About EIT Digital

Alejandro began his career in 2008 when he moved from Oviedo, Asturias, to Madrid, intending to work at the university for just a year while pursuing his master's degree. However, he became captivated by research, making it his lifelong commitment and choosing to stay in Madrid. Despite concerns about the challenges of a career in science—such as low pay and instability—he has no regrets. Alejandro is now a professor in Computer Languages and Systems and Software Engineering at the Technical University of Madrid.

With an MS and BS in Geochemistry from The University of Michigan, the individual has held significant positions at the Haas School of Business since 1999, including Director of the New Management of Technology Programs and the Mayfield Fellows Program. They have served as the Executive Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Innovation at UC Berkeley since 2007 and are currently an Adjunct Professor. Additionally, they have been President of California Technology International, Inc. since 1991 and have held various roles in academia and industry, including Vice President at Kevex Instruments and Senior Scientist at NASA Johnson Space Center. They contribute to multiple initiatives, such as the Advisory Board for the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and direct programs focused on technology in developing countries, along with fellowships for aspiring entrepreneurs. Their teaching portfolio includes courses on marketing for high-tech entrepreneurs, nanotechnology, opportunity recognition in Silicon Valley, and energy and sustainability innovations.

Since October 2014, I have served as a professor in the Safety-Critical Systems group within the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. I am also affiliated with the Design and Analysis of Communication Systems group at the University of Twente, where I transitioned from assistant professor (2010-2016) to associate professor in March 2016. I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Twente in 2008 and my M.Sc. from RWTH Aachen in 2004. My research primarily focuses on the dependability and security of critical 24/7 infrastructures, including electrical power systems and telecommunications. I am particularly interested in evaluating charging and discharging strategies for local energy storage in smart homes and ensuring the security of control networks, such as SCADA, within the context of smart grids.

Asja Kamenica is the Head of EIT Digital Professional School, where she oversees the development and delivery of professional education programs. Her role involves shaping the curriculum and ensuring that the courses offered by EIT Digital meet the evolving needs of professionals in the digital transformation space.

Clark Kellogg is a lecturer at EIT Digital, where he specializes in teaching courses focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. One of his notable courses, "Innovation & Entrepreneurship - From Design Thinking to Funding," equips students with essential skills to navigate the complexities of launching and funding innovative ventures. With a strong background in design thinking, Kellogg emphasizes understanding user needs and reframing problems as critical steps in the innovation process. He is dedicated to course development that focuses on practical applications, helping students transform their ideas from conception to execution. Additionally, Kellogg brings real-world insights into the classroom, drawing from his extensive experience in fostering innovation within organizations.

Consuelo Gonzalo Martín earned her B.A. in Physics from Salamanca University in 1986 and her Ph.D. from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1989. Since 1993, she has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Technology of Computers at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Her research focuses on image processing using pixels and objects, as well as artificial neural networks, particularly in remote sensing, medical imaging, and facial recognition. She has developed numerous algorithms for optical image fusion and artificial neural networks such as ART and SOM. In 2012, she joined the MIDAS (Data Mining and Simulation) research group at UPM’s Center for Biomedical Technology, contributing to R&D projects in text and image mining within healthcare. Throughout her career, she has directed over 12 funded research projects, participated in around 15 others, co-authored 25 publications in high-impact international journals, and presented at 40 international conferences.

Dr. ir. Pieter Cuijpers is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology and is also affiliated with EIT Digital. He specializes in quantitative formal modeling and worst-case performance analysis, areas that are critical for understanding and improving system performance in various applications. His research focuses on developing methodologies and tools that enhance the reliability and efficiency of systems through rigorous quantitative analysis. Dr. Cuijpers is dedicated to teaching, offering courses that equip students with the skills needed to apply formal modeling techniques to real-world problems. His contributions to both academia and industry highlight his commitment to advancing knowledge in performance analysis and system optimization.

Dr. Eder J. Scheid earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland, and holds an MSc in Computer Science from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. He has led several research initiatives, including the Blockchain for Cold-Chains (BC4CC) and the Blockchain for Swiss Cheese Supply Chain (CheeseChain) projects. Additionally, he has been involved in other significant projects like the EU CONCORDIA initiative and blockchain-based e-voting systems. His research interests focus on blockchain technology, smart contracts, distributed systems, network management, cybersecurity, and NFV.

