Keynote speakers
Dr. Ángel Peiró Signes (Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València)
Ph.D. in Business Administration, Professor of Business Organization at the Universitat Politècnica de València. His academic background includes degrees in Industrial Engineering, Industrial Organization Engineering, and Materials Engineering, as well as a MBA. Before joining UPV, he worked in the Operations area of multinational companies such as Bonduelle and Unilever, as well as for the local government, among others. He was a visiting professor at the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University (USA) from 2011 to 2012 and an associate researcher at the same center until 2013. He has also conducted research stays at the Center for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement at the University of Bath, UK (2014), and at the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures, USA (2018), and has participated as an expert for Eurostat. His research focuses on eco-innovation applied to sectors such as tourism, and his work has been published in prestigious international scientific journals. He has participated in and led various research projects related to eco-innovation and the circular economy. Currently, he leads the InnoEcoLab research group and the Lab Hot-EC project, both focused on sustainable innovation and the circular economy, as well as the CoopInn project, which explores cooperation for innovation and eco-innovation.
Carmen Bergal (Director of Corporate Responsibility at Actiu)
Carmen Berbegal Roque is the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Actiu, a leading company in innovative workspace furniture solutions located in Castalla, in the province of Alicante. As a member of the second generation of the family business, she has played a key role in the international expansion and consolidation of Actiu as a benchmark in innovation, sustainability and well- being in the workplace. In her 20 years of experience at ACTIU she has had the opportunity to work in different departments as International Sales Director, Head of Project Development and in recent years she has focused more on the People, Sustainability and Corporate areas of the company. She is also the President of the Family Council of the business group. Carmen has a solid academic and professional background. She has studied management development programmes at internationally renowned institutions such as EDHEC Lille and IESE Business School. She has also participated in leadership and management programmes at the Instituto de Empresa and is certified in circular economy by the Circular Economy Institute in Boston. As head of the social area of the company, she is involved in different institutions such as: AEFA (Alicante Family Business Association), Social Council of the University of Alicante, Fundeun (Alicante University and Business Foundation), the Chair of Management and Business Culture of the Social Council of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Her focus on sustainability and social responsibility has been key to Actiu obtaining international company certifications such as LEED and WELL and product certifications such as LEVEL, thus reinforcing the company's commitment to responsible design and environmental efficiency. Carmen actively participates in industry forums and associations, promoting debate on the future of work and the transformation of work spaces as well as promoting sustainable production strategies at a corporate level. Her leadership and strategic vision continue to drive Actiu towards new horizons in the business world.
Yuriy Budyk
Yuriy Budyk, Co-founder and CEO of spin-off Calpech. Master’s in business administration and management and PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alicante. Expert in waste treatment and valorisation using ‘Hydrothermal carbonisation’ technology. He industrialised the production process of iron nanoparticles from laboratory scale. Obtained >1.5 M€ of public- private funding, consolidating Calpech's business model and ensuring the sustainable expansion of the company.
Yago Sierras
Yago Sierras is CEO of Mediterranean Algae Technologies, a pioneering company in the valorisation of Mediterranean algae for applications in cosmetics, nutraceuticals and bioremediation. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, he leads the development of biotechnological solutions that transform marine waste into high-value functional ingredients. They have been awarded the European Commission&Seal of Excellence.
Mayte García Córcoles
Mayte García Córcoles, executive director of HOSBEC has been linked to the organization for more than two decades in which she has developed different functions from health consultancy to general secretary, having been responsible for projects and quality/sustainability from 2005 to 2023. Mayte has a degree in Biology from the University of Alicante, and has completed her training with a master's degree in restaurant management, as well as having specialized in the management of tourism companies. Her specialization has also been closely linked to the field of quality management and environmental management, having initiated the main projects of the business organization in sustainability. From the field of energy efficiency to CSR, HOSBEC has worked on different initiatives led by Mayte García, such as the scorecard of sustainability indicators for the hotel sector in the Valencian Community, to the measurement and compensation of carbon footprint. Also from the prevention of occupational hazards, training and equality policies and social projects and labor inclusion, Mayte has undertaken various initiatives that help the tourism sector to work more responsibly.
Daniel Domene
PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Alicante, he is co-founder and CEO of tech-based firm Solublion, where they design and market new renewable, biopolymeric materials based of thermoplastic starch for the manufacturing of biodegradable, compostable and water-soluble products.
ROUND TABLE 1: STARTUPS CREATED IN THE SCIENCE PARK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALICANTE
WITH A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH
ROUND TABLE 2: DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLUSTER AGENTS (from the province of Alicante)
INESCOP
Dr. Francisca Aran
PhD in Chemistry, she is currently director of the R&D&I Area at INESCOP, the Footwear Technology Centre in Spain (www.inescop.es), and director of the San Crispín Footwear Chair at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH). With more than 25 years of experience, she works with innovative and sustainable technologies that enable the transformation of the footwear industry towards the new green and digital paradigm. She collaborates with companies in the footwear value chain, technology centres, universities, industrial associations, among others. She has extensive experience in the management and development of international projects focused on the development of new products and processes for innovation in the footwear industry, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of companies, within the framework of the European Research and Innovation Programmes. At INESCOP, she actively participates in the development of several technological demonstrators focused on the digital and sustainable transformation of footwear, as well as on the user experience, with the aim of bringing emerging technologies closer to companies in the footwear sector and accelerating their implementation..