic thinking with a deep understanding of the role of sport as a social force.
Between Collaboration and Competition
Competition sparks innovation. Collaboration makes lasting impact possible. Today’s leaders need both. Herbert Hainer has seen this dynamic up close - steering Adidas through fierce global rivalries and guiding FC Bayern Munich, a club built on teamwork and shared purpose. In this keynote dialogue, he reflects on how rivals can become partners when clear rules and trust are in place, how common standards create fair ground without weakening ambition, and why true leadership means knowing when to compete hard and when to join forces. Drawing lessons from business and sport, Hainer will show why leadership today means competing with ambition but advancing through collaboration.
Manuel HEITORCenter for Innovation, Tech. and Policy Research, Univ. of Lisbon; Former Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal
Manuel Heitor is a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) the engineering school at the University of Lisbon. He served as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education for the Government of Portugal in 2015-2022 and as Secretary of State from 2005 to 2011. In 2023 he was appointed by the European Commission to chair the Expert group for the interim evaluation of the Horizon Europe programme.
Beyond the Economics, Stupid! Advancing European Prosperity
Leaders from business, policy, and civil society engage in an open dialogue about what it really takes to advance European prosperity in a fragmented global economy and amidst growing populism.
Stephan HERRMANNCEO & Co-Founder, Reverion
Powering Tomorrow – Breakthroughs in Clean Energy Generation and Storage
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present innovative solutions for renewable energy generation, energy storage, and battery lifecycle technologies – the building blocks of a resilient, decentralized energy future.
Read more about the startups here.
Leslie JOHNSTONCEO, Laudes Foundation
Leslie has over 25 years of management experience across entrepreneurship, development, and philanthropy, including ten years developing and growing smallholder farmer businesses across Africa. As Laudes Foundation’s founding CEO, Leslie Johnston leads a team of 50 professionals to deliver – via its 300+ partners - on its mission to accelerate the transition to a green, fair and inclusive global economy. Previously, she headed C&A Foundation as its first Executive Director, repositioning it as a global catalyst to make fashion a force for good. She served as Executive Director of the Argidius Foundation, Deputy Director for TechnoServe in Africa and a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. Leslie is also an accomplished board director, currently serving on the boards of Impact Europe (formerly the European Venture Philanthropy Association) as Chair, PUR, Fashion for Good BV, Built by Nature Stichting (as Vice Chair), Climate Resilience for All, EAT’s Advisory Board as well as University College London’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Advisory Board. She is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Jobs and Frontier Technologies (and previously served on the Global Future Council on the Future of Philanthropy for Climate and Nature.) Leslie lives in Zug, Switzerland with her husband and two teenage sons.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Eric KLINENBERGProfessor, New York University
Eric Klinenberg is Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. His books include 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed; Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life; Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone; and Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. His scholarly work has been published in journals including the American Sociological Review, Theory and Society, and Ethnography, and he has contributed to The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, and This American Life.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Anne LAMPFounder & CEO, traceless materials
Dr. Anne Lamp is CEO and Co-Founder of traceless materials, a Hamburg-based company on a mission to tackle global plastic pollution and drive the transition to a circular economy. With a PhD in process engineering and deep expertise in biorefinery processes, Anne combines technical know-how with strategic leadership. Her work is driven by a commitment to creating scalable, science-backed solutions that align with environmental and societal goals.
traceless materials has developed an innovative, patented technology to transform agricultural residues into a natural, compostable biomaterial. Unlike conventional plastics, traceless® materials are entirely bio-based, fully biodegradable, and produced without harmful chemicals, making them a sustainable alternative for a wide range of applications.
Under Anne’s leadership, traceless has grown from a groundbreaking idea to an award-winning company, scaling production, expanding into new markets, and partnering with industries to implement sustainable material solutions. As a pioneer in the field, traceless is driving the development and market growth of natural polymers and co-founded the Natural Polymers Group to advocate for their role in a circular economy.
Photo credits: Kati Jurischka
Panel: Disrupting Industry – The Challenges of Scaling Innovation
An engaging conversation exploring the gap between early-stage innovation and full-scale commercial deployment. Industry pioneers and successful entrepreneurs share insights on scaling challenges, regulatory hurdles, and the support systems needed to transform European startups into global leaders. The discussion examines how Europe can create conditions for innovation to flourish at scale, showcasing the role BMW Foundation’s RESPOND program can play in this.
Lisa LANGERCFO & Managing Director, ionysis
Disrupting Industry - Clean Solutions for Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present solutions driving industrial transformation through electrification, low-carbon production, and innovative materials – the carbon-neutral future of heavy industry starts here.
Read more about the startups here.