Enrique Barra, PhD, is a faculty member at EIT Digital, where he specializes in teaching courses related to emerging technologies and their applications. His notable courses include "Blockchain 360: A State of the Art for Professionals," "Blockchain for the decision maker," and "Mastering Digital Twins," which aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Additionally, Dr. Barra teaches a two-part course on "Security and Privacy for Big Data," addressing the critical challenges and best practices in ensuring the protection of sensitive information in the era of big data. With his expertise in areas such as blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data security, Dr. Barra contributes to advancing the understanding and application of cutting-edge technologies in both academic and professional settings.

Professor at the Department of Computer Systems, Languages, and Software Engineering within the Faculty of Computer Science at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), she specializes in Data Mining. With a background in Computer Science and a PhD in the same field, she is currently a member of the MIDAS "Data Mining and Data Simulation" group at UPM's Center for Biotechnology. Her research spans various aspects of data mining project development, with a recent focus on applying data mining techniques in the medical field. She has contributed to numerous research and development projects related to data integration and mining on mobile devices. Her academic contributions include three internationally published books on web mining (Springer, 2003, 2004, 2009) and papers in top international journals such as Data and Knowledge Engineering Journal, Information Sciences, Expert Systems with Applications, Journal of Medical Systems, and International Journal of Intelligent Data Analysis.

Fabien earned his PhD in 2002, pioneering the combined use of distributed artificial intelligence (AI) and the semantic Web to manage diverse data sources and users within a Web architecture. As a research project leader at Carnegie Mellon University (USA), he developed an AI method to enforce privacy preferences in querying and reasoning about personal data. In 2004, he joined Inria as a researcher, focusing on models and algorithms to integrate social media with knowledge-based AI systems on the Web, supporting human interaction. By 2012, Fabien became Inria's representative at W3C and founded Wimmics, a research team of 50 members from UCA, Inria, CNRS, and I3S, dedicated to bridging social and formal semantics on the Web using AI methods. In 2014, he was promoted to Research Director (DR). Throughout his career, he has supervised 10 PhDs, chaired major international conferences such as WWW 2012 and 2018, and published extensively with 23 journal papers, 136 conference and workshop papers, 2 books, and 11 book chapters. In 2015, Fabien launched a series of bilingual MOOCs on semantic Web and linked data. In 2017, he founded the QWANT-Inria joint research laboratory and became responsible for the research convention between the Ministry of Culture and Inria. By 2018, he was appointed Vice Head of Science at Inria Sophia Antipolis – Méditerranée.

Prof. Dr. ir. Frank Gielen possesses extensive experience in research and development within the telecommunications and software technology sectors, specializing in venture capital, university-industry collaborative research, and spin-off creation. His career began as a software architect at AT&T Bell Labs in the USA, followed by a position as director of software technology at Alcatel. In 1998, he joined Tellium, a US-based startup focused on optical network technology, serving as the Vice President of Software Engineering during its successful IPO on NASDAQ in 2001. After returning to Europe as the CEO for Tellium EMEA, he transitioned to academia and currently serves as a professor of software technology entrepreneurship at the University of Ghent. Since 2010, he has directed Incubation & Entrepreneurship at iMinds, a leading digital incubator and business accelerator in Flanders, where the iStart incubation program was ranked fourth globally among university accelerators in 2015. Recently, Frank was appointed head of the EIT Digital Professional School, aiming to innovate professional development and executive education for organizations and individuals undergoing digital transformation.

Frans Nauta is a dynamic professional who embodies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, working at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Europe. With a strong passion for clean technology, he excels at kickstarting new initiatives, particularly in the realms of startups and innovation ecosystems. Among his notable achievements are the establishment of ClimateLaunchpad.eu, recognized as one of the world's largest competitions for clean tech business ideas, which has engaged over 750 applications and trained more than 300 startups across 28 countries. He also founded the Climate-KIC Startup Accelerator, which has enrolled around 500 startups and attracted over €200 million in funding. As part of the Dutch Innovation Platform, he contributed to designing a new innovation policy for the Netherlands, chaired by the Prime Minister. Frans has also been involved with various initiatives, including the leading Dutch think tank on social innovation and the environmental monitoring system for the city of Amsterdam. Additionally, he pioneered the introduction of clean natural gas-powered canal boats in Amsterdam. Beyond his project initiatives, he teaches Executive Education at UC Berkeley, coaches startups, collaborates on innovation projects with corporate and government clients, and is an accomplished author. His latest book, "Agents of Change: Strategy and Tactics for Social Innovation," was published in December 2012, following his earlier work detailing his experience as the innovation secretary in the Dutch Prime Minister's office.

