Prof. Jari Kuusisto is a science and innovation policy expert with over 20 years of experience in providing in-depth strategic consulting to high-level government agencies, businesses and international organisations in more than 15 countries, EU, OECD and UN. His expertise focused on science and innovation policy, university organisational development, strategic change management and research profile development and upgrading.

Prof. Stephen Flowers is an expert on innovation and has influenced academia, policy and professional practice internationally. His research contribution has been significant and he has produced over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and reports, 5 books, more than 10 book chapters and many conference and working papers and articles in the national media. He has also made a series of contributions to the development of policy positions on Open and User Innovation and is a leading researcher in this area. Stephen has presented his work at many leading universities including Harvard Business School, MIT, Erasmus University and Copenhagen Business School. He has also undertaken projects for the OECD, the European Commission, Nesta, and the Institutet for Tllvaxtpolitiska Studier, Stockholm.

Dr. Leena Kunttu holds a PhD degree in Information Technology (signal processing) from Tampere University of Technology, Finland (2006), a PhD degree in Economics (innovation management) from the University of Vaasa, Finland (2019), and Master of Arts degree in Education from University of Tampere (2020). Between 2007 and 2012, she served as Senior Manager in an area of innovation at the Nokia Corporation. During her career in Nokia, she led several collaborative projects between the company and external research institutes, such as universities. She also led and participated in joint educational activities between Nokia and universities.

Dr. Helka Kalliomäki works as an Associate Professor (tenure track) in Innovation Policy at the School of Management/Regional Studies and at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Innolab research platform at the University of Vaasa. She received her PhD degree in human geography in 2012 from the University of Turku. Kalliomäki has a strong track record in managing and building challenge driven multidisciplinary research projects engaging stakeholders from public and private sector, nationally and internationally.

Prof. Martin Meyer is vice-rector for international affairs and director of InnoLab. Martin is known for his work on science, technology and innovation as well as the Triple Helix of university-industry-government relations. His research focuses on knowledge exchange, academic patenting and emerging science-based technologies with the most recent work focusing on innovation intermediaries, interdisciplinary research and research performance as well as innovation opportunity spaces. Martin is also interested in the bibliometric analysis of science and technology and their interrelationships.