MEET THE SPEAKERS
Innovation Summit was the place where international experts gathered to share their knowledge about sustainable technology, the success of human-robot teams, and how Romanian businesses were navigating through an ever-changing market.
Dhiraj Mukherjee
Co-Founder of Shazam
Dhiraj Mukherjee is a Co-Founder of Shazam and an experienced investor in “Tech for Good” startups. He is a Non Executive Director of MeVitae (helping companies avoid unconscious bias in recruitment) and an investor in Beam (helping the homeless), Erase All Kittens (coding skills for girls), Jamma (supporting immigrants), Coursematch (EdTech) and several others. His research focus is Generation Z and the power of young entrepreneurs working to create a better society. In 2000, he founded Shazam Entertainment, the world’s first mobile phone-based music recognition service. He was named one of Europe’s Top 50 technology entrepreneurs by the Financial Times in 2015. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How to adapt to the future 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: From his experience at Shazam, Dhiraj found that the best way to predict the future is to create it. He has now invested in over 250 cutting-edge startups in AI, climate tech and other emerging technology. Dhiraj believes that we all need to dream big to create the future we want to be part of. Today’s leaders must learn while they lead, and lead as they learn. How can we transform ourselves and transform our organisations? The key is embracing uncertainty: learning to be good at what we aren’t doing yet. Drawing on decades of experience, he shares proven methods for re-inventing business and building lasting success.
Amber Clifford
Former Disney+, Uber Eats & Uber, Principal
Having worked a decade in tech, Amber has launched Uber Eats and Disney+ to more than 120 countries combined. As one of tech’s leading international strategy experts, Amber has worked on all aspects of business from on-the-ground operations set up, go-to-market, pre-market assessments, product and everything in between. Before becoming an international launcher, Amber worked as one of the first 400 employees at Uber, running marketing campaign efforts, and she then moved to focus on building Uber Eats. In 2023, she founded Murai Consulting in 2023 to help companies define their international expansion strategy. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: International Market Entry: Balancing hyper-local efforts vs scale and maximizing ROI: return on integration 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: At Bucharest Tech Week, Amber will give a masterclass on the principles that govern some of her strategy work. Principles of International Market Entry & the “Return on Integration” will walk through some of the ways to approach the key questions of international growth – Where should your business expand? Why there? How to successfully integrate? Join the masterclass to walk away with new thoughts on one of the biggest decisions you can make as a business owner.
Elinor Honigstein
Business Development
and Strategic Partnerships
Elinor Honigstein has spent the past decade building communities and strategic partnerships around the mission, products and services of organisation in the private, public and social sectors. At LinkedIn Elinor works in the Business Development team that is leading global partnerships to grow member value. Prior to LinkedIn, Elinor was working at the British Government, building tech partnerships between global startups and British companies. Passionate about the intersection of technology and gender diversity she trained as a facilitator for Google's #IamRemarkable initiative, joined the UN Delegation of UK Women and is on the Board of Social Impact and Women @ LinkedIn ERGs. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Craft a Strong Personal Brand to Reach Professional Success 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Gain practical tips on enhancing your LinkedIn presence to support both your personal growth and your company’s success. We'll discuss: 1.Crafting a standout LinkedIn profile 2.Build strong networks for more opportunities. 3.Share content that engages and grows your community.
Mircea Geoană
Deputy Secretary General
Mircea Geoană became NATO Deputy Secretary General in October 2019, after a distinguished domestic and international career. He is a strong advocate of transatlantic integration and has held a number of international positions, including OSCE Chairperson-inOffice in 2001 and personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Georgia in 2005. Mr Geoană also served in various capacities as a diplomat and politician, including Ambassador to Washington, Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of Romanian Senate, and, in 2009, his party’s candidate to be President of Romania. He is also the founder of the Aspen Institute Romania and has published extensively on domestic and international affairs. Mr Geoană is the first Deputy Secretary General from Romania, and the first from any of the countries that joined the Alliance after the end of the Cold War.
Andrea Vena
Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer
Andrea Vena is the Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer of the European Space Agency – ESA. He has 30+ years of experience in the space sector both in industrial and institutional areas. Graduated in Electronic Engineering, with a Master in Telecommunication Systems, he started his career in Alenia Spazio, the space branch of Finmeccanica (today Leonardo). In 2000, Andrea started his career at ESA by joining the Strategy Directorate. In 2006 he was appointed head of the Corporate Strategic Planning Office and, in 2016, head of the Corporate Development Office, in charge of establishing a corporate strategy for the development of the organisation. On June 1st, 2021, Andrea was appointed Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer to ensure that ESA and its programmes contribute to the Paris Agreements on Climate Change and the European Green Deal. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Sustainability Strategies in High-tech Business: the space sector 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: During this session the European Space Agency’s approach to Sustainability will be presented. The session will describe how the Agency is leading the European space sector towards a responsible and sustainable space business, which are the strategies, objectives and levers for a peculiar high-tech sector bringing so many benefits with its services and applications.
