Expert Hub – SIRENE

Expert Hub

Matteo Zallio

Chair of the Expert Hub

Matteo Zallio, M.Arch, Ph.D., is on a mission to make emergent technologies accessible and inclusive for all. Matteo is an award-winning designer, researcher, and adjunct professor. He has a unique background in helping businesses to develop futuristic technologies that are inclusive and consider different aspects of human diversity such as ability, language, culture, gender, and age. He is currently the founder of the Metavethics Institute, a senior UX researcher at Autodesk, a senior by-fellow at the University of Cambridge - Hughes Hall, and an adjunct faculty member at Dublin City University. Matteo was previously a Fulbright research fellow at Stanford University, an A. Graves research fellow at Technological University Dublin, founded a start-up and authored several books on design and technology. Along with his academic and business roles, he is constantly involved as a consultant and mentor for businesses and designers.

Francisco José Melero Muñoz

ICT for independent living

Innovation Manger at CETEM Technical Centre, currently pursuing his PhD on digital solutions for ageing well at home, in the community and at home. Deals and coordinates with reseach, innovation and training initiatives on active and healthy ageing. Acted as chair a the COST Action CA16226 Sheldon - Indoor living space improvement: Smart Habitat for the ELDerly and currently coordinates the large scale pilots of the EU Funded project Pharaon that is deployed in the region of Murcia.

Paris Fokaides

Information technology

Dr.-Ing. Paris A. Fokaides is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering of Frederick University, Cyprus, and a research mentor at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. In Frederick University, Paris is lecturing the courses of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as well as the courses of Sustainable Energy Resources, and Energy Design of Buildings in the Masters Programme of Energy Engineering, which he also coordinates.

Elisio Costa

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto and researcher in the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences of the same institution (UCIBIO). He is also the Director of the Competence Center on Ageing of the University of Porto, which aims to work as a convergence Centre of all the skills and knowledge of the University in the field of ageing; and coordinator of the activities of the University of Porto as an INNOSTARS RIS-Hub of EIT-Health.

Marta Fernandez Bertos

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

Her career has spanned senior management roles in the UK, including Global Research Leader at international consultancy Arup. She has a strong interest in urban wellbeing, particularly the impact of design and technology for healthy ageing and has been a member of European expert panels for nature-based solutions in cities, energy efficient buildings and healthy buildings.

Regina Rosta-Pethő

Information technology

Regina graduated on Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Science in Budapest, in Master’s degree in regional development geography. As a senior project manager at Pannon Business Network (PBN) she has more than 15 years’ experience in the field of international relations, international project management especially for SMEs including social enterprise supporting services, implementation of innovative AAL ideas, e-health solutions, and digital transformation.

Stefan Danschutter

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

I'm an Architect Engineer by training. I work for Buildwise since 2004 on the themes accessibility & age-friendly housing. We're a private research institute and our members are the Belgian Construction companies (carpenters, plumbers, general contractors, and so on). Our work is steered by technical committees where these construction companies are represented.

Liane Colonna

ICT for independent living

Liane is an Associate Professor (“docent”) in law and information technology at the Department of Law, Stockholm University (SU) where she is performing research in the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society program. Liane sits on the executive board of the Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute (IRI) and has been a member of the New York Bar since 2008.

Lenka Lhotská

ICT for independent living

Lenka Lhotská, PhD, MIET, MIEEE, graduated as Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CVUT), Czech Republic and got PhD degree in Cybernetics from CVUT. Currently she is head of the Cognitive Systems and Neurosciences Department at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics and associate professor at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, CVUT.

Giorgos Koumanakos

Community intervention and care

Giorgos Koumanakos is the founder and the EU projects director of FRODIZO corporation. His processes bachelor’s degree in physical education and an MSc on Telematics management. FRODIZO started operating at 2009, and is a welfare organization for the care of older people and a day care center, accredited by the Greek Ministry of health, for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Andrej Grguric

ICT for independent living

Andrej Grgurić is working as a Researcher in Ericsson Nikola Tesla in Zagreb, Croatia. He holds a PhD from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and an Executive e-Leadership MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree from International Graduate Business School, Algebra University College, Croatia. His interests include software engineering, the Internet of Things, Ambient Intelligence, Active and Assisted Living, and privacy-preserving Machine Learning.

