Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna

Prof. Silvana Di Sabatino is the coordinator of the TRIGGER project and a Full Professor of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Bologna where she teaches Boundary-layer Physics, Dynamic Meteorology and Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (UK) in the area of environmental fluid mechanics. Her current research relates to urban microclimate and its interconnection with climate variability, city breathability and its connection with urban planning and Nature-Based Solutions. She has coordinated the EU-funded OPERANDUM project. Among her research interests, we find the development of tools to connect basic research with applied science closely related to responding to the needs of modern society. She is an Associate Editor of Environmental Fluid Mechanics (Springer), serves on the editorial board of Boundary-Layer Meteorology (Kluwer) and is Editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology (Springer). She has co-authored more than 150 scientific publications of which over 130 are in peer review journals. 

Dr Carlo received his PhD from the Doctoral School in Environmental and Industrial Fluid Mechanics of the University of Trieste (Italy). He is currently a Researcher at the University of Bologna in the Atmospheric Physics Group. His research interests are in computational fluid dynamics, with a focus on turbulent flow simulations. He concentrates on large-eddy simulations methodology applied to pollution dispersion and evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions in the urban context. 

Prof. Simona Tondelli is Vice Rector of the University of Bologna (UNIBO) and full professor of Urban and Regional Planning in the Department of Architecture (DA, UNIBO). She is a member of the scientific board of the PhD programme in Architecture and Design Cultures. 

She has 24 years of research experience in sustainable urban planning, urban and rural regeneration, and urban health policies. She is currently the project coordinator of four EU projects (H2020 ENLIGHTENme, H2020 Ruritage, INTERREG EUROPE Match-up, INTERREG ADRION Adriseismic). In addition, she is the scientific head of the UNIBO research teams in many other projects (H2020 TExTOUR, ERA-NET JPI Urban Europe project SPN, H2020 SEERRI, H2020 SHELTER, Erasmus + UNINET Cultural Heritage, Erasmus + ICARO) and coordinator of various regional/local third mission research activities.  

She is the author of over 130 publications. 

Prof. Daniel Remondini has expertise in Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics tools for multi-omics data (human, bacterial and viral genomics) with application to medicine, biology, epidemiology, and agrifood.  

 Application of Network Theory to modelling complex biological systems at multiple scales (cell gene & protein regulation, brain structure and function, human social networks). 

Dr Paolo Ruggieri is a physicist by training, obtained a PhD with a thesis on climate dynamics, worked as a post-doc on climate prediction and joined the University of Bologna in February 2020 as a researcher. His research focuses on climate variability and predictability on seasonal-to-decadal time scales and on the development of an intermediate complexity climate risk model to support the design and evaluation of Nature-based Solutions. He teaches Climatology and a Numerical laboratory for a degree in the Physics of the Earth System. His main involvement in TRIGGER is in WP5 where we test the usage of climate predictions and projections for the health sector and the development of risk models for climate-related health threats. 

Dr Salvatore Pascale is a Junior Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna since 2021. His research focuses on climate dynamics, monsoons, and hydroclimatic extremes in the context of climate change. 

He is also the Junior Assistant Professor of Climate Dynamics and Changes at the Bologna Business School

University of Oulu

Prof. Sylvain Sebert has skills and strengths in life-course epidemiology, genetics, and epigenetics. He combines expertise in molecular physiology and epidemiology. He holds a full-professor position in life-course epidemiology at the University of Oulu and leads a research group to study the Life-course trajectories of cardio-metabolic and vascular health. He also chairs the NFBC scientific program and finally, he directs the International Master of epidemiology and biomedical data science (EBDS) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oulu. 

Dr Tiina Ikäheimo has expertise in examining the effects of environmental temperatures on human performance and health complemented with research related to physical activity and health. She has led laboratory studies investigating the influence of cold and heat at rest or during exercise on physiological responses among persons with hypertension, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Her epidemiological studies have focused on examining the influence of low and high temperatures on symptom reporting and health outcomes (respiratory infections, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality) of healthy and vulnerable (cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, type 2 diabetes) populations.  Her recent studies examine the influence of the residential environment, environmental exposures, and health outcomes.

Dr Anna Pulakka is a public health researcher with a global health background and experience working in various research settings. She is currently working at the Research Unit of Population Health at the University of Oulu and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Her research includes child health, environmental health, register research and health behaviours, especially physical activity. 

Her publications can be found at Pulakka, Anna | Scopus.

Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Bologna 

Prof. Valerio Carelli is a medical doctor, neurologist by training, with expertise in neurogenetics, molecular and cell biology. He runs 2 labs, one about DNA sequencing, and the other focused on cell modelling of rare neurogenetic disorders using reprogrammed stem cells (iPSCs), and transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrids (cybrids). Mitochondrial biology and medicine are the main field of investigation, including population and evolutionary genetics. 

University of Crete

Prof. Emmanouil (Manolis) Galanakis, MD PhD (Phil), Professor of Paediatrics, University of Crete; Head, Dept of Paediatrics, Heraklion University Hospital; Academic Lead, MSc Programme in Vaccines and ID Prevention. 

Graduated from the Schools of Medicine, University of Athens and of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, and studied Theology at the University of Athens. Doctoral Degree in Medicine (Social Paediatrics) and in Philosophy (Ethics). Fellow and Visiting Faculty in Institutions abroad.  

He is a full-time clinician in Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, focused on the promotion of child health in vulnerable populations, he has taught Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Medical Ethics, mentored junior colleagues, organised congresses and workshops, authored books, and articles, and performed research on infectious diseases, host’s response to infection, medical futility and on communicable diseases ethics. He has served in organisations and committees, guideline development, multicentre projects, and in Societies including the Boards of the Hellenic and of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. 

Prof. Eleni Vergadi is a paediatrician with an interest in Infectious Diseases. She has been trained at the Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Dresden Bioinnovation Center, and Medical School of the University of Crete. 

Mrs Julieta Pérez works at the University General Hospital of Heraklion providing administrative and secretarial support for research projects, technical support in the Respiratory Physiology Laboratory (spirometry technician) and counselling parents whose children are suffering from chronic diseases. 

University of Augsburg

Prof. Elke Hertig is a geographer by training. Her PhD was in the field of climatology. Afterwards, she expanded her research to include the health impacts of atmospheric and environmental factors under current and future climate change. Her research focuses on regional/ local climate and environmental changes, and vector-borne diseases in particular mosquito-related, temperature extremes, air pollution, urban ecology, and climate resilience.

Prof. Dr. med Thomas Berghaus is senior consultant in cardiology and respiratory medicine, deputy leader of the department of respiratory medicine at the University Hospital Augsburg, adjunct professor at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, his research focuses on pulmonary vascular diseases, the impact of climate on lung diseases, and he is the leader of the Lungenembolie Augsburg (LEA)-study. 

After obtaining his MD from Charité – University Hospital in Berlin, Germany in 2014, Andreas Hoffmann gained a master’s in epidemiology which had a focus in environmental epidemiology before he started his specialization in Hospital Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the Augsburg University Hospital in 2020. 

After obtaining her MD from Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany, in 2012, Selin Temizel commenced her specialization in Hospital Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at Ruhr-University Bochum and University Hospital Augsburg, before taking over the staff unit for Hospital Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at University Hospital Augsburg in 2022. In parallel, she gained a master’s in public health from Liverpool University and is active in several international disaster response NGOs. 

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Dr Fredrik Wetterhall is a senior hydrological scientist with vast experience in managing several international research projects He has led the technical and scientific developments of several aspects of the hydrological forecasting, recently focusing on the sub-seasonal to seasonal time scale. Fredrik has over 20 years of experience in hydrological modelling, forecasting and impact studies for present and future climate. He has worked on several European and national projects, such as FP7 projects (DEWFORA, KULTURisk and GLOWASIS), as well as H2020 (ANYWHERE, EIFFEL and iCHANGE) and recently Horizon Europe (TRIGGER, CLIMAAX). Fredrik holds a Master of Science degree in Aquatic and Environmental Engineering and a PhD in Hydrology, both from Uppsala University (Sweden) and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers (h-index 31)

University College Dublin

Prof. Francesco Pilla’s work lies at the intersection between cities and technologies. His goal is to build better cities through technology, innovation, and citizen participation. Focusing on empowering local communities with cutting-edge technology and enabling them to act on pressing environmental issues in their local environment.  Using this approach to codevelop and pilot solutions in real-life settings in several cities in Europe, where he is addressing sustainability and climate change-related challenges as part of my projects in the areas of smart and climate-neutral cities, nature-based solutions, sustainable mobility, smart logistics, citizen science, hydrometeorological risk, smart villages, zero energy districts, sustainable and inclusive society, environmental pollution. 

University of Barcelona

Prof. Mònica Serrano is Associate Professor at the Department of Economics of the University of Barcelona (UB) and faculty member of UB School of Economics. 

