Since February 2016, Roland Willmann is professor for industrial management at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences. He is the leader of several initiatives with respect to digital transformation in the regional manufacturing industry and the manager of a research group addressing additive manufacturing in agile virtual systems for product design and production process design. Roland Willmann received a master in Computer Science in 1991 from Vienna University of Technology and worked as software engineer, software architect and project management in several project of the semiconductor industry since then. In 2000, he was co-founder of CenterPoint – Connective Software Engineering where he led the development of a software platform for advanced process control in highly automated manufacturing. During this time, he contributed to projects in the semiconductor industry, the photovoltaic industry, automotive assembly or steel milling as process analyst or Six Sigma expert. Roland Willmann received a PhD in computer science in 2017 from Vienna University of Technology. He is the author of several papers about advanced process control respectively of knowledge-based product ramp-up based on Semantic Web technology.

Currently Seconded National Expert to the European Commission, Directorate General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology, in the unit CNECT.A.4 “Digital Transformation of Industrial Ecosystems”. Here he works on topics such as digital platforms for industry and implementation of Digital Innovation Hubs within the Digital Europe Programme. He drives forward the topics of Industry 4.0, Data Spaces as well as business models and innovation strategies in the data economy.

Graduated at the University of Economics in Budapest. He worked at multinational companies for almost a decade in various senior management positions. He earned executive management degree in Paris and in Philadelphia, and PhD with summa cum laude at the Institute of Material Sciences and Technologies, University of West Hungary. Balázs Barta established Pannon Business Network in 2006, involving 10 regional institutions, clusters. PBN is focusing on applied research-and-development and training of companies. Since its foundation, PBN implemented 75 international research and partnership projects with 450+ international partners. In 2016 established its digital innovation hub, with on-house engineering team and infrastructure. Competences cover robotics, data science, extended reality and 3Dtechnologies. In January 2021 PBN was awarded the best DIH in Europe, by DIHNet consortium.

Ivan Boesso is responsible of European Policies in Veneto Innovazione S.p.A., the Veneto Region company for research and innovation, working with SMEs and local public administrations, universities and research centres to support implementation and development of the regional innovation system.

Graduated in electronic engineering, he collaborates with Veneto Innovazione in supporting SMEs, the development and implementation of research and innovation policies, services to support knowledge transfer and support for Regional Innovative Networks. He is currently involved as a referent in some of the National Technology Clusters initiatives and a member of the Executive Team of the Thematic Group Clusters of Enterprise Europe Network.

Sarah Hedden graduated from the University of St Andrews, Scotland in 2011 with an MA in Sustainable Development, with a focus on international relations and European environmental regulations. She started her career working in London in the area of environmental protection and market development for the largest water and wastewater company in the United Kingdom. Sarah moved to Austria in 2016 and started working in the area of European project development for Graz-based, MIND CONSULT & RESEARCH. In her role as International Project Coordinator, Sarah supports organisations and consortia across the EU, to develop and implement research and innovation projects. In 2020, she completed her MBA in Energy Management from the WU Executive Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, with a focus on industrial business models to promote sustainable and circular transitions. Outside of work, Sarah plays lacrosse for the Austrian National Team and enjoys taking her 5-month-old Australian Shepherd on mountain adventures.

Senior consultant and one of the three owners of Nerosubianco, an innovative R&D focused consulting company based in Italy. Graduated in Business Administration, he launched its first start up in 1996 to support SMEs in adopting Internet based solutions. From 2002 until 2013 he has been working as Business Developer for Large and Medium Sized companies in several industries (healthcare, financial services, machinery). In 2014 he joined Nerosubianco and focused on connecting enterprises, R&D organizations and solution providers to support smart industry focused large-scale projects and pilots. He is member of the Digital SME Alliance, Official I4MS contact point in Italy and coordinator of the European DIH Health Network.

Renata Papec has long term experience working with the business sector at the Croatian Chamber of Economy-Varaždin County Chamber in various positions, including FDI facilitation, organizing training and educational programs and working as the EEN officer. She is now responsible for EU funded projects supporting the adoption of current trends in business and production with special reference to digital transformation of regional eco-system.

After successfully completing her A-levels, Ms. Salomon first studied at the SRH University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, where she took International Hotel Management. She then continued her Master’s degree at HTW Dresden and ISEG Lisbon. Here she deepened her knowledge in management topics and business administration. Laura Salomon has a passion for working in an international context, as she came into contact with other cultures and perspectives at an early age. At the age of 16, she spent a year abroad in Chile and is therefore fluent in Business Spanish. She is also fluent in English and speaks basic Russian. In the context of S3HubsinCE, she is concerned with opening up possible internationalization paths for the smart³ network and Fraunhofer IWU. She is also working on a second EU-INTERREG project, trying to generate synergies and networking potential for the network members. 

Simona Knežević Vernon is the head of the industrial association at TECOS, Slovenian tool and die development centre. She has 20+ years of experience in supporting companies in their transformations and developments. For the last 6 years she is actively involved in the digital transformation of companies and their transition to Industry 4.0. She is an active part of Slovenian and international enterpreneurship and industrial ecosystem, with the ability of understanding the needs and connecting companies with the right service providers and researchers.

Ph.D. in bioengineering in 2021. During her academic career, focused on mechanical computational models, she has gained experience in the definition and management of research projects. She is currently working at Consorzio Intellimech as European projects coordinator.

Since 2020 Anna is the Coordinator for the National Digital Innovation Hubs Network in the Future Industry Platform – State Treasury Foundation in Poland. She is mainly responsible for cooperation with DIHs, as well as building frameworks for Network development and operationalization. Engaged in design and execution of several programs focused on supporting  Industry 4.0 adoption in enterprises, especially in SME sector, i.a. Leadrs 4.0 Academy and Factory of the Future Award. In the years 2017-2020, scientific researcher at the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Sustainable Technologies, responsible for managing R&D projects in the areas of digital transformation, foresight and Futures Literacy. Doctor of social sciences in the discipline of Economics and Finance. Expert  in the field of innovative policies, regional capital, systemic and organizational aspects of digital transformation.