Moderators and Panelists

Maria E. Fontenele Reis

Maria Edileuza Fontenele Reis, Embassy of Brazil to Sweden 
Ambassador of Brazil to Sweden and Latvia since 2024 and previously Ambassador to Bulgaria and North Macedonia after serving as Permanent Delegate of Brazil to UNESCO. Ambassador Fontenele Reis joined the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after graduating in Social Communication at the University of Brasilia and in French Culture and Civilization in Paris. Among her academic titles are the High Studies Course of the Brazilian Diplomatic Academy (PhD level thesis on Brazil-Japan relations, published in Portuguese, Japanese and English); Master degree in International Relations at the Centro Studi Diplomatici e Strategici in Rome; and PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy at the École des Hautes Études en Relations Internationales. She was promoted to the rank of Ambassador after a long career at the Brazilian Foreign Service, having served in Paris, Luanda, Rome, Tokyo, Santo Domingo, Buenos Aires and in several other diplomatic missions abroad. Ambassador Fontenele Reis was assigned several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among which Undersecretary for Asian Affairs and Multiregional Mechanisms, Brazilian Sherpa to BRICS, High Level Representative to the IBSA Forum, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs. Ambassador Fontenele Reis has several articles published on Brazil-China relations, BRICS, IBSA, and Brazil-European Union Strategic Partnership, among others.  

André Kuroswiski

André Kuroswiski, Brazilian Air Force 
Lieutenant Colonel André Kuroswiski is a pilot and electronic engineer in the Brazilian Air Force who has dedicated the last decade to developing and applying Artificial Intelligence and autonomous agents in defense scenarios, the focus of his PhD. His current research at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) involves creating constructive simulators for air operations, advancing concepts in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM), and building innovative AI solutions for defense applications. 

Antonio Guilherme A. Lorenzi

Antonio Guilherme de Arruda Lorenzi, Rector of ITA, Prof. Dr. 
Dr. Lorenzi graduated as aeronautical engineer at ITA in 1982 with post graduate studies in Business Administration and major in Finances by Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo, and holds a Master in Technology and Development with major in Innovation by the Federal Technologic University of Paraná. He holds a PhD in Business Administration by the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná with a thesis on Corporate Governance and was Director President of Paraná’s Institute for Social and Economic Development, under the State Secretariat for Planning of Paraná State from 2019 to 2021. 

Ardeshir Hanifi

Ardeshir Hanifi, KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) 
Researcher at the Department of Engineering Mechanics, KTH. Previously Research Scientist at Aeronautical Research Institute of Sweden (FFA), Research Director at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Docent degree in Fluid Mechanics at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Ph.D. degree, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Dept. of Mech., Stockholm, Sweden. Ardeshir Hanifi is a member of the Management Group of the Swedish Aerospace Research Center (SARC) and Coordinator of the Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC). 

Daniel Almeida Filho

Daniel Almeida Filho, MCTI Brazil
State Secretary for Technological Development and Innovation at Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). He holds degrees in Mechatronic Engineering and Medicine, and a PhD in Neurosciences from UFRN, with postdoctoral studies at UCLA as a PEW Latin American Fellow. Daniel is also Adjunct Professor at SENAI-CIMATEC, where he coordinates research on cognitive optimization and neuroergonomics, with a focus on applications for neurodivergent individuals. 

Edward Murray

Edward Murray, GreenIron 
Former Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder and current Member of the Board has a BSc degree in economics from University of Surrey, England, and an MBA from Stockholm School of Economics. Edward has held positions as Global Head of Derivative Support for SEB and COO for financial trading of Energy and Commodities at Vattenfall AB. Edward has worked as a Senior Management Consultant in the Banking sector and as a Business Transformation Manager at Swedbank. Edward has also worked with a previous Swedish Startup Navetti, now part of Vendavo. Edward founded GreenIron in 2018 together with Hans Murray. 