She is a member of the Barcelona Economic Analysis Team (BEAT) research institute, the Network of reference in Economics and Public Policies (XREPP), and the Inter-University Women and Gender Studies (iiEDG).  She was the secretary of the Hispanic American Input-Output Society (SHAIO). She is currently a member of the executive committee and secretary of BEAT, as well as the scientific director of the “Environment, Sustainable and Well-being” research line, and elected council member of the International Input-Output Association (IIAO) in 2022.  From 2021, she is an editor of the Ecological Economic international journal. 

Her research focused on the study of sectoral and worldwide economic interdependences, particularly those related to the environment and care economy; but also, others such as income distribution. 

Prof. Alexandrina is an associate professor in Economics at the University of Barcelona, a researcher at the Center for Economic Analysis and Social Policy, and a member of Barcelona Economic Analysis Team. Her main research focus is health economics. She is especially interested in topics such as the demand for health care and health insurance, long-term care, and (socioeconomic) disadvantages in health and health care utilization. As an expert in health economic evaluation, she is participating in various multidisciplinary projects. 

Dr. Francisca Toro is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona with a diverse academic background. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Oviedo (Spain), a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona (Spain), and a degree in Industrial Engineering from Adolfo Ibanez University (Chile). Her expertise lies in the fields of Environmental and Natural Resources Economics, Gender Economics, Spatial Economics, Multisectoral Modeling, Multiregional analysis, and Econometrics techniques.

Dr. Raquel Andrés is a researcher at the University of Barcelona. After earning her doctorate degree in Biometrics and Statistics from the University of Barcelona, she worked as researcher at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, where she undertook diverse projects aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations. Her primary research focus has been on utilizing digital health to empower patients and reduce healthcare disparities. As an expert in data science and working with complex datasets, she is currently participating in various multidisciplinary European research projects.

University of A Coruña

Ricardo Garcia Mira is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of A Coruña (1995-), was a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath (2016-22), at Cornell University (2020), at Tokyo University (2021); Visiting Reader at the University of Surrey (2003-2012), and International Visiting Scholar at the Texas State University (2001). He has been invited to give lectures or collaborate in postgraduate courses, both in Europe and beyond (Tallinn Univ.; UNAM, Timisoara, Paris V Univ., Texas A&M, Ceará, Sergipe, among others). He was the elected President of the International Association for People-Environment Studies (IAPS), 2014-18. He is a fellow of the International Association of Applied Psychology, and Doctor Honoris Causa by the University Alex. Ioan Cuza of Iasi, Romania (2018). His current research focuses on the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behaviour and sustainable lifestyle choices He is currently the scientific coordinator of the ENTRANCES project (2020-23) on energy transitions to clean energies. 

Dr Nachatter Singh Garha is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of A Coruña in Spain. He has a PhD in Demography from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He is currently working on the H2020 project ENTRANCES, which is focused on the impact of the energy transition on the carbon-intensive regions throughout the European Union. 

Marta Fdez.- Prieto is Doctor in Educational Sciences from the University of Salamanca in 1995 and Online Training Technician from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in 2002. In 1989 she completed a PhD course on Education Policy and Educational Management at the Institute of Education in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) through Erasmus. Subsequently, she was awarded a National Research Staff Training Grant (FPI) attached to the University of Salamanca which allowed her to develop her research and teaching work on educational changes and innovations. She was an Associate Professor at the University of Oviedo (Asturias) in the Faculty of Education and Social Work and is currently an Associate Professor of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at the University of A Coruña in the Faculty of Education Sciences. She has participated in the organisation of scientific events dedicated to ICT research on teaching and learning proposals, as well as in research projects related to the social transformation of educational centres towards digitalisation, sustainability, and cooperation.

Prof. Evans is an environmental and developmental psychologist interested in child-environment transactions.  He has specific interests in the environment of childhood poverty and children’s environmental behaviours and attitudes.

University of Cyprus

Prof. Dr Marina Neophytou is Professor in Environmental Engineering leading the Environmental Fluid Mechanics (EFM) Laboratory – Isle of Excellence and she is also Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (since December 2021). She has served as Director (2018-20) and founding Director (2012-14) of the Interdepartmental Graduate Program “Energy Technologies and Sustainable Design” of the Engineering School of the University of Cyprus. During 2014-15 she has been a Visiting Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH-Zurich, as well as a UNESCO Visiting Research Fellow in 2009 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S.  and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. She completed her undergraduate studies (BA-Honours and MEng degrees) at Cambridge University (UK), on a full-expense Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship (1993-97). During her undergraduate studies she has worked at the Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre (Cambridge, UK) and Schlumberger-Dowell Research and Production Center (Paris, France) for which she has received the European Grant Award “Women in Technology”. 