Isabel Vaz Serra

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

Degree in architecture and MA in Urban Design, from 2017 board of administration ar FJLJR, responsable for innovative approaches to active ageing, senior digital inclusion, and new solutions to carehomes.

Katalin Hajos

Policy and funding

The most important milestones of Katalin’s professional career are linked to the world of media and journalism. She has several decades of senior management experience at multinational companies in the fields of marketing, media and communication. International economist by profession she worked as CEO, Aegis Media Kft., Budapest a leading multinational communications company in Hungary between 1996 and 2014.

Kai Schnackenberg

Policy and funding

Kai Schnackenberg works for the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, as member of the Division of International Affairs and Innovation. Since 2012, he is in charge of project development and management, and he is supervising projects' legal, administrative and financial framework. He is specialized in the promotion of innovation and digitalization in the health sector. As graduated nurse and with a degree in Health Science, he has a solid background in health systems; in addition, he has a master’s degree in European Public Administration.

Andrea Ferenczi

ICT for independent living

Andrea Ferenczi has 30 years of experience in the fields of women's empowerment and career development. She is an entrepreneur (founder of PRenergia Ltd. providing professional business consultancy, PR & HR as well as IT & WEB services) and founder president of the Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary (AWCDH). More information: www.womenscareer.org. On behalf of the AWCDH she has organized nearly 50 international conferences and founded several awards including the “Women’s Career Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Anto Čartolovni

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Research group and Digit-HeaL laboratory leader. Assistant professor at the Catholic University of Croatia in Zagreb. His main research areas are Ethics of emerging technologies (AI, Big data), Philosophy of technology, Bioethics, Neuroethics and Philosophy of medicine. He has published extensively on various topics in bioethics, philosophy and ethics of emerging technologies etc. He is currently involved in several international and national projects and has been engaged as an ethics expert in several ethical committees and IRB boards.

Milica Solarević

Social innovation, health and social sciences

An associate professor at the Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management. She is expert in social geography with spatial emphasis on demography, ageing, social basics in tourism, migrations and population policy, where she published more than 50 papers. She actively participated in several projects related to ageing, older adults, migrations, marginalized groups, human rights, ... She authored university textbook, numerous articles in national journals, presented her work and participated in organizing many international scientific conferences.

Hossein Chavoshi

Information technology

Highly accomplished professional in the field of GIS, with over 10 years of experience in designing and developing GIS applications. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in GIScience at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), where he leverages his extensive knowledge and expertise to educate and inspire future GIS professionals. Hossein's work experience and academic background in GIS have made him well-versed in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies within the GIS industry. He has extensive experience manipulating and analyzing big geo-data, making predictions using machine learning, and developing customized web mapping services.

Charalampos Vassiliou

Information technology

M.Sc. in Computer Science from University of Oxford, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. Head of Strategic Planning & Coordination Unit, Directorate for Digital Governance at the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology Network (GRNET S.A.). Digital Transformation Advisor at the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. Member of the Open Technologies Alliance (GFOSS) Working Group for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Member of the Working Group (WG) at Greek Ministry of Health, to support the implementation of the European Health Data Space in Greece.

Ignacio Pedrosa

ICT for independent living

Ignacio Pedrosa, PhD. International Mention by the University of Oviedo, Master of Research in Health Psychology and Bachelor in Psychology. He has more than 15 years of experience in the field of bio-health research, with special emphasis on the design, development and implementation of innovative digital solutions for health, social care and healthy ageing in place.

Agnieszka Ciesla

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

Agnieszka Cieśla, PhD, architect and urban planner, CEO at Mimo Wieku Foundation (www.mimowieku.pl), lecturer at the Department for Spatial Management and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography Warsaw University of Technology. Agnieszka specializes in issues related to demographic ageing and its spatial consequences. Her area of particular interest is housing, both from a planning and policy perspective.

Sami Perälä

ICT for independent living

Mr. Sami Perälä has degrees in nursing, operating room and anaesthesiological nursing and paramedical nursing (Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences), as well as Master degree in health sciences (University of Kuopio). He is also a qualified teacher in vocational education (Tampere University of Applied Sciences) and has a degree in professional development in management (University of Tampere). He worked with South Ostrobothnia Health Technology Development Centre as an expert for seven years and then as an executive director for twelve years.