Niclas LEHNERTCOO, PULSETRAIN
Powering Tomorrow – Breakthroughs in Clean Energy Generation and Storage
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present innovative solutions for renewable energy generation, energy storage, and battery lifecycle technologies – the building blocks of a resilient, decentralized energy future.
Read more about the startups here.
Bruno LE MAIREWriter and Former Minister of the Economy of France
Bruno Le Maire is a French politician, writer, and former diplomat. He served as Minister for the Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty from 17 May 2017 until 21 September 2024 under President Emmanuel Macron.
Before entering politics, Bruno trained as a high-level civil servant. He began his career in the Foreign Ministry as an advisor, then joined the offices of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin as adviser and later chief of staff. He was elected Member of Parliament for the 1st constituency of Eure in 2007. In the government of François Fillon, he served as Secretary of State for European Affairs (2008–2009), followed by Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries (2009–2012).
Returning as a deputy, he became Macron’s long-serving minister from 2017 to 2024. During that time, he oversaw France’s economic strategy through crises like Covid-19 and the energy upheaval, launched industrial revitalisation efforts, pursued tax reforms, and championed digital and energy sovereignty.
Bruno is also a prolific writer, and has authored several books reflecting on power, society, Europe, and the intersection of literature and politics.
Opening Keynote – Europe in the World
How can Europe navigate competition and collaboration while maintaining its values and democratic principles? Speakers examine the geopolitical landscape, rising importance of technological sovereignty, and the imperative for European unity to sharpen Europe´s global economic and geopolitical competitive edge.
Maria LEPTINPresident, European Research Council
Prof. Maria Leptin has been the President of the European Research Council (ERC) since November 2021 and chairs the ERC’s governing body, the ERC Scientific Council. She is a biologist best known for her work on the mechanisms that allow a developing body to take on its correct shape.
After her studies in mathematics and biology at the University of Bonn and the University of Heidelberg, Germany, Maria Leptin carried out her PhD research at the Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland. She then moved to the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, became a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany, and professor at the Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany. She spent extended research periods and sabbaticals at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, the École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France, and at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
Before her appointment as ERC President, Maria Leptin was the Director of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) in Heidelberg, and a research group leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. She is an elected member of EMBO, the Academia Europaea and the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina).
She is an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a Foreign Member of the Royal Society and an international member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
Photo Credits - Michael Wodak Medizin Foto Köln
A Global Momentum for the European Socio-Economic Model?
A thoughtful examination of whether European approaches to balancing economic growth, social cohesion, scientific innovation and democratic governance can serve as a global model for sustainable development for other geopolitical blocks around the world.
Mauro MELLOCorporate Development Director, Alithic
Vinny PATELCEO & Co-founder, Atmosfuture
Gerard REIDCo-Founder and Co-Host, Redefining Energy Podcast; Co-founder Alexa Capital
Gerard Reid is a leading global expert and financier in the energy transition space. A trusted authority, advisor and published author, with a following of more than 150k across several platforms, he is co-host of the highly acclaimed “Redefining Energy” podcast, which explores how Finance, Technology, Innovation, Markets and Regulations are radically redefining the world of energy.
With a client base that spans key industry leaders, decision makers, financiers, regulators and policy makers, he provides independent strategic advice that combines a global perspective with over 20 years of diverse experience working in the finance industry, with a focus on both the energy transition and revolution that that sector is going through.
He is a member of the leadership team of the Energy Transition Forum, a leading think tank focussed on decarbonisation, and is Co-Founder of numerous businesses including Alexa Capital, NATO-L, and Bourbaki.
His passion lies in educating and inspiring people, as well as empowering and accelerating sustainable change, working alongside like-minded individuals to transform challenges into opportunities.
Lead Forward: Innovation’s Future is Now – Energy and Infrastructure
A forward-looking synthesis connecting today’s startup innovations to broader trends shaping the future of energy leadership. The panel explores how advanced technologies - AI-driven grids, new energy sources, dynamic markets, and powerful computing - will transform Europe’s energy systems over the next 10–15 years to meet rising industrial and digital demands. Experts will share insights on what it takes for Europe to become a truly resilient, efficient, and independent leader in the global energy transition.
Rob VAN RIETSenior Advisor, World Economic Forum
Rob is Senior Advisor to the Centre for Nature and Climate at the World Economic Forum. For the last few years, he’s acted as Head of the First Movers Coalition, an initiative that harnesses the purchasing power of companies to bring forward the market for critical clean technologies to decarbonize heavy emitting industrial sectors. Rob has worked for more than a decade on initiatives related to advancing climate action and a just energy transition. Before joining the Forum, Rob led a variety of international programs and projects related to global security, sustainable development, and climate and energy.