Elham Rostami

Elham Rostami, Karolinska Institutet (KI)  
Dr. Elham Rostami is a neurosurgeon and associate professor specializing in traumatic brain injury (TBI) research. She leads advanced studies aimed at understanding the underlying pathology of different types of TBI and improving outcome prediction. Her work uniquely combines clinical patient monitoring, including multimodal approaches with experimental models and genetic analysis. In addition, Dr. Rostami uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze complex clinical and genetic data to better predict patient outcomes, moving towards personalized care. Her research highlights the role of genetic factors in recovery variability and investigates mechanisms of secondary brain injury. She is an active member and vice chair within the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) trauma section and vice president of Swedish Young Academy. Her contributions bridge basic science and clinical care to better tailor treatments for TBI patients. 

Elijah Aldana

Elijah Aldana, Ignite Sweden 
Elijah Aldana is the Head of International Projects at Ignite Sweden. A non-profit organization focused on connecting innovative startups to corporates and the public sector in order to support the commercialization of innovative startups. Elijah Aldana brings a background in international business development, working for a San Francisco based corporate, and Singaporean startup before joining Ignite. He leads Ignite's international work spanning 23 countries and all continents. 

Emilia Villani

Emilia Villani, Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) 
Emilia Villani is the Vice-President of the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA). She received her Doctorate in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of São Paulo in 2004 and joined ITA as a professor in 2005. Since 2013, she has played a key role in developing the Brazilian-Swedish cooperation in Aeronautics. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Brazil-Sweden High-Level Group in Aeronautics and Advisory Board of the Swedish Aerospace Research Center. Her research interests include: (I) specification, verification and validation of embedded systems for critical applications; (II) design of industrial automation systems with an emphasis on robotics applications; and (III) human-machine interface and human factors for aeronautical applications. 

Eugênio Vargas Garcia

Eugênio Vargas Garcia, MFA Brazil 
Ambassador and Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property at Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has been working at the Brazilian Foreign Service since 1994 and has engaged in innovation diplomacy for almost a decade. He also acted as a tech diplomat at Brazil's Consulate in San Francisco between 2021 and 2024. 

Eva Stattin

Eva Stattin, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Innovation manager specialising in the nexus of digitalisation and sustainable development. She drives initiatives that advance smart cities and communities, harnessing enabling technologies and fostering innovation ecosystems. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, she enables cross-disciplinary collaboration on data-driven and smart technology solutions. She is also Point of Contact (PoC) for Smart & Sustainable Cities within the Sweden-Brazil Innovation Initiative (SBII) project. 

Ewellyn Capanema

Ewellyn Capanema, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Ewellyn Capanema is a Principal Scientist at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, leading pioneering research in lignin and wood chemistry. She earned her chemistry and her PhD in Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Ewellyn has been instrumental in advanced analytical methods for the comprehensive characterization of lignin and have contributed to the advancement and the understanding of lignocellulosic conversion processes. She has held senior R&D positions at leading biorefinery companies in Canada and the USA. She focused on process development and industrial applications of lignins and other biomass components, contributing to sustainable biorefinery technologies. At RISE, Ewellyn continues to push the boundaries of lignin research, aiming to unlock new potentials for lignin in various industrial applications. Her work supports the development of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies. 

Fábio Gama

Fábio Gama, Halmstad University 
Fábio Gama is Associate Professor of Health Innovation at Halmstad University, Sweden. He serves as an expert for the European Commission on the adoption of digital technologies and leads AI-driven research projects in collaboration with partners such as Institute of Radiology in São Paulo, Captained and Philips Healthcare. His work explores the role of artificial intelligence in new product and service development, with a particular focus on organizational paradoxes, regulatory challenges, and responsible innovation. Through international collaborations across Europe and Latin America, he contributes to advancing development and implementation of AI in healthcare settings. 

Fredrik Heintz

Fredrik Heintz, LiU 
Fredrik Heintz is a Professor of Computer Science at Linköping University, where he directs the AI4x Center of Excellence, the Division of Artificial Intelligence and Integrated Computer Systems (AIICS), and the Reasoning and Learning lab (ReaL). His research focus is artificial intelligence especially Trustworthy AI and the intersection between machine reasoning and machine learning. Director of the Wallenberg AI and Transformative Technologies Education Development Program (WASP-ED), Co-director of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), Coordinator of the TrustLLM project, and Vice President for AI Research Adra the AI, Data, and Robotics partnership. Member of the Swedish AI Commission. Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). 

