The new HEInnovate Expert Group brings together 21 professionals from 19 countries, selected for their expertise in driving innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education. Their insights and experience will help shape the next phase of institutional transformation across Europe and beyond.

These experts have been selected for their deep knowledge and practical experience in transforming higher education institutions (HEIs). Their profiles span academic leadership, policy development, university-business cooperation, and innovation ecosystem building. Together, they represent the full range of the HEInnovate dimensions—from digital transformation and entrepreneurial teaching to institutional governance and internationalisation.

These experts will work closely with the European Commission to guide the strategic development of HEInnovate and support its growing community of users who are seeking to become more entrepreneurial and innovative. They will help us strengthen our tools, share real-world insights, shape peer learning activities, and contribute to policymaking with grounded, practical expertise.

What unites them is not only their knowledge, but their hands-on experience in making change happen in higher education settings—from rethinking curricula to building international alliances and leading digital transformation projects. Their work ensures that innovation in higher education isn’t just a buzzword, but a lived, measurable, and impactful reality.

Meet the Experts

• Ana-Cristina Nicolescu (Romania) – West University of Timișoara

• Bernhard Kölmel (Germany) – International School of Management (ISM) / Pforzheim University

• Bernhard Weber (Austria) – Unicorn Start-up & Innovation Hub / Arqus

• Charlotte Norrman (Sweden) – Linköping University / ECIU

• Christophe Haunold (Luxembourg) – University of Luxembourg

• Ellen Hazelkorn (Ireland) – BH Associates / TU Dublin

• Hannes Raffaseder (Austria) – St. Pölten UAS / E³UDRES² / EURASHE

• Inga Lapiņa (Latvia) – Riga Technical University

• Jean-Michel Viola (France) – Mesos Business School

• Juliana Vassileva (Bulgaria) – New Bulgarian University

• László Horváth (Hungary) – ELTE Eötvös Loránd University

• Manja Klemencic (Slovenia) – University of Ljubljana / Harvard University

• Marian Holienka (Slovakia) – Comenius University Bratislava

• Marina Ranga (Poland) – University of Warsaw / University of Seville / Ulysseus

• María José Herrero-Villa (Spain) – Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) / YUFE

• Mona Roman (Finland) – Metropolia University of Applied Sciences / U!REKA

• Peter Joore (Netherlands) – NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences / RUN-EU

• Tânia Carraquico (Portugal) – ISEC Lisboa

• Thomas Crispeels (Belgium) – Vrije Universiteit Brussel / StartLab.Brussels

• Victoria Galán-Muros (Spain) – Innovative Futures Institute

• Vilma Purienė (Lithuania) – Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

The initial meeting of the Expert Group is scheduled for May in Brussels, where members will exchange priorities and commence their collaborative efforts to support a more innovative and entrepreneurial landscape in European higher education.

Updates on their work, publications, and contributions will follow throughout the year.