European Convergence Summit (ECS) 2025

Christophe Leroux received a PhD degree in Decision Theory from the Sorbonne University in Paris in 1990. 
He is a senior researcher in AI for robotics. He is currently Manager of European Affairs at the LIST institute from CEA Paris-Saclay. He coordinates and represents CEA in several research and innovation projects on AI and robotics. 
He is member of the Board of Directors of the ADRA association as well as in the euRobotics association.

Christophe Leroux is the author of several scientific papers in International conferences and journals, on the applications of AI to robotics, on ethical, legal and socioeconomic issues in robotics and on support to innovation in robotics. 
 

Iddo is business director at the Digital Society Institute (DSI) of the University of Twente. He is also part of the core team of the Strategic Business Development department of the university.

As a member of the management team of the university-wide programs Human-centered Robotics, Embedded AI and Smart Industry, many of Iddo's activities take place at the intersection of technology-ELSE-innovation to embed digital technology in society and to create social and economic impact.  

Françoise Siepel received her M.Sc. in Technical Medicine with specialization Robotics and Imaging in 2010. She obtained her PhD in 3 years and has spent more than 15 years on research, winning approx. 1 million euros of personal awards including one PhD and 2 Postdoc grants and has currently 50+ publications. She has international experience from the University of Bergen, Kings College and more than 5 years at the Stavanger University hospital where she worked out various technical medical related projects. In 2016 she joined the Robotics and Mechatronics group, and focuses on medical technology and especially image guided robotic interventions and is involved in research/education. She performs the coordination of the European DIH-HERO, MURAB and national SUNRAM, Nextgen project.
 

Philip Piatkiewicz is a seasoned leader in European affairs and project management, currently serving as the head of Adra – the AI, Data, and Robotics Association. Adra is a leading strategic technology network of stakeholders from academia, industry, and the public sector, dedicated to advancing and adopting AI, data, and robotics technologies across Europe. Adra acts as the private side for the AI, Data, Robotics public-private partnership in Horizon Europe.

Philip’s expertise encompasses strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and project execution. He has successfully managed and coordinated complex collaborative projects that support the research, innovation, and industrial agendas of regional, national and EU level, with a particular focus on key enabling technologies and digital industries.
 

Martin Übelhör works in the European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) as Deputy Head of Unit for Innovation and Security Research. His unit manages EU funding for R+I in topics such as fight against crime and terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, border management, and disaster-resilient societies. Prior to that, he worked the Commission’s DG Connect as Head of Sector for Cybersecurity Industry and Innovation, i.a. setting up a European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and Network in Bucharest. He joined the European Commission in 2008, where we worked on various topics in relation to digitisation and helped set up and manage a number EU funding programmes, such as the Connecting Europe Facility and the Digital Europe Programme.

Starting as a firefighter at 16, the individual progressed to become a professional firefighter in Cagnes-sur-mer by 1991. With extensive academic achievements, including a PhD in Public Law, the career spans various roles in crisis management and international humanitarian efforts. Notable positions include Operations Manager at Via Location, Coordinator for oil rig inspections in the UAE, and International Project Manager in Indonesia post-2004 tsunami.

From 2009 to 2011, served as Deputy Director at SDIS 2A and later led the COGIC-CIC at the Ministry of the Interior. In 2013, became a project manager for the European Union, developing crisis centers in Southeast Asia. Appointed Director of SDIS2A in 2016 and later Director of SDIS77 in 2020, achieving the rank of General Controller in 2021. Additionally, contributed to teaching risk management at various universities and collaborated with international organizations like the OECD and UN-OCHA.

Patrick has been advancing automation technology at VDMA since 1999. 
Having connected various disciplines in the VDMA Factory Automation Forum, he began focusing on machine vision, robotics and integrated assembly solutions. 
Between 2000 and 2013 he served as General Secretary of EFAC, the European Factory Automation Committee uniting national associations from 7 European countries. From 2004 to 2012 he was General Secretary of EMVA, the European Machine Vision Association. 
He was appointed Managing Director of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association (VDMA R+A) as of May 2014. Patrick is currently a member of the Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). 
 

Sergio Gusmeroli is Research Coordinator at Politecnico di Milano, Industrial Engineering Department. He has been and is coordinating several H2020 and HEP projects in the domain of Digital Manufacturing, especially focusing on Data Technologies and Artificial Intelligence. Sergio is also co-leading the BDVA working group about Smart Manufacturing Industry and is work package leader of the SM4RTENANCE deployment action in the Digital Europe Programme about Data Spaces for Manufacturing.
The key question to be debated in the panel is: how is the convergence of AI Data and Robotics solutions affecting sustainability and resilience of Manufacturing value chains? I can bring the experience from the Circular TwAIn (ADRA MiE) and MAASive (MiE) projects.