Gina Aspelin Hedbring

Gina Aspelin Hedbring, IVL (Swedish Environmental Research Institute) 
Gina act as the Point of Contact (PoC) for Sustainable Cities in the bi-lateral Innovation program between Sweden and Brazil. She is also head of international strategy for the mission driven project Water Wise Societies and has been responsible for the Swedish governmental program Smart City Sweden. She has a long history of international innovation and business development projects from both the public as well as the private sector.  

Gunilla Hyllander

Gunilla Hyllander, Hybrit 
General Manager at Hybrit Development AB. 
Background in mining and ironmaking and joined the Hybrit initiative in 2016. 

Gustavo Garrido

Gustavo Garrido, Embassy of Brazil in Stockholm
Career diplomat since 2007 and Head of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Embassy of Brazil in Stockholm with previous assignments abroad in Germany, Ecuador and Ghana. Assignments in Brasilia include the Middle Eastern Department and the Press Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Gustavo Lima

Gustavo Lima, MCTI Brazil
Advisor for Energy Transition, Transport and Sanitation at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil (MCTI). Agronomic Engineer with an MSc from the University of Brasília, specializing in plant biotechnology and agribusiness sustainability. With over 16 years of experience at Brazil’s MCTI, he has led national and international cooperation projects in bioenergy, biofuels, transportation, and sanitation, with expertise in bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biomethane, biomass conversion, hydrogen, and electromobility. 

Irene von der Weid

Irene von der Weid, INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property)
Biologist, with master's and doctorate degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and expert in intellectual property (IP) and innovation. Since 2006, she has worked as an IP researcher at Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and currently heads the IP and Innovation Studies Division. In addition, she is deputy head of the General Coordination for Economics and Innovation. Her work focuses on technological information, IP analytics, and intellectual property intelligence. 

Lars Bergström

Lars Bergström, Innovair 
Coordinator for the Swedish-Brazilian Cooperation in Aeronautics, Sweden. Lars is a retired Colonel from the Swedish Airforce. He has a pilot background and has served in different positions. Before retiring, Lars was the Swedish Defence Attaché to Brazil. 

Luisa Orre

Luisa Orre, Stegra
Luisa Orre is Chief Business Development Officer at Stegra, overseeing the growth plans outside Sweden. She was previously Chief Procurement Officer, managing agreements for electricity, raw materials, logistics and project procurement, as well as infrastructure related to power, rail and port. Before joining Stegra, Luisa was CFO at a consumer technology start up and part of building the company from pre-product and pre-team. Luisa spent six years at McKinsey & Co. advising technology, consumer and private equity clients on corporate, growth and digital strategy. Luisa holds a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics. 

Mar Edo

Mar Edo, RISE (WECos)
Mar Edo is a project manager, researcher, and consultant dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management and promoting the efficient use of resources. With a background in chemical engineering and a PhD in Chemistry and Environment from Umeå University in Sweden, she brings scientific expertise to her work. 
Since 2028, Mar has been part of RISE, where she leads and contributes to national and international projects focused on transforming waste into valuable resources and supporting the transition to a circular society. Her main research interest lies in the composition of solid waste and understanding how future waste minimization strategies will impact it. Mar also leads international collaboration within IEA Bioenergy Task 36, and actively contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives funded by both public and private actors. Her focus areas include waste-to-energy, waste sorting analyses, combustible waste streams and plastic packaging, among others. 

Marcus Wandt

Marcus Wandt, Saab 
Marcus Wandt is the Chief Innovation Officer at SAAB. During the night between 18 and 19 January 2024, Marcus Wandt, who worked as the Chief Test Pilot at Saab, started his journey from the Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station, ISS, aiming to ensure that Sweden remains at the forefront of space research. 

Maria Cândida Mousinho

Maria Cândida Arrais de Miranda Mousinho, advisor to the President of the Republic, Brazil 
Drawing on her extensive academic background, which includes a PhD in Energy and Environment from 
the Federal University of Bahia and a master's in Regional Analysis, she is a seasoned academic and consultant. A professor at the Federal Institute of Bahia since 2012, she has also held international advisory roles and lectured in several graduate and doctoral programs. Her expertise is further demonstrated through her consulting work with institutions like ECLAC/IPEA and her role on the Task Force for Energy Transition and Climate Finance. As a published author with Springer-Nature and a member of various research laboratories, she is a respected voice in her field and currently serves as an advisor to the Special Advisory Office of the President of the Republic. 