Dr Petros Mouzourides holds a PhD degree in Environmental Engineering from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) of the University of Cyprus and a Diploma in Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences from the National Technical University of Athens. In his PhD, Dr Mouzourides studied the multiscale nature of the dynamics of the atmosphere. He also got involved with field measurements and particularly in conducting meteorological and air quality measurements with the Air Quality Monitoring Station of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of UCy. He attended a number of international workshops/schools on Air Quality and Dispersion modelling in Urban environments. He also spent a semester in 2014 for a work training placement at the University of Surrey, in the UK, within the framework of the ERASMUS PLACEMENTS. He served as a teaching assistant and then as an instructor of different Fluid Mechanics-related undergraduate courses in the Department of CEE of UCy. 

Mr Nestoras Antoniou is a PhD candidate in a joint doctoral program between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Cyprus and the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Department of the Build Environment. He holds a diploma in Architectural Engineering from the Architectural Engineering School of the University of Patras and an MSc degree in Building Energy and Environmental Performance Modelling from the Wales School of Architecture of the University of Cardiff. He is also a full member of the Cyprus Technical Chamber with experience in building construction. During his doctoral studies, he has attended various international conferences and PhD schools in the field of Urban Physics and Wind engineering. He has also served as Teaching Assistant and Expert Scientist for the courses of Fluid Mechanics and Experimental Fluid Mechanics in the CEE Department of the University of Cyprus. 

Democracy X 

Ms. Francisca NORDFALK, PhD in Medicine, Culture & Society. MSc in Public Health. Project Manager in Democracy X focusing on public engagement, citizen engagement, stakeholder engagement and data ethics. Experienced in a variety of engagement methodologies, assessment of data infrastructures and the academic and political debates about the values, rights and duties of research participation. Currently involved with research projects TRIGGER: SoluTions foR mItiGatinG climate-induced hEalth thReats and the Human Brain Project. 

Ms Naja Kilime, (she/her), MSc. Health promotions and health strategies and work-life study. Project Manager in Democracy X focusing on public engagement, citizen engagement and stakeholder engagement. Experienced in a variety of engagement methodologies, community building, technology assessments and gender inclusion in professional settings. Currently involved with research projects, TRIGGER, and Robotics4EU. 

International Center for Environmental Monitoring CIMA

Dr Antonio Parodi is an expert in atmospheric modelling and statistical analysis of extreme events. He coordinated the FP7 project DRIHMS (2009-2011), DRIHM (2011-2015) and DRIHM2US (2012-2014), ESA-STEAM (2017-2019), H2020 SINOPTICA (2020-2022), and H2020 I-CHANGE (2021-2025).

He is author and co-author of about 70 peer-reviewed papers.

Parodi, Antonio | Scopus

Antonio Parodi | Google Scholar

Dr Martina Lagasio got her Master Degree in Environmental and Energy Engineering at the University of Genoa in 2015, with a research thesis done in collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne. She got a PhD in Computer Science and Systems Engineering in 2019. Since 2017 she is a researcher at the Meteorology Department of the CIMA Research Foundation. Her research activity is focused on the assimilation of observational data in high-resolution meteorological models to improve the forecast skill of extreme events. She worked on two projects funded by the European Space Agency, STEAM-SaTellite Earth Observation for atmospheric modelling (2017-2019) and G-CLASS, about the impact evaluation of Sentinel and GNSS observations assimilation in forecasting extreme events and about the impact study on the hydro-meteorological predictive capability of the data potentially provided by the new geostationary InSAR of the next generation Earth-Explorer. She collaborated with the operational meteorological modelling implementation and validation with data assimilation of the National radar data and she is currently working on the development of numerical weather modelling with data assimilation for nowcasting purposes. She participated in the H2020 projects E-SHAPE, LEXIS, SINOPTICA and I-CHANGE. 

JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH

Dr Franz Prettenthaler, Mlitt is Director of LIFE – JOANNEUM RESEARCH Institute for Climate, Energy and Society and holds academic degrees in Economics, Environmental System Sciences, Philosophy and Public Economics & Finance of the Universities Graz, St Andrews and Paris X/Cergy. His main research areas include Quantitative Risk Analysis, Economic Impacts of Weather Variability and Climate Change as well as Regional and City Development. After his position as an assistant professor at the University of Graz, he steadily built up the environmental and climate economics group at JOANNEUM RESEARCH and lectures also at the Graz University of Technology. 

