2024 Speakers

Eric Wyart is the Operational Director of the LiEU Network, the network of technology and knowledge transfer offices of the French-speaking universities in Belgium (TTO/KTO). After completing his engineering degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, he began his career at Cenaero when the centre had just been created in 2002. He completed his doctoral thesis on the industrialization of crack propagation computation methods for aeronautical structures under the supervision of Professors Pardoen and Remacle at the Université catholique de Louvain.

Subsequently, he was successively in charge of the Metallic Structures & Processes and Computational Multiphysics Software Development teams at Cenaero. During this period, he contributed to the setting up of regional and European projects while pursuing actions to promote and raise awareness among companies. Activities he led until his departure for the R&D center of Plastic Omnium where he was in charge of the multiphysics design platform dedicated to fuel tanks.

Ester is a multidisciplinary scientist with a background in biotechnology and bioengineering. After working in different roles across startups, pharma, and consulting, she is now the Director of Strategic Innovation at Chiesi USA, where she is scouting companies for partnerships or acquisitions that have innovative technologies to treat patients with rare diseases.

At MIT, Ester developed a pill to administer insulin orally, and was recognized as one of the 35 Innovators Under 35 by the MIT Technology Review in 2019. She serves as an advisor to various international startups. Ester speaks seven languages and is passionate about advocating on career development for women in science.

As an Academia-Industry Alliance Manager, Dr. Fadwa Benkessou is responsible for identifying strategic partnership opportunities, facilitating collaborations, and ensuring seamless communication between academic researchers and industry partners. Dr. Benkessou holds a PhD in Medical Sciences from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and a Master of Science Degree in Biotechnology from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.

The function of Dr. Benkessou’s role is an integral part of Karolinska Institutet’s mission to advance knowledge and contribute to improvements in human health. Forging alliances with industry partners can actively contribute to the translation of scientific results into tangible solutions that have a meaningful impact on global healthcare.

Geoff is the Chief Executive of Bionow (www.bionow.co.uk), the life sciences membership organisation for the North of the UK. Having founded the business in 2011, Bionow has more than 20 University members and 330 industry members across the North. Geoff is regularly invited to advise and comment on industry requirements and represent the Bionow membership both regionally and nationally. Previously, Geoff founded 2 biotech companies, both spin-out companies from the University of Manchester, focused on developing point of care diagnostic technologies. Geoff has a degree in Biochemistry and a PhD from the School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester where he began his career undertaking postdoctoral research in the area of enhanced payload responsive liposomal drug delivery systems.

Geoff is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and works with two investor organisations as a member of the LYVA Labs Investment Committee and member of the Deepbridge Capital Investment Advisory Committee.

Gerald has a background in Management Consultancy and academia. A London Business School alumnus with a Doctorate from Oxford University, he has experience of several start-ups and their exits, with considerable experience in building company executive boards, which has led him now to sit on VC investment committees, among other roles.

In 2010, he founded Innovation DB. Developed under contract from the UK MOD, IDB has now created an AI-enhanced data gathering system, that identifies, captures and describes emerging technologies, drawn from around 20,000 academic institutions. This provides an unparalleled dataset of research with real-world applications, that includes all biotech and pharma-related tech transfer activity to be found globally.

“Currently, in 2024, I hold the position of Director/CTO for Healthcare & Public Sector throughout EMEA at Microsoft, with a keen focus on leading Generative AI Transformation initiatives. My professional background includes being the former Director for Government & Public Sector in the UK and Ireland at Google Cloud, amounting to over three decades of experience in the field of technology.

As a passionate advocate for technology, especially within the public sector and healthcare, I am committed to leveraging tech for the greater good. I am actively engaged in driving business improvement and outcomes while advocating for environmental protection and pursuing sustainability objectives. Bringing extensive expertise and enthusiasm for Technology, AI, and Business Transformation, I excel in orchestrating transformative changes across various industry sectors. My specializations cover a wide range of areas including AI, Multi-Cloud, Novel Technologies, Strategic Planning, Roadmaps, Architectural Design, and Management. My role involves leading the creation of ambitious, long-term transformation strategies, communicating them to clients, and crafting designs that align with business goals. Collaborating extensively with various stakeholders, I ensure to extract the full value of technological change, balancing the potential against the necessary investment justification. I am deeply involved in promoting diversity in tech, particularly supporting women in the industry. I lead multiple initiatives to foster growth and development within the Women in Tech Network and am proud to be selected as a UN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 in 2024.