Martin Schalling

Martin Schalling, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital. 
Martin Schalling is Professor of Medical Genetics at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and the Center for Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital. He is an MD/ PhD and was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT. His papers have been cited over 50 000 times, and his H index is over 100. Martin is a Fulbright Scholar and a national Point of Contact for Sweden for collaborations with Brazil in Health. He is a board member of the largest health care provider in Sweden (SLSO) and the startup company Care to Translate, and member of the editorial board of several journals. 

Mikael Lindström

Mikael E. Lindström, KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) 
Master's degree in chemistry and chemical engineering at KTH. After a very successful career at Kvaerner Pulping AB in Karlstad, Mikael Lindstrom went back to the Royal Institute of Technology, where he became Assoc. Professor and Professor in Pulp Technology. He has been Head of the Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, Dean of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at The Royal Institute of Technology KTH, Head of School Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health. Since 1st of January 2023, Mikael Lindstrom is Deputy President at KTH. 

Mikael Larsson

Mikael Larsson, Swerim 
Mikael Larsson is a Swedish energy and metallurgy expert, currently serving as the Business Area Manager for Metallurgy at Swerim AB (Metals Research Institute). Previously, he has also acted as an Adjunct Professor in Energy Engineering at Luleå University of Technology. With a career rooted in innovation and sustainability, Mikael pursued his academic journey at Luleå University of Technology, earning a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering in 1999, followed by a PhD in the same field in 2005. From 2005 he has been working at the institute. His research has focused on process integration, carbon capture and energy analysis within the steel industry. He has led several pioneering projects during his time. 

Nicolette Lakemond

Nicolette Lakemond, Linköping University 
Nicolette Lakemond is professor in Industrial Management at the Department of Management and Engineering, Linköping University. Her research focuses on management and organizational issues that arise when complex systems increasingly utilize advanced digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). She performs studies in several domains, including transportation, healthcare and energy. The use of AI means that systems are becoming more generative, i.e. that systems can develop beyond what they were originally intended for. This creates new opportunities while new organizational and systemic challenges also arise to ensure that the systems solve their multifaceted tasks in a safe and efficient way and serve their societal function. 

Ninad Bondre

Ninad Bondre, Vinnova 
Programme Manager at Vinnova, Sweden's Innovation Agency. Ninad focuses primarily on research and innovation pertaining to the mining and minerals sector. As the country manager for Brazil, he seeks to deepen the long-standing collaboration between Sweden and Brazil by maintaining an active dialogue with academia, industry and other sectors from both countries. 

Olle Dierks

Olle Dierks, Viable Cities / Team Sweden Smart Cities 
Olle Dierks is Head of Large-Scale Investments at Viable Cities and Chairman of Team Sweden Smart Cities. At Viable Cities, Olle coordinates Sweden’s engagement in Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action. In his previous work life, Olle has been an Innovation and Investment Partnerships Specialist at UN-Habitat and Director of International Relations at the Swedish Incubators & Science Parks. 

Oscar Hållén

Oscar Hållén, Cemvision 
CEO of Cemvision, a company that is re-inventing cement with its circular, high-performing, near-zero product. 

Osório Coelho

Osório Coelho, MCTI Brazil
Director of Innovation Programs at Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). A career Science and Technology Analyst since 2010, he holds a PhD in Global, Urban and Social Studies from RMIT University, Australia, and an MBA in Project Management from Cândido Mendes University. He co-chairs the Brazil–Sweden Executive Committee on Innovation and the Executive Committee on Aeronautics, supporting bilateral cooperation in strategic areas. 

Osvaldo Leal de Moraes

Osvaldo Luiz Leal de Moraes, MCTI Brazil 
Doctorate in Natural Sciences from the Federal College of Rio Grande do Sul. Full professor at the Federal College of Santa Maria. Director of the Climate and Sustainability Department of the Brazilian Ministry of ST&I. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction of the World Meteorological Organization. He was Director of the National Center for Early Warning and Monitoring of Natural Disasters, Director of the National Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, Scientific Director of the Brazilian Meteorological Society, Coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Environmental Sciences of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). He has supervised more than 30 doctoral thesis and dissertations and published about 100 scientific articles in indexed and peer-reviewed journals. 