Priya Kurien
Global TME Research Lead,
IBM Institute for Business Value
Priya leads thought leadership in the TME sector at the IBM Institute for Business Value. In this role, she brings her deep and broad understanding of the industry value chain, partnerships, competition, regulation, automation, and advanced technologies to help clients understand the business value of technology to support their digital transformation journeys. Priya is an author of a book, peer-reviewed journal articles, and IBM publications; She is also a speaker at conference keynotes and panels as well as university guest lectures. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Envisioning the Digital Horizon to 2030: Navigating the Future of Technology 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Join us for a captivating keynote that explores the future of technology, focusing on emerging trends and their transformative impact on society and industries. Delve into the roles of IoT, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and other disruptive innovations in shaping our world by 2030. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the digital landscape and learn strategies to harness these technological advancements for a better tomorrow.
Dr. Nadav Cohen
CTO/Co-Founder
Nadav is an inventor, entrepreneur, and tech evangelist, holding B.Sc. and M.S. degrees summa cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion. His achievements in the field are highlighted by his contributions to over 30 peer-reviewed papers and patents, underlining his commitment to innovation across both academic research and entrepreneurial endeavours. Currently, Nadav has turned his attention to the pioneering field of ocular cybernetics, thriving to make strides in clinical, wellness, and extended reality applications. This new direction reflects his ongoing mission to apply engineering solutions in ways that fundamentally improve human interaction and health. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: From iPhone to Eye-phone: The Future of Ocular Cybernetics 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: This Talk delves into the fascinating world of ocular cybernetics, offering an insightful exploration of its current state and a visionary forecast of its future. The presentation navigates through the latest advancements in medical diagnostics, augmented reality, and personal wellbeing, showcasing devices that monitor, enhance, and transform our visual capabilities. With a focus on the revolutionary Blink Eyelid Patch (ELP), the talk addresses the critical challenges of power supply and communication, unveiling how this cutting-edge technology overcomes existing limitations to pave the way for seamless integration of augmented reality lenses and ocular implants into our daily lives.
Florin Marian Spătaru
State Counsellor to the Chancellery
of the Prime Minister of Romania
Florin Marian Spătaru serves as State Counsellor to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Romania, leading key initiatives in economic policy and development. His extensive experience and proficiency in economic policy, energy planning, defense industry management, and investment facilitation underscore his significant contributions to Romania's progress, shaping its economic policies and attracting crucial investments for sustainable growth. As a specialist in Economic Analysis and Policy Development, Spătaru provides expert advice on economic policies, regulations, and reforms, driving sustainable economic growth and development.
Andrei Niculae
Vicepresident
Andrei Niculae has been serving as Vice-president of the Authority for the Digitalization of Romania since January 2023. As the youngest member of the Romanian Government, Andrei is a strong advocate for digital-first public policies. His strongest belief is that Romania has a once-in-a-generation opportunity: digital transformation. This implies the chance to rethink bureaucracy and the processes behind any public services offered to citizens. Andrei is a graduate of the Political Science Faculty @ the University of Bucharest and has fulfilled roles in strategic and crisis communication for the Romanian Gov. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Edward Crețescu
President
Drawing from over a decade of rich and varied experience in the dynamic realm of IT, Edward Crețescu has traversed diverse roles, evolving from sales and business development to his current focus on business strategy and management. As the CEO of Regista, he spearheaded the digital transformation of public administration, bringing innovative solutions to streamline digitalisation processes and transform the way in which citizens interact with their local authorities. With his recent election as President of ANIS, he has expanded his scope, deepening his commitment to championing the IT industry and advocating for its growth and development on a national scale. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Pavel Popescu
Vicepresident
Pavel Popescu is currently serving as one of the vice-presidents of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) in Romania. Appointed by the Romanian Parliament on October 10, 2023, for a six-year term, his role involves overseeing the regulation of the electronic communications market and postal services. With a commitment to enhancing the communications sector in Romania, Pavel Popescu’s expertise is set to contribute to the advancement of ANCOM’s regulatory objectives. In his previous capacity as a Member of Parliament, he led the charge to pass investment screening legislation in Parliament and to establish an investment screening review body. As an MP, Mr. Popescu was the Chairman of the Defense and National Security Committee and has advocated for the inclusion of emerging technology and economic security threats as part of Romania’s national security priorities. He also advanced Romania’s 5G and cybersecurity legislation in Parliament. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Florin Popa
Director
Florin Popa has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector and is Orange Business Director at Orange Romania since 2013. Florin is a graduate of Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies where he specialized in Economics and Business Law. His career in telecommunications began in December 2001 when he joined MobilRom in Craiova. In 2004, he moved to Bucharest and held various management positions in the sales team of Orange Romania. In 2007, he was appointed Sales & Distribution Director, and since February 2013 he holds the current position. As a representative of Orange Business in the local market, Florin has extensive expertise in the area of connectivity and IT&C solutions that support companies and public authorities in their digital transformation journey. Under Florin's leadership, Orange's revenues from IT&C solutions have become a significant driver of growth. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Wolfgang Fuerst
