Annual I3 Instrument Forum 2025

European Projects and Research Manager with more than 10 years of experience in managing and contributing to EU and national projects in the fields of healthcare, science, social policies and gender equality

Artur Bobovnicky is a seasoned professional with a strong background in engineering and telecommunications. For over two decades, he has been active in management consulting, holding executive roles such as CEO, CMO, and Managing Partner in leading corporations across Italy, the United States, France, and Austria. In the past decade, Artur has focused on fostering innovation in Slovakia. He has played a key role in developing the national innovation ecosystem and securing funding for strategic projects—both public and private—through his work with the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency. Born, raised, and educated in Slovakia, Artur is multilingual, fluent in five languages, and enjoys playing golf in his leisure time.

Coordinator of the “European Project Office” in Lazio Innova -Regional Development Agency with a seniority level experience in the management of European funded projects. Manager of the regional program “Infoday Europe | Project Lab 4 Europe” funded byERDF 2021-2027, to enhance Startups and SMEs projects design capacities to improve their access to EU opportunities and grants, Co-chair of Startups and Scaleups Thematic Group in the framework of Enterprise Europe Network.

José Ángel Freire Astray is a Senior Project Manager specialised in managing European RTD programmes, with extensive experience coordinating and overseeing international projects in areas such as interregional cooperation, innovation funding (Horizon Europe), and sustainable development. He has actively contributed to the implementation and knowledge exchange processes in two I3-funded projects, enhancing practical understanding of regional cooperation dynamics. At ACCIÓ and through collaborating organisations, he combines expertise in proposal writing, project management, and strategic communication, contributing effectively to fostering interregional collaboration and regional innovation initiatives across Europe.

Mariyana Hamanova is the Co-Chairperson of Cleantech Bulgaria –a leading organization in the country dedicated to innovation, sustainable development, and the green transition. She has extensive experience in building innovation ecosystems and fostering partnerships between businesses, research institutions, and the public sector. Mariyana has strong expertise in translating policy into practical support for startups, SMEs, and transnational collaborations. With strategic insight into innovation policies and substantial hands-on experience in their implementation, Mariyana plays a key role in turning ideas into sustainable business models. She actively supports innovative ventures throughout their entire lifecycle –from technology validation and access to funding, to market entry and international expansion. Under her leadership, Cleantech Bulgaria has implemented dozens of successful innovation commercialization initiatives through acceleration programs, pilot projects with industrial partners, and technology transfer between academia and business.

Hren serves as a head of unit coordinating Slovene Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategy (S5). Digitalisation, Deep Tech and Transition to Circular Economy are central to S5 which is understood as key transformative policy for Slovene Economy. S5 integrates innovation, entrepreneurship, internationalisation and human resources development policies. Hren possesses extensive record of ICT development, humanities research and social activism. His experiences involve tech and social innovation while he was –over his career -employed in all spheres of quintuple helix.

Expert Proposal Evaluator | Grant Writer | EU Project Manager | Project & Program Evaluator An enthusiastic and seasoned expert, boasting a proven track-record of successfully evaluating project proposals and steering internationally funded research and mobility projects in vibrant multicultural settings. I am a dynamic team player who thrives in diverse, multicultural landscapes, collaborating with partners across Europe and beyond. With a knack for innovation and tech transfer, I am not only well-versed in academic pursuits but also passionately committed to crafting and executing programs aimed at propelling regional developmentand convergence.

Stjepan Marković is an expert in smart specialization processes, strategic planning, and the programming and coordination of EU funds in Croatia. He currently serves as the Head of Service for the Coordination of EU Centralized Instruments and the Fulfilment of Enabling conditions at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds. He has contributed to numerous initiatives shaping Croatia’s development landscape, including the programming of EU funds for 2021–2027 -particularly for the industrial transition of Croatian regions -steering transformative innovation across Pannonian, Northern, and Adriatic Croatia. His work has involved collaboration with international institutions such as the World Bank, OECD, and JRC on various themes related to transformative and transition policies. He is actively involved in shaping the future of Cohesion Policy post-2027, participating in working groups at the I3 and S3 CoP levels, as well as in coordination efforts at the national level. As part of the ministry’s team, he is currently contributing to the programming of a mission-oriented approach to innovation for Croatia’s industrial transition regions which includes addressing societal challenges through RDI missions, strengthening regional value chains for innovation, and advancing place-based transformation policies. Previously, he oversaw the drafting of Croatia’s National Development Strategy and the strategic planning reform in Croatia. His work reflects a deep commitment to innovation policy, raising the competitiveness of regional economies, strengthening value chains, and testing new approaches to policy-driven transformation.

Marko Popović is a seasoned senior project manager specializing in culture and creative industries with extensive European Union project expertise. Based in Bratislava, Slovakia, he brings over two decades of experience spanning film production, culturalprogramming, and policy implementation across Central and Eastern Europe. Currently serving as Senior Project Manager at Creative Industry Kosice since 2021, Marko develops and executes international projects through Creative Europe, Erasmus+, Horizon, and Interreg funding schemes. His work focuses on mapping sector needs, fostering cross-sector cooperation, and building networks within the creative industries ecosystem. Marko's entrepreneurial background includes nine years of managing audio-visual production services and establishing international business networks. His media credentials include directing and producing content for VICE, AlJazeera, and BBC. Educated at FAMU Film Academy in Prague and Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, Markois multilingual, speaking Serbian, English, Slovak, and Czech fluently.