Peter Sandwall

Peter Sandwall, Ministry of Defence, Sweden 
State Secretary to Minister for Defence, Pål Jonson, Ministry of Defence, Sweden. 

Pontus Naucler

Pontus Naucler, KI (Karolinska Institutet) 
Professor of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet (KI). Academic coordinator at Karolinska Institutet for Brazil collaborations. Research focused on how misuse of antibiotics accelerates development and spread of drug-resistance. Innovator in how to improve patient safety through innovative AI based tools. 

Rémy Kolessar

Rémy Kolessar, Vinnova 
Dr. Kolessar has a M.Sc. in Applied Physics and a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He has background in the semiconductor industry and has more than 20 years' experience in the energy sector, in particular energy markets, policy & regulation as well as funding of sustainable energy innovations and cleantech business development. He is currently Deputy Director General & Head of International Cooperation at Vinnova, Sweden's Innovation Agency, promoting global innovation collaboration to strengthen Sweden’s innovation capacity and contribute to global sustainable growth. 

Rinaldo César Mancin

Rinaldo César Mancin, IBRAM (Brazilian Mining Association) 
Rinaldo César Mancin is the Director of Sustainability at Brazilian Mining Association (IBRAM), where he leads the Institute's environmental and sustainability strategy. He works directly with over 300 member companies, promoting best practices and helping them address industry challenges. He leads the mineral industry's engagement in global sustainability agendas, including critical and strategic minerals, energy transition, climate change, tailings management standards, and socioeconomic development, fostering a strong commitment to responsible mining practices. 

Sara Modig

Sara Modig, Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Sweden 
Sara Modig serves as State Secretary to the Minister for Energy and Business, Ebba Busch, at the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Sweden. Sara Modig holds a Master of Laws degree and master’s degree in philosophy in National Economics from Stockholm University. Her professional background encompasses leadership roles within both the public and private sector, with extensive experience in strategic initiatives and management roles within prominent Swedish corporations. 

Sasan Shaba

Sasan Shaba, SISP (Swedish Incubators & Science Parks) 
Sasan Shaba is the Vice President of Philanthropy & International Cooperation at Swedish Incubators & Science Parks and a former COO of Ignite Sweden. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Swedish innovation ecosystem, Sasan has a strong background in advancing startups on a global scale. His work has spanned international markets, including the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the MENA region. As a dedicated entrepreneur, he has founded multiple companies across varied industries and currently leads Haloya Ventures, his family office, as CEO. Additionally, Sasan has held managerial roles in Swedish incubators and served as CEO of a science park, further cementing his expertise in fostering innovation-driven environments. Prior to his role at Ignite Sweden, Sasan was a Senior Portfolio Manager at the Swedish Energy Agency, where he supported over 250 Swedish cleantech and energy startups, guiding them through investment and market entry programs. Sasan’s career is marked by his commitment to building and developing companies and organizations with a hands-on approach that emphasizes tangible results. His strategic insights and extensive experience make him a key figure in Sweden’s innovation landscape. 

Silvia França

Silvia França, Centre for Mineral Technology (CETEM /MCTI)
Silvia França is a chemical engineer, with a PhD. degree in solid-liquid separation operations. She is a Senior Technologist at Centre for Mineral Technology (CETEM /MCTI), where she has worked since 2000 on RD&I projects focusing on water reuse and mineral tailings reprocessing. She has been director of CETEM since September 2020. 

Vinicius Kaster Marini

Vinicius Kaster Marini, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)
Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), member of the Institutional Commitee for Technological Innovation in the Department for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ProInova) of UFSM, and on duty as CISB/CNPq guest researcher on man-machine collaboration with artificial intelligence in systems engineering with the division of Fluid Power and Mechatronics in Linköping University. With Ph.D. in engineering design and product development by DTU, he worked as product design and qualification engineer in the oil & gas industry and has joined UFSM since 2019. He develops upon his expertise on safety-critical products and systems onto mobility research projects about dynamic sensors for AI, drivetrain control design, precision agriculture automation, and use of AI in aerospace system design. His interests involve conceptual and architectural systems design, multi-domain systems design, perception-to-actuation engineering, location and environment design factors, and safety of intended functionality in mobility systems.