Judith Köberl holds a master’s degree in Environmental System Sciences with specialisation in Economics from the University of Graz. She was involved in research projects at the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change and joined JOANNEUM RESEARCH in 2008, where she has been working at the Centre for Climate, Energy & Society (LIFE) since 2016. Her main research areas include the economics of weather and climate risks, climate change impact assessment as well as climate services development and (e)valuation. Amongst others, she contributed to the projects CLAVIER (EU-FP6), CLIMB (EU-FP7), MARCO (H2020), EU-MACS (H2020), and Climate-fit.city (H2020) and PROSNOW (H2020). 

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Dr Paolo Mazzetti is a senior researcher at CNR. He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and a degree in Philosophy of Science. He taught Communication Networks and Web Technologies at the University of Florence for 7 years. He joined CNR in 2005. His main research interest is the integration of Information Science and Earth Sciences for the generation of knowledge from Big Earth Data. His research is carried out in the context of international initiatives, and European and national projects. He is the coordinator of the LIFE project NewLife4Drylands on the application of remote sensing to Land Degradation monitoring and assessment. He is the principal representative of Italy on the GEO Programme Board.

CNR-IMATI

Dr Antonella Galizia obtained the Laurea Degree cum laude in Mathematics at the University of Naples Federico II in 2001, and a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Genova in 2008.  

In June 2003 she started her research activity at the IMATI-CNR Genova, and since 2011 she has had a researcher position.  

Her interests are in the fields of parallel and distributed computing for the effective and efficient exploitation of advanced computing systems to improve the quality of software for advanced applications. In particular, she investigates hydrometeorological and bioinformatics applications.  

Antonella is also keen on the dissemination of science through didactical experiences and experimental exhibits.

ESSRG

Barbara Mihók, PhD is a research fellow at the Environmental Social Science Research Group (ESSRG), Hungary. She is an ecologist with a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a mental health professional by training. She carried out inter- and transdisciplinary research at the Ecological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and she has been involved in participatory and action research with vulnerable groups. She is also providing mental health counselling for individuals and groups following an eco-therapy approach. Barbara has always been fascinated by the nature-human connection and her main interest is to understand how this relationship affects our mental health and well-being. 

WeDo | Project Intelligence Made Easy

Mireia Manent is Co-founder and CEO. Psychologist and MBA graduate by University Pompeu Fabra. She has broad experience in the planning, coordination, and management of complex research projects, specializing in the biomedical sector, and in contact with both the national and the international funding landscape. She has collaborated with foundations, biotech companies, research centres, and universities in leading/contributing to multi-year, cross-theme, multi-cultural, and multidisciplinary research projects. With broad experience in communication strategies, large meetings, conference organisation, and training planning and execution on topics related to EU-funded opportunities, proposal preparation, and project management. 

Mario Magaña is expert in project communications, graphic design, and visual thinking. With a Bachelor’s in Art (2004), a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication (2020), and director of communications at WeDo, MM contributes more than 15 years of experience in visual communication and design. He developed communication plans and tools for 14 research projects, including FP6, FP7, and H2020, where he applied his experience in project branding and editing, communication tools and actions, social media management, and outreach material. He contributes to Projects by designing, monitoring, and updating the communication plans in collaboration with partners and stakeholders. He also designs tools for outreach (newsletter, social media, videos, leaflets, clinical study pack) and supports outreach Project actions in general (Stakeholder forum meetings, development of training material and actions, and final project conference). He coordinates the internal communications of each Project within WeDo, assisting in the development and implementation of tools, templates, procedures, and best practices (e.g. agenda and minutes, PowerPoint, SharePoint). 

Since 2004 Ángel Honrado has worked as a Project Manager in the planning, management, and implementation of collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects, with total funding of ~ €95M. He has been directly involved in the preparation and management of more than 80 R&I proposals presented to the EC. He has also worked in the development and implementation of communication and outreach strategies (including the organization of workshops and international conferences). Co-founder and Public Funding Manager of FreeOx Biotech S.L., a start-up developing a neuroprotective treatment that prevents damage caused by reperfusion after stroke, based on the results of clinical research.