Andreea Toma

Policy and funding

Project Manager specialized in writing and implementing national and international projects, with experience in the development of strategy planning and communication. I am passionate about data science and technology. Part of the management of the EXCELIVING Project - an ecosystem that brings together partners from various fields (construction building materials, furniture and lighting, home automation, welfare technology) in order to provide qualitative services for SMEs that are eager to create better spaces and healthier environments for all ages.

Joost van Hoof

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

Joost van Hoof works as a full professor of Urban Ageing with the Faculty of Social Work & Education of The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Hague, The Netherlands (since 1 March 2018). His research interests lie in the domain of age-friendly cities and the design of housing and gerontechnology for older people. Since December 2017, he is also affiliated with the Department of Spatial Economy, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, in Wrocław, Poland.

Miriam Bellušová

Policy and funding

I work as Secretary General of the Slovak Craft Industry Federation, where we strive to support small and medium-sized businesses by commenting on legislation at national and European level. The aim of our activities is to create a healthy and balanced business environment in which sole traders and companies can freely do business and develop their business ideas. We bring together a number of business associations and guilds from the service and construction sectors, working with national social partners and government bodies.

Arthur Schreuder

Social innovation, health and social sciences

In a leading role and as an entrepreneur, he brings innovations by working with a plan with a vision on the future from abstract to practice and from a broad field of vision to the human scale. Looking at the workplace differently is the common thread in his working life Acting to unlock science knowledge pragmatically for society with a visionary view of digital developments with positive socio-economic societal impact. Taking into account anthropological values that are ethically humane in the benefit of the common good with the attitude of leaving no one behind.

Gian Matteo Apuzzo

Community intervention and care

Urban sociologist and EU policies expert, with a PhD in Social Sciences on community development and social foresight, he has a long-time experience as a consultant, teacher, and researcher— matured in different countries and contexts. Since 2009 he has been working as senior researcher and project manager for different health systems’ organisations on the topics of active and healthy ageing, integrated care, social inclusion, and digital health. Currently employed at the Central European Initiative (CEI) as Senior Programme Manager, he has been the coordinator of a CEI-WHO Task Force in response to COVID19 and he is the Focal Point for Health Strategies and Emergencies Response.

Piret Hirv

Social innovation, health and social sciences

As the Head of the Health Technology Division and Connected Health Cluster Manager at Tehnopol Science and Business Park in Estonia, Piret collaborates with multiple partners to develop new services and emphasize innovative products for companies' product portfolios.
At Connected Health Cluster and Tehnopol, we create new opportunities for testing technological solutions in healthcare. We also contribute to creating and developing a diverse network of approximately 50 stakeholders between the government, hospitals/doctors, academies, start-ups, bigger IT companies.

Katarina M.V. Galic

Information technology

Founder and CEO of the X|ergy, a sustainability technology company currently pursuing her PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems from MIT Portugal. Over 20 years of international experience of working with more then 5000 small and medium-sized businesses across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Katarina led Government of Canada, Business Information Center; built systems, led funding, and created policies to support global entrepreneurship. She supports SMEs to integrate sustainability as a core of their foundation and has been engaged in sustainability projects in the EU, USA, Singapore, Turkey, etc.

Damon Berry

ICT for independent living

Damon Berry received a BSc(Eng) in Electronic Engineering from DIT, an MSc in Electronic Engineering from DCU and a PhD in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin. A research group leader of towards People Oriented Technology (tPOT), and a lecturer in the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering TU Dublin. His research interests include e-health and the application of the Internet of Things for smart healthy age-friendly environments. Damon is a founding member and former chair (from 2016-2019) of the National Standards Authority of Ireland ehealth standards committee, which is the Irish mirror-panel for ISO TC215. He is also actively involved in STEM promotion.

Ivan Chorbev

Information technology

Ivan Chorbev is a Full Professor and Head of the Software Engineering Department at the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering at UKIM. His main interests and activities include Software engineering, Machine learning, Assistive technologies, eHealth. He served 7 years for two terms as dean of the faculty. He serves as the member of the Board of Directors in the Business Accelerator UKIM representing the major shareholder - the University UKIM. He has published more than 100 research papers in the area of machine learning, medical data mining, telemedicine, assistive technologies, software engineering, heuristic optimization algorithms, combinatorial optimization, etc.