Dr. Kosmas Alexopoulos has graduated from the Computer Engineering and Informatics Department of University of Patras, Greece in 1999. He has received a Ph.D. in engineering (2006) from the University of Patras – Greece. Since October 1998 he has been working at the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS) of the University of Patras as a software engineer, senior researcher and project manager in more than 30 European and National research projects. Since November 2024 he is Associate Professor in the department of Digital Industry Technologies of University of Athens, Greece. SYRIOS, RealMan, VIRTUE, LicoPro, x-Change, MyCar, DIFAC, VISION, Sense&React, INTERACT, ICP4Life, MANUWORK, MARKET4.0, Connected Factories II, MAS4AI, OPENZDM and FLEX4RES are indicative projects. 

His research area and expertise are in the fields of smart factory, digital factory, flexibility of manufacturing systems, digital transformation, virtual and augmented reality, internet of things, industrial dataspaces, cyber-physical-systems, industrial product service systems, computer-aided ergonomics analysis and modelling, human motion modelling and simulation, semantics, production scheduling and artificial intelligence. He has been leading research teams towards accomplishing technical engineering achievements in manufacturing mainly by investigating new technology for the digital and smart factory. He is the coordinator of Gaia-X Hub in Greece and leads the International Dataspaces Association (IDSA) Competence Center in Greece. He has currently more than 100 publications, including papers in international refereed scientific journals, chapters in books, and papers in conference proceedings with review in the full paper

Prof. Dr. Willem Jonker has a broad background in the ICT domain, both in the industrial sector and academia. Among others, he worked at KPN Research, the European Computer industry Research Centre in Munich and Philips Research, where he was appointed Vice President in 2006. He is also a part-time professor at the University of Twente. In his previous position as CEO of EIT Digital in Brussels, he gained extensive experience in mobilizing a European innovation ecosystem in the field of digitization with a multitude of stakeholders.

Kai Zenner is Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss (European People's Party Group) in the European Parliament. Describing himself as a digital enthusiast, he focuses on AI, data and the EU's digital transition. Currently, he is involved in the political negotiations on the AI Act, AI liability directive, eprivacy Regulation and GDPR revision. In his individual capacity, he is pushing for reforms within the European Parliament and for bringing back the Better Regulation agenda to EU policymaking. Mr Zenner graduated in political science (M.Sc. at University of Edinburgh, B.A. at University of Bremen) and in law (State Exam at University of M‚¼nster). Before moving to the European Parliament, he worked as research associate at the European office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brussels. He is member of the OECD.AI Network of Experts since 2021, was awarded best MEP Assistant in 2023 ("APA who has gone above and beyond in his duties") and ranked Place #13 in Politico's Power 40 - class 2023 ("top influencers who are most effectively setting the agenda in politics, public policy and advocacy in Brussels"). 

Flavio Fusco is the Head of Civil RD&I Cooperative Projects & Grants at Leonardo, a multinational company in the sector of Aerospace, Defence & Security.
He is an active member of several national and European associations and coordination bodies.
Studies: graduated in physics. Technical background: worked as a systems engineer and project manager in different areas of space robotics, aeronautical systems and air traffic control. Management background: leading a team of senior engineers for 15 years.

Paul de Nazelle is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Shark Robotics, the European leader in ground robotics applied to civil security. With a doctorate in mechanical structure optimisation from the École Centrale de Lyon, Paul has over 15 years' experience in R&D, the development of complex systems and the management of multidisciplinary teams.

Over the course of his career, he has held key positions in technological innovation, notably as head of the mechanical engineering department and technical leader for batteries at Forsee Power, as well as head of the ‘Simulation and Optimisation’ research team at the SystemX Technological Research Institute. He also co-founded iOpti S.A.S, a company specialising in design optimisation.

His expertise covers the design of embedded systems, the development of traction batteries, digital simulation and the optimisation of mechanical structures. Today, he brings his technical and strategic leadership to Shark Robotics to steer the technological development of innovative robotic solutions for extreme environments.

Paul is passionate about technology and is convinced that artificial intelligence will profoundly transform the robotics sector, particularly in the key areas of perception of the world and control of autonomous systems.

Director of Strategic Anticipation at Inria Defense, I explore and shape technological futures in cybersecurity, AI, drones and space technologies. With over 15 years' experience in strategic innovation and cutting-edge research, I help large organizations turn scientific discoveries into competitive advantages.

Formerly in charge of the research and innovation program at the French Ministry of Defence, I structured a confidential innovation pipeline, exploiting the best advances in the civilian world to meet strategic and sovereign challenges. My approach combines technological exploration, secret innovation strategy and pragmatic deployment on a European scale.

Electromechanical engineer graduated from KU Leuven. 
Project engineer and leader of regional, national, and European R&D projects.  
Currently active as manager future technologies within the corporate development department of Sirris,an industry-driven collective RTO for the Belgian technology industry.
 
Since 2003, fascinated by and working in the domain of Future technologies for the Belgian technological industry:- Technology Watch- Roadmapping and Masterplan development - Community-driven innovation, development of research and technology transfer projects 
- R&D Program Management.Currently focus theme of Manufacturing as a Service (MAAS),as project coordinator of MASTT2040, a CSA foresight project on “Manufacturing as a Service for the EU's twin transition until 2040”