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Philipp RODEExecutive Director, LSE Cities
Dr Philipp Rode is Executive Director of LSE Cities and Associate Professor at the School of Public Policy. He is Co-Chair of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative and Visiting Professor at University of St Gallen’s Institute for Mobility. Dr Rode has been leading interdisciplinary programmes in urban development and transport, sustainable urbanism and climate change, and city policy and governance at the LSE since 2003. Across his work, he is interested in multi-dimensional aspects of global urbanisation, sustainability and urban change. The focus of Dr Rode’s current research is on government systems and urban democracy, integrated policy making and emergency governance in cities, and on sustainable urban development, socio-technological transitions and new urban mobility. His research has been published in Transport Policy, Journal of Urban Affairs, Transportation Research Part A, Environment and Planning B, Land, Journal of British Academy, Urban Science, and Applied Mobilities. His recent books include ‘Governing Compact Cities: How to connect planning, design and transport’ (Elgar 2018) and co-editing ‘Shaping Cities in an Urban Age’ (Phaidon 2018).
Breakout Sessions | Solutions to Society
Session 1 | Net Zero Transformation: Building up an Integrated European Innovation Ecosystem
Session 2 | Leading Global: Developing New International Partnerships Amid Global Geoeconomic Fragmentation
Session 3 | Reimagining Urban Resilience: Climate Innovation, Societal Cohesion, and Connectivity
Lilian SCHWICHCo-Founder and Co-CEO, Cylib
Dr Lilian Schwich is co-founder and co-CEO of cylib GmbH, which she established in 2022 alongside her co-founders Dr Gideon Schwich and Paul Sabarny. She holds a doctorate in materials engineering from RWTH Aachen University, where she developed the groundbreaking OLiC (Optimised Lithium & Graphite Recovery) battery recycling technology and led a team of 16 doctoral candidates at the Institute for Metallurgical Process Technology and Metal Recycling. She worked as a technical consultant, bridging industry and research. Her pioneering work has earned prestigious recognition, including the 2025 Nicolaus August Otto Award, WirtschaftsWoche's "30 bis 2030" selection, and being named twice to Capital Magazine's "40 Under 40" list.
Lead Forward: Innovation’s Future is Now – Energy and Infrastructure
A forward-looking synthesis connecting today’s startup innovations to broader trends shaping the future of energy leadership. The panel explores how advanced technologies - AI-driven grids, new energy sources, dynamic markets, and powerful computing - will transform Europe’s energy systems over the next 10–15 years to meet rising industrial and digital demands. Experts will share insights on what it takes for Europe to become a truly resilient, efficient, and independent leader in the global energy transition.
Benedikt STOLZCOO, TURN2X
Disrupting Industry - Clean Solutions for Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present solutions driving industrial transformation through electrification, low-carbon production, and innovative materials – the carbon-neutral future of heavy industry starts here.
Read more about the startups here.
Trevor STUTHRIDGECEO & Co-founder, Cetogenix
François VILLEROY DE GALHAUGovernor, Banque de France
François Villeroy de Galhau has been Governor of the Banque de France since November 2015 and was reappointed for a second term in November 2021. He is a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank and Chairman of the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR – Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority). In 2022, he was also appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
After graduating from ENA as an Inspector of Finance, he went on to join the French Treasury in 1988. He subsequently held various positions in ministerial offices and in Brussels, before being appointed Chief of Staff for the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry in 1997, and Head of the French General Tax Directorate in 2000.
In 2003 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cetelem, and in 2008 became Head of French Retail Banking at BNP Paribas. From December 2011 to May 2015 he served as Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas Group. He is the author of several books including L’Espérance d’un Européen (Odile Jacob, 2014) and Retrouver confiance en l’économie (Odile Jacob, 2021).
Beyond the Economics, Stupid! Advancing European Prosperity
Leaders from business, policy, and civil society engage in an open dialogue about what it really takes to advance European prosperity in a fragmented global economy and amidst growing populism.
Andreas WAGNERCo-Founder, Radical Dot
Disrupting Industry - Clean Solutions for Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present solutions driving industrial transformation through electrification, low-carbon production, and innovative materials – the carbon-neutral future of heavy industry starts here.
Read more about the startups here.
Wei WUCEO, Heatrix
Disrupting Industry - Clean Solutions for Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors
Entrepreneurs from the BMW Foundation’s RESPOND Accelerator Energy Cohort #6 present solutions driving industrial transformation through electrification, low-carbon production, and innovative materials – the carbon-neutral future of heavy industry starts here.
Read more about the startups here.