Tiziana Russo Spena

Social innovation, health and social sciences

A full professor of Management at the University of Naples Federico II. elected Member of Reser - European Research Network on Services. Member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Innovation and Development of the Agri-food industry as well as of the Scientific Committee area Innovation and Technology Transfer at Interdepartmental Research Center L.U.P.T. of the Federico II University of Naples. She is a coordinator in pectore of PHD doctoral in Management (Cycle 39°) and has been involved as a coordinator of scientific projects on innovation and technology transfer.

Maddalena Illario

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Endocrinologist, Associate Professor at Department of Public Health of Federico II University of Naples. From 2016 to 2020 she was coordinator of the Campania Region Division on Health Innovation. Since 2015 involved as expert in the coordination team of A3 Action Group on Lifespan Health Promotion & Prevention of age related frailty and disease” of the European Partnership on Active and Healthy Aging. Since 2013 she has been coordinating Campania Reference Site of the European Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, fostering participation of local stakeholders to many collaborative activities with international partners. She is currently chair of the European Reference Site Collaborative Network.

Luiza Spiru

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Prof. Luiza Spiru, MD, PhD holds several positions: Professor of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Old Age Psychiatry since 2013, Chair of the Department at the "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest since 2004, Head of the Clinical Department of Geriatrics since 2003. Prof Spiru serves as the President of the "Ana Aslan International" Foundation (AAIF), which focuses on education, research programs, and medical services in the field of brain aging; coordinates the AAIF Academy of Aging and the Excellence Center for Memory, Brain Health, and Longevity Medicine. Is the EPMA - National Representative in Romania , National Manager for EU WG 3 for GoodBrother and National Manager for EU WG 4 Coordinator for NET4Age-Friendly.

Pietro Dionisio

Policy and funding, social innovation

Project manager at Medea S.r.l., Pietro has experience in impact analysis and services’ sustainability strategies of innovative solution on the social-healthcare domain and coordinated the impact evaluation activities in Large Scale Pilots like “ACTIVAGE, GA No. 732679 and PHARAON, GA No. 857188. Deals and coordinates with reseach, innovation and training initiatives on active and healthy ageing. Pietro is chairing the WG Health within the Alliance for Internet of Things and Edge Computing Innovation (AIOTI).

Lela Mirtskhulava

Information Technology

An Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University/San Diego State University Georgia and Program Director of the joint MS program of Business Informatics between St. Andrews Georgian University and the Northern Kentucky University, US. She has published more than 80 research papers in the area of neural cryptography, post-quantum Cryptography, AI models for medical applications, telemedicine, brainwave monitoring, blockchain, IoT, and wireless technologies. Lela is MC and WG1, WG3, WG4, and WG5 groups member in NET4Age-Friendly Cost Action 19136.

Agnieszka Labus, PhD

Urban transformation, housing, architecture and design

Architect and urban planner, Assistant Professor at Department of Urban and Spatial Planning at the Silesian University of Technology. Founder and CEO of the Foundation “Laboratorium Architektury 60+” and the collective - Era Nowa Starości. Author of the over 60 scientific studies, expert opinions and book "Aging European societies of the 21st century in the concepts of urban renewal" (2014). Coordinator of the project of implementing the first multigenerational House in Poland in Łódź; project conceptualizing the renewal of 41 communes of the Metropolia Silesia in the context of age-friendly cities. She has been promoting positive and healthy aging, believes that aging must be planned and architecture and design play a key role in this journey.

Pedro Roseiro

Policy and funding, social innovation, ICT for independent living

Executive Board Member at TICE.PT actively involved in International Cooperation. With more than 25 years of experience, he is an expert, rapporteur, and mentor in EU funded programs and initiative. Also supporting cities like Dublin and Sofia piloting the Digital Rights Governance Framework, and involving United Nations Habitat, Eurocities, and UCLG – United Cities and Local Governments. He is also leading WG5 in NET4AGE Friendly COST Action, dedicated to the development of Reference Framework to support SHAFE adoption.

Pier Giuseppe Meo

Social Innovation, Health and Social sciences

IT senior with expertise in grants, project management, accounting, finance actually co-founder of Hassisto https://www.hassisto.com, CNR Italian spinoff in eHealth specialized in patients telemonitoring in clinical and domestic environments.