Head of Mechanical Engineering
Wolfgang Fuerst, Head of Mechanical Engineering at the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj. Wolfgang has an electrical engineering background and over 20 years of professional experience in the automotive sector. He has led up to 400 people in engineering, manufacturing, and central functions across multiple countries driving innovation for outstanding results. His expertise extends over semiconductors, electronics mass production, Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and automotive product development. Passionate about making technology work to make our lives safer, more efficient, and more comfortable, as reflected by the Bosch slogan 'Invented for life'. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Jakub Olek
Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, Central and Eastern Europe
Is a business strategist with expertise in innovation and technology companies for more than 15 years. Jakub completed Law studies. He specialises in strategies for expansion of companies into new markets, corporate communications and regulatory affairs. At TikTok, he is currently responsible for Government Relations and Public Policy in Central Europe and Ukraine. Previously, he introduced Lime to markets in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. IRONMAN distance age group triathlete. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Opening Ceremony Bucharest Tech Week 2024
Ionuț Muntean
Senior Manager of Innovation, University Cooperation and Public Funding
Ionuț is a strong believer in the power of partnerships and innovation. In his current role at Bosch he is leading innovation, university cooperation and publicly funded projects within Bosch Engineering Center Cluj, harvesting the results of the strong interrelation between these three fields. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Navigating the Tech Business Innovation Race
Alexandra Lucescu
Director General
Alexandra Lucescu is the General Manager of SoftOne Romania, part of SOFTONE Group, one of the largest technology ecosystems in South-Eastern Europe. With more than 9 years of experience in the business software industry, Alexandra is managing the operations of the Romanian subsidiary of SOFTONE Group. Her role within the company is to continuously provide strategic advice to upper management and to offer Romanian entrepreneurs a revolutionary perspective regarding the digital transformation process of their operations. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How do Romanian businesses innovate in an ever changing market?
Octavian Ichim
CEO Schwarz Global Services
in Romania
Octavian Ichim, EMBA, CEO of Schwarz Global Services in Romania, leads Schwarz IT division in Bucharest, part of Schwarz Digits, the IT and digital division of Schwarz Group. Schwarz Digits provides the IT infrastructure and solutions for the extensive ecosystem of the companies of Schwarz Group. Octavian, a Bucharest University Computer Science graduate, has 27 years of experience in the IT industry. His leadership has been instrumental in coordinating projects, driving organizational transformations, and fostering relationships with customers, contractors, and stakeholders. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How do Romanian businesses innovate in an ever changing market?
Alexandru Luca
Mobile Division Manager
Alexandru Luca is an experienced Mobile Division Manager with over 20+ years of experience in complex projects in the ITC industry. Over the years, Mr. Luca has gained valuable experience in this field both by taking key roles in the companies in which he has worked and by acquiring important certifications and recognitions in the top mobile solutions such as Knox Expert, Android Professional, Certified Solution Design & Deployment and Certified System Architecture.
Mircea Barosso
Head of B2B Marketing
Mircea Barroso is the Head of B2B Marketing at Orange Romania and has been working in the telecom sector for almost 20 years. Together with his team, Mircea focuses on enabling local organizations and authorities undergo the digital transformation process. Orange Business is the B2B division of Orange Romania providing local companies and authorities support in implementing solutions from a rich portfolio of connectivity and ICT solutions. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How do Romanian businesses innovate in an ever changing market?
Marius Cărpuci
CEO
Marius Carpuci is an experienced leader in the field of information technology, with a career spanning over 20 years. He currently holds the position of CEO at Mida Soft Business, where he leads the company's strategy and operations. Previously, Marius was the Technical Director at the same company, significantly contributing to the development and implementation of innovative technological solutions. Before Mida Soft Business, Marius held essential roles in various companies, such as IT CLICK & SERVICE, Sistec Group, and IT SERVICE CENTER, where he occupied positions like Sales Manager, Managing Director, and Business Unit Manager. In these roles, he demonstrated remarkable skills in executive management, recruitment, and IT management. He is a graduate of the Romanian-American University in Bucharest, with a degree in economics, and participated in MBA workshops at COTRUGLI Business School, where he received a 30% scholarship for an Executive MBA. Throughout his career, Marius Carpuci has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence, contributing to the success of organizations through strong leadership skills and technical expertise. 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Navigating the Tech Business Innovation Race
Octavian Palade
Video SEO manager
Octavian Palade is the Video SEO Manager for Upswing, the most innovative SEO agency in Romania. A former journalist, with almost 14 years of experience in writing about innovation, business and startups, Octavian is also the host of a radio show about technology, broadcasted at TANANANA Radio. Passionate about all things tech, he follows the industry closely, keeping a keen eye on the advancements of AI and its uses in the fields of digital marketing & business transformation.