Henrik Blomgren can quickly provide insight into his background by visiting his LinkedIn profile or by searching for his digital footprint online. He embraces transparency and welcomes anyone interested in discovering more about him, whether in his professional or personal life. As a 53-year-old based in Stockholm, Sweden, Henrik works at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), where his experiences bridge the gap between academia and business practice. His career path may not follow a conventional trajectory, but it has been enjoyable and filled with curious learning opportunities. He identifies as an ENFP based on professional personality testing, which he believes reflects his character well. His global travels have greatly influenced his outlook, and he is a passionate dog lover and volleyball enthusiast. Henrik takes pride in supporting his children in their personal development. Currently, he is focused on enhancing his skills in e-learning, which he views as distinct from traditional offline learning. He is eager for feedback and excited to connect with new people and friends.

Iván Martínez is a faculty member at EIT Digital, where he specializes in teaching courses related to innovation and entrepreneurship. His notable course, "Cybersecurity Awareness and Innovation," aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity while fostering an innovative mindset. Through this course, Martínez emphasizes the importance of understanding emerging threats and developing proactive strategies to mitigate risks in the digital age. His expertise in both innovation and cybersecurity allows him to provide a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by organizations in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. Iván Martínez's contributions to education at EIT Digital highlight his commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators in the field of cybersecurity.

As an experienced business development professional, Jan Agri offers a range of services, including coaching, project management, and acting as a moderator and mentor. His expertise is rooted in skills developed through management roles at DeLaval, Ericsson, Electrolux, and ABB, with a strong focus on Sustainability, Innovation, Communication, and International Business.

Catherine Faron Zucker holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Paris 6 and currently serves as an Associate Professor at the University Côte d’Azur. She teaches in the Computer Science department at Polytech Nice Sophia, where she is responsible for a training program on Web Science. Catherine also serves as the vice-head of the Wimmics research team at Inria SAM and the I3S laboratory. Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, particularly in Knowledge Representation and Reasoning with graphs on the Web. Her work aims to assist epistemic Web communities in accessing, capitalizing on, and sharing digital resources and knowledge. As the scientific leader of multiple research projects, Catherine’s expertise spans various application fields, including e-Education, Cultural Heritage, Health, and B2B.

Emanuele Della Valle holds a PhD in Computer Science from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a Master's degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, where he currently serves as an associate professor in the Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering. Over nearly 20 years of research, his interests have spanned Data Science, Big Data, Stream Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Semantic technologies, Web Information Retrieval, and Service-Oriented Architectures. He pioneered the field of stream reasoning, which lies at the intersection of Stream Processing and Artificial Intelligence.

Elena Ferrari is a full professor of Computer Science at the University of Insubria, Italy, where she leads the STRICT SociaLab. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Milano. Her research spans cybersecurity, privacy, and trust, with a focus on developing technologies that enable secure and efficient data sharing without compromising privacy. She has explored diverse application domains such as social networks, relational and NoSQL databases, cloud computing, workflow management, and IoT ecosystems. Her current research includes security and privacy for Big Data and IoT, access control, machine learning for cybersecurity, risk analysis, blockchain, and secure social media. Prof. Ferrari has authored several books and over 270 publications in international journals and conferences. Among her many accolades are the 2009 IEEE Technical Achievement Award, the 2019 ACM CODASPY Research Award, and fellowships from ACM and IEEE. She has held editorial roles with IEEE Internet Computing, ACM Transactions on Data Science, and other prestigious journals, while also chairing the ACM SACMAT steering committee and serving on committees for major data management conferences. Her projects, funded by organizations like the EU Commission, Google, and IBM, address issues like social network privacy, IoT, and critical infrastructure protection. A dedicated advocate for women in cybersecurity, Prof. Ferrari was named one of the 50 most influential Italian women in tech in 2018 and has mentored numerous female PhD students.

Hans Zantema is an esteemed Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and also serves as a part-time Full Professor at Radboud University in Nijmegen. His research expertise spans algorithms, automated reasoning, term rewriting systems, automata theory, and constraint solving systems. He is particularly focused on the theoretical aspects of these fields, exploring how various problems can be transformed into formulas that can be solved automatically through computer programs. Notably, Hans has made significant contributions to term rewriting systems, especially in the area of automatically proving termination, and he is recognized for "Zantema's problem," which questions whether the string rewrite system 0011 → 111000 terminates. Hans earned his PhD in algebraic number theory from the University of Amsterdam in 1983, with a thesis titled "Integer Valued Polynomials in Algebraic Number Theory." Following his graduation, he worked at Philips Data Systems before transitioning to academia. From 1987 to 2000, he was affiliated with Utrecht University, and in 2000, he joined TU/e. He also took on a position at Radboud University in Nijmegen in 2007.