Jodi Sturge

Health and social sciences

A DesignLab fellow, an assistant professor in Interaction Design at the Department of Design, Production and Management in the Faculty of Engineering Technology. Focuses on how the built environment and technology design influence people’s behaviour, motivation and well-being in the home and healthcare settings. Jodi is interested in applying a transdisciplinary mixed-method approach, inclusive of citizen science and ethnography, exploring how human interaction with the built, social and technological environments in the home and healthcare settings can impact the well-being of multiple user groups.

Andrzej Klimczuk

Policy and funding; Social innovation, health and social sciences

PhD, a sociologist and public policy expert, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Policy of the Collegium of Socio-Economics at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland. He worked as the external expert of institutions such as the European Commission, URBACT Programme, Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme, and Fondazione Cariplo. Member of scientific organizations such as the European Sociological Association, European School of Social Innovation, International Political Science Association, European Citizen Science Association, and Human Development & Capability Association. Author and Sections Editor in the “Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging” (Springer Nature).

Raúl Castano De la Rosa

Urban transformation, construction, architecture and design

Spanish interdisciplinary architect engineer with over 6 years of experience in the non-academic and academic sector where he has played a key role in teaching, researching, mentoring and exchanging knowledge on sustainability, buildings, innovative solutions and people’s quality of life. Since 2021, he is postdoctoral researcher and project manager in the Sustainable Housing design research group ASUTUT at Tampere University (Finland) where he is also Research Field Coordinator of the Resilient Communities of practices, ECIU University. His research interests include understanding how to design a more sustainable, affordable and resilient built environment.

Edyta Sadowska

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Edyta Sadowska is a social science doctor, futurologist, academic lecturer, and innovator. In her scientific and popularization work, she focuses on the future as a tool for shaping the present, redefinitions that allow for a proper description of the reality around us, and interdisciplinarity that conditions dialogue. Connecting the dots, expanding horizons, and full-spectrum thinking are the foundation of her understanding of the world. She is a laureate of the Jutronauts program (Gazeta Wyborcza & Kulczyk Investment), author of future literacy workshops, popular science and scientific articles, and manager of international projects.

Hara Pylarinou

Social Innovation, Health and Social Sciences; ICT for independent living

More than 15 years of experience in the field of medical informatics, biomedical engineering with emphasis on innovative e-health and telemedicine solutions and diagnostics solutions (PhD) for physical and mental monitoring. Hara is the CEO and Director of the EU projects of SYSTSERV and has been implementing solutions of independent living healthcare solutions, especially for disadvantaged people like seniors, people with disabilities (Digital Accessibility Unit of University of Patras) and citizens in urban and low-facilitated areas.

Nicolas Sklavos

ICT for independent living; Information technology

Associate Professor, with Computer Engineering and Informatics Department (CEID), Polytechnic School, University of Patras, Hellas. Director of SCYTALE Group. He is Evaluator\Reviewer of project calls, funded by the European Commission, or National Resources and has participated to the organization of international scientific conferences, of IEEE\ACM\IFIP, serving several committee duties, as well as Editorial Board Member of several Scientific Journals. Mr. Sklavos is Senior Member of IEEE, ACM Distinguished Speaker and Professional Member, and Associated Member of HiPEAC.

José Carlos Pinto da Costa

Social Innovation, Health and Social Sciences

Anthropologist conducting research at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA) while collaborating closely with the Centre in Anthropology Research Network (CRIA). . Presently, José serves as the coordinator of a multidisciplinary research team within the Health Systems and Policies main group at NOVAsaúde, dedicated to investigating the intricate process of implementing digital health solutions in Portugal, with a profound commitment to fostering social innovation in the healthcare landscape.

Aija Lulle

Social innovation, health and social sciences

Senior Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland with special expertise of Latvia. Aija Lulle has established a progressive research agenda on migration and the lifecourse, which has shaped debates in geography and interdisciplinary sciences. She has published widely on Latvia, Eastern Europe and other European countries, has been awarded grants as PI and have multiple compound grants as co-investigator. She is a recognised expert in migration legislation, sustainability and social innovation initiatives, a panel member at different national research councils - roles that underline Lulle’s expertise, insight and judgement.

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SIRENE | Social Innovation Responsive Environments Network is a Coordination and Support Action, co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe Programme (topic HORIZON-EIE-2022-CONNECT-01-02) through the Grant Agreement n. 101096077.

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