Iraklis Agiovlasitis

Iraklis Agiovlasitis is Head of Unit Business and Innovation at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and National Contact Point for the European Innovation Council (EIC). He holds a PhD in Process Engineering with a focus on data analytics and algorithmic modelling and has over 15 years’ experience in international consulting as well as the Research & Development & Innovation scene across a diverse range of organisations and cultures. He began his career by managing and leading complex projects in the ICT and engineering sectors and soon focused on the field of European policy making for the RDI sector, acting as a National Contact Point for Horizon 2020 and then moving into strategic programme design and policy making.

He has worked as an expert for public and international organisations, including ministries, the UNDP and the European Commission and is acknowledged for facilitating diverse partnership groups to work together in order to achieve economic impact. Among the areas of his focus is international technology transfer and research cooperation, innovation management, exploitation of research results, open innovation and evaluation of policies and programmes on an EU level. He is a seasoned trainer and public speaker and experienced mentor for small and medium-sized businesses, active in the international startup and scaleup scene.