KAJO

Joy Ommer has a master’s degree in Disaster Management & Sustainable Development with a dissertation on Children’s Risk Perception and Hazard Knowledge Acquisition. Her present research interest is mainly related to cross-scale Disaster Risk Reduction with a particular focus on people-centred approaches for development and Disaster Risk Reduction and the (inter)linkage of different scales. Her experiences include a traineeship at the European Commission’s DG Joint Research Center working on the development of a multi-scale vulnerability index in support of the identification and reduction of risks in Europe. Since 2019, she has been working with KAJO on EU-funded projects on Nature-based Solutions and citizen science. At the same time, she is pursuing her PhD in Disaster Risk Reduction with a special focus on Nature-based Solutions and citizen resilience. 

Milan graduated as a civil engineer, with a PhD degree in Hydrology and Water Management. Since 2003, he is a member of the core team developing the European and Global Flood Awareness System at the Joint Research Centre of the EC. He has participated in many national and international projects (e.g. National Climate Change Program, PESETA- Projection of Economic impacts of climate change in Sectors of the European Union based on bottom-up Analysis). His research focus is mostly on flood hazard modelling and forecasting, flood risk assessment, development of hazard and risk indicators and rapid risk mapping. Milan has a long record of developing user-tailored products to effectively communicate and disseminate information in the disaster risk management community (e.g. EC Copernicus services, National Water Authorities, EC Civil protection).

Saša Vranić works for Slovak-based company KAJO as a project manager and geospatial developer. In 2018, received a PhD from the University of Zagreb for the thesis “Modelling transactional workflow management system over a spatial component of cadastral parcels”. Saša has been working with geospatial data for more than 10 years in several geoinformatics companies. From 2012 to 2018, he was employed at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy as University Assistant. His main research interests are geospatial web applications, spatial databases, geospatial standards, and land administration systems. 

Gate2Growth

Uffe Bundgaard-Jørgensen is CEO and Founder of Gate2Growth. He has more than 40 years of combined research and business experience working with SMEs, both as an investor, board member and business development coach. Based on his Venture Capital background he wrote the book: “How to Attract Investors, a personal guide to understanding their mindset and requirements” in 2016. He has conducted more than 175 ”How to Attract Investors and how to get funded via EU grants” Master Classes throughout Europe.  

He was Chairman of the EU Commission H2020 SME Innovation Advisory (2014-2016) and Vice-Chairman of the EU Commission H2020 Risk Financing Advisory Group. From 2003-2018 he was Chairman of the Danish Energy Regulatory Authority, appointed by the Danish Minister of Energy. 

He is an MA in economics and a PhD in Economics and Operations Research (1974) from the University of Copenhagen and Danish Technical University. 

Carmen Bianca Socaciu works as a Senior Consultant at Gate2Growth (since 2014), where she has been responsible for screening, selecting, and developing business cases for the numerous EU-supported projects where Gate2Growth is the business exploitation partner. To date, she has worked with early-stage companies from a variety of business sectors including agriculture, biotechnology, energy, ICT, eco-innovation, and manufacturing industries. She has also co-authored the book “How to Attract Investors, a personal guide to understanding their mindset and requirements”, published in 2016.  

Carmen’s background is in international business and marketing with a Master’s degree in International Marketing and Management (2011). Through her education, Carmen specialised in international market research, strategy, management, marketing, and business development.

Michalina works as a Junior Consultant at Gate2Growth (since 2022), where she is involved in the work on business exploitation of results in the EU-supported projects by supporting senior consultants in screening, selecting, and developing business cases for the prospecting project results. She also contributes to partner communication, report writing and conducting of workshops.  

Michalina’s background is in social science with a Master’s degree in Global Development (2021) from the University of Copenhagen and a Bachelor’s in Geography and Economics from the University of Birmingham (2017). Michalina’s academic focus is on sustainable development and the intersection of ecological and social issues.

University of Geneva

Dr Markus Stoffel is a Full Professor of Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva. He also is the director of the Swiss Tree-Ring Lab, Department of Earth Sciences, and a faculty at Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva. He has (co-)authored nearly 400 peer-reviewed papers (h-factor: 78; more than 21300 citations), mainly on climate change impacts on the cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as well as on the effects of extremes on food security and human health. Markus is editor-in-chief of the Springer-Nature book series Advances in Global Change Research and the journals Geomorphology and Euro-Mediterranean Journal of Environmental Integration. Prof. Stoffel holds an MSc degree in Physical Geography, an MSc degree in Media and Communication Sciences and a PhD in Geography (University of Fribourg), a habilitation thesis degree (University of Bern) and a Distinguished Professor degree (Professor honoris causa) from the University Babeş-Bolyai (Romania).