Marko is a visionary entrepreneur and changemaker, dedicated to transforming education and inspiring the next generation of leaders. As the co-founder and Chief Changemaker of Moonshot Pirates, a global movement with members in over 150 countries, Marko empowers young minds to tackle global challenges through innovative thinking and sustainable solutions. He is passionate about equipping future leaders with the tools to drive positive change, fostering a deep understanding of technology, and nurturing a moonshot mindset. A father, husband, and world traveler, Marko brings his passion for people and community into everything he does—whether mentoring future leaders, building businesses, or cheering on Liverpool. © Photo: Karlheinz Fessl

I grew up in Vienna, attended HTL/technical high school there, started my first startup during that time, and now I work full-time on my current, profitable startup. On a personal note, I spend most of my free time either traveling or on the mats, training martial arts. I’ve been to 30 countries, and one of my goals is to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in as many of them as possible! © Photo: LinkedIn

Elisabetta Chicca obtained a "Laurea" degree (M.Sc.) in Physics from the University of Rome 1 "La Sapienza", Italy in 1999 with a thesis on CMOS spike-based learning. In 2006 she received a Ph.D. in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ, Physics department) and in Neuroscience from the Neuroscience Center Zurich. E. Chicca has carried out her research as a Postdoctoral fellow (2006-2010) and as a Group Leader (2010-2011) at the Institute of Neuroinformatics (University of Zurich and ETH Zurich) working on development of neuromorphic signal processing and sensory systems. In 2021 she established the Bio-Inspired Circuits and Systems group at the University of Groningen. Her...

Adrian Davies, born in Vienna on July 17, 2003, is a second-year Business Law student at the University of Economics Vienna. A graduate of HTL Spengergasse with a specialization in Higher Informatics, Adrian has developed a strong foundation in IT, data privacy (GDPR), and IP & Tech law through various internships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adrian launched his first startup, Eusync, which focused on unifying the digital services of the European rail network onto a single, centralized platform. In the early stages, he took on roles as developer, project manager, and CEO, leveraging his expertise in project management to drive the startup’s growth. Building on his experience with Eusync, Adrian...

Tobias is an entrepreneur with a MSc. in chemical engineering from Delft University of Technology combined with a background in IT, cybersecurity and Industry 4.0 automation. He’s founded and exited a software company and worked for Bilfinger Tebodin on Industry 4.0 solutions prior to joining VSParticle as a co-founder to advance the software and automation potential of its nanomaterial technology. After initially heavily involved in product development, his current role as COO is a combination of strategic elements, company building and (software) product development. © Photo: VSParticle/A. Panella

Matthias Pirs, Director of Corporate Affairs at AT&S, heads the company’s global public affairs efforts and reports directly to the CEO. His responsibilities include coordinating and representing AT&S’s corporate interests, engaging with policymakers, and shaping the European microelectronics ecosystem. Matthias joined AT&S in early 2021, initially providing support at the C-level before transitioning into a strategic role and eventually taking on his current position. Before he started his career at AT&S, he served as a consultant to the former Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development, an expert body that advised the government (ministers) on matters of research, technology, and innovation (RTI). © Photo: AT&S

Jonna Heliskoski is an experienced consulting professional with extensive knowledge of change management and business transformations. She has a proven track record of utilizing data to tackle complex challenges as well as 25 years of experience in customer and impact-oriented service development. Utilizing impact thinking, as well as modeling and evaluating impact, are her areas of special expertise. Heliskoski is a sought-after trainer and facilitator. Her goal-oriented impact ecosystem model has been applied to more than 100 innovation and strategy projects. © Photo: Miikka Pirinen