A distinguished BCS Fellow and a pioneer member of the Fellows Technical Assurance Group, I have taken the helm for Digital Health & Social Care in the UK. Additionally, I produce a podcast titled “The Healthcare Hacktivist”, which spotlights talent, startups, and innovations in healthtech and medtech. With accreditation in public speaking, I am a renowned presenter, confidently engaging audiences at large-scale international and national events. I am dedicated to guiding businesses in sound technological decision-making by sharing my seasoned insights, championing best practices, and narrowing down the disconnect between customers and providers.”

Jürgen studied biology/molecular biology in Osnabrück and Aberdeen (UK). After his diploma thesis at the EMBL in Heidelberg, he worked at Genentech, Inc. (USA). He undertook his PhD-thesis at the Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen. He joined Cellzome AG (Heidelberg, now part of GSK) as the first employee where he was instrumental in setting up the company and was later responsible for IP-issues. After a stint in the patent department of Baxter AG in Vienna, he changed to technology transfer. At Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH, Vienna, he was managing life science inventions developed at Austrian universities.

In 2007, he moved to PROvendis, the central technology transfer agency of the universities of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where during most of his time he served as a head of the Life sciences team. In between, he stayed for another one and a half years in Vienna, as head of technology transfer at the University of Vienna and furthermore for about one and a half years as Managing Director of Life Science Nord, the cluster organisation of the life science industry in the German states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.

He also holds a Master´s degree in Pharmaceutical Business Development and Licensing from the University of Manchester.

Katya Ascher focuses her practice on patent law issues in litigation and transactional matters across technology sectors. She has over 15 years of experience counseling clients in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Her clients include mid-sized companies and start-ups, operating in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, nutraceutical, veterinary and engineering fields.

She regularly negotiates every type of agreement associated with research and development, technology transfer, services, manufacturing and distribution.

She also represents French companies in patent litigation and contractual disputes in the US, handling all facets of pre-suit matters, pretrial discovery, case management and trial preparations.

Katya Ascher spent the first five years of her career as an associate in one of the top New York intellectual property boutiques where she litigated cases in district court and the International Trade Commission and advised clients on patent validity and infringement. Before studying law, Katya gained technical experience as an intern in a genomic research laboratory of a major biotechnology company.

Mikaël Le Clech, PhD, is a Business Developer at ChemBioFrance – CNRS. He leads several activities ranging from forging alliances with industrial partners to communication. Before joining ChemBioFrance, Mikaël held various positions in the field of biotechnology R&D, entrepreneurship and quality assurance. He was also head of the monoclonal antibody platform at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich. Mikaël holds a PhD from the University of Montpellier.

Olivier Martinon is Vice President, External Innovation at Zoetis where he leads the team responsible for identifying and developing strategic partnerships that enhance the company’s own research and development pipeline. He joined Zoetis via its legacy companies in 2006, and has previously held roles at the company including Executive Research Director for Zoetis’ global therapeutics group and led portfolio projects and mentored researchers critical to securing global approvals for our new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to control pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs and cats. He also previously led the livestock therapeutic area identifying key external partners to advance that portfolio, was the original champion in creating the biotherapeutic discipline within Zoetis’ Veterinary Medicine Research & Development organization. Dr. Martinon completed his veterinary studies in Paris-Alfort France in 1990, and he studied molecular biology at CIRAD before moving to a DEA/MS in Biotechnology from Paris VI. He then pursued a cursus in Immunology for three years with Institut Pasteur Professor. Olivier is French and American having grown up in Lyon (France) and moved to the U.S. in 2002. He and his wife live near Grand Rapids, Michigan and have three grown sons.

