Ideas Competition 2025 Jury
Michael Byczkowski
Global Vice President for Healthcare & Life Sciences SAP SE
Michael Byczkowski is Global Vice President for Healthcare & Life Sciences at SAP SE. With over 25 years of experience in IT and consulting, he has extensive expertise in customer care, business development and strategic partner management. He currently focuses on innovation and strategic customer and partner projects in the healthcare sector.
Tip: “The path to commercial success involves asking three questions: What exactly is the innovation and what problem does it solve? - Is it better than the current standard? - Who has the problem and who can and wants to pay for it?”
Dr. Anamarija Ćurić
General Manager of nuvalore GmbH
Anamarija Ćurić holds a doctorate in natural sciences from the University of Heidelberg with a focus on pharmaceutical technology. With over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, she has extensive expertise in product development from phase I to approval as well as in manufacturing and analytics. As General Manager of nuvalore GmbH, she heads a specialized analytical laboratory for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
Tip: “If you love what you do, you will succeed.”
Dr. Christian Fuat J. Ecer
CFO, Krannich Solar Group
Dr. Christian Fuat J. Ecer is CFO of the Krannich Solar Group. He also researches and teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Strategy at business schools and mentors high-achieving high school students at the Cambridge Center for International Research. He completed his post-doc at the University of Oxford and studied at Heidelberg University and Harvard University as part of his doctoral studies (Behavioral Economics).
Tip: „We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.“ (Walt Disney)
Dr. Andrea Edel
Head of the Heidelberg Cultural Office and Coordinator of the UNESCO City of Literature Heidelberg
Andrea Edel studied music at the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt am Main and art history at the universities of Freiburg im Breisgau and Bern. Since 2014, she and her team have been building up the regional and global networks of the UNESCO City of Literature Heidelberg as head of the city's cultural office. On the advisory board of the German UNESCO Commission, she is committed to the protection and promotion of cultural diversity.
Tip: "Realize collaborations with interesting partners and help those who deserve it to solve their problems through joint projects."
Claudio Flores
M. Sc. Molecular Biosciences (Heidelberg University), CEO Mimotype Technologies GmbH
Claudio Flores completed his B.Sc. in Biosciences and his M.Sc. in Molecular Biosciences at Heidelberg University, where he developed an interdisciplinary perspective on complexity, evolution and the interplay between biology and technology. With the conviction that biology is "living nanotechnology", Claudio positions Mimotype Technologies GmbH at the forefront of the development of eco-seamless nanomaterials for the interface between light and biomatter. Under his leadership, Mimotype develops biomimetic devices and systems for organic/transient electronics and soft robotics.
Tip: "If you are convinced of your vision, and technology and feasibility are in harmony, pursue your ideas, even if only few others are researching and developing in this field."
Markus Lautenschläger
Lawyer and General Manager at the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation
Markus Lautenschläger studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg and Cologne and then worked as a lawyer in Heidelberg. He has been General Manager of the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation since 2015. He is responsible for the evaluation and assessment of submitted applications as well as the selection and subsequent monitoring of the funded institutions and projects. He is also responsible for the foundation's asset management, its content and its public image.
Tip: “In my opinion, the most important thing for the success of a new idea is to be authentic as a person and to have a passion for the topic that never wanes.”
Dr. Ann-Kristin Müller
Head of the first German branch of BioLabs in Heidelberg
Ann-Kristin Müller is an infectiologist and after completing her doctorate and working in London and Würzburg, she spent nine years leading a malaria research group at Heidelberg University Hospital, which led to her founding a spin-off. In 2018, she left university research completely for the start-up world.
Tip: “Founding does not mean having to do everything alone, networking and cooperation are the keys to success.”