Patrick Di Stefano is a Technology Transfer Officer at the Knowledge Transfer Office of Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB-KTO). Throughout his carrier Patrick acquired an outstanding experience in all the fields of knowledge and technology transfer and has been strongly involved into the creation of several ULB spin-off companies. Patrick is a member of the Board of ULB and several research centers. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the ULB Faculty of Pharmacy. Patrick holds the degree of Ph.D. (Biochemistry) and is a RTTP (Registered Technology Transfer Professional) fellow since 2011.

Paul Bravetti (PharmD, HEC Paris) is a strategic executive with a particular interest in scientific innovation and entrepreneurial adventures.

With his international experience in major pharmaceutical companies, which has shaped his understanding of the biopharmaceutical industry, he has successfully led the launches of therapeutics in immuno-oncology and biomolecular diagnostics across Europe and Asia. He joined Brenus Pharma in 2020 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2022 with a clear vision, mission, and leadership to address current unmet needs and make a significant impact for cancer patients.”

Brenus Pharma is a French clinical-stage biotech developing a pioneering technology platform, Stimulated-Tumor-Cell (STC).

STC is designed to generate ‘off-the-shelf’ and ‘first-in-class’ therapeutic cancer vaccine leading the way to a new precision medicine in immuno-oncology.

Brenus Pharma is on the brink of a breakthrough and will start its first-in-human study in 2024 in colorectal cancer, 2^nd cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

We are building a strong portfolio in solid tumors, leveraging our patented STC platform, to change a paradigm in oncology.

Dr. Philippe Monteyne MD, PhD is Partner of the VC Aliath Bioventures in Barcelona. Aliath aims to fund sustainable businesses that can create a significant impact on patients’ lives by providing new medical solutions and technologies that impact access, effectiveness and efficiency in the health sector.
Philippe Monteyne has extensive and highly successful experience as a life sciences investor and pharmaceutical professional. For the past eight years, Philippe has been a Senior Partner of the private equity fund Fund+ in Belgium, having contributed to multiple investments including very profitable ones such as Ogeda and Iteos. Philippe Monteyne is a Neurologist and holds a PhD in viral immunology from the Catholic University of Louvain and a postdoctoral degree in neuroimmunology from the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
Dr. Monteyne has held senior positions in SmithKline Beecham, GSK, and Sanofi. He served as the Head of Global Vaccine Development at GSK for several years, and then served as Senior VP-Head of Development and CMO at GSK Rare Diseases from 2010 to 2012.
Amongst his achievements, was the development and launch of GSK’s Cervical Cancer Vaccine, Cervarix, the R&D work that allowed to develop Strimvelis and Tegsedi (gene therapy and oligonucleotide in rare diseases).
He also served as Vice President R&D France at Sanofi until early 2015. During that period, he was also Board Member of SARD (Sanofi Aventis R&D), of the LEEM (Pharmaceutical association in France “Les Entreprises du Médicament”), of the Bioaster Insitute in Lyon, and of the « Fondation Plan Alzheimer France ».
He is a Board Director of several Biotech companies, in Belgium, France and Spain. Dr. Monteyne was also visiting Professor of Neurology at the UCL (Université Catholique de Louvain), and is part-time Professor and course coordinator of an Advanced Master in Biotech & MedTech Ventures at Solvay Management School, Brussels.

Dr. Tamar Raz has nearly two decades of experience in technology transfer and an impressive track record of bringing medical innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Prior to joining Hadasit, she served as VP of Marketing and Strategy at Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University. Tamar was the founder and CEO of Allergene Ltd, an Israeli drug development start-up company. She received her MSc and PhD in cell biology from the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine.

Ulrich Mahr is a member of the general management at Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH, where he played a key role in establishing the start-up department and managing its portfolio. With a background in business administration and over 25 years of experience in tech transfer and start-up creation, particularly in life sciences, he brings extensive expertise to his role. Ulrich is an RTTP and has served as Vice President on the board of ASTP and several start-up incubators. He is a jury member of “EXIST Forschungstransfer”, Germany’s central start-up grant scheme. Additionally, he is or has been actively involved on the boards of several high-tech start-ups and the investment board of the Bavarian Growth Fund.