Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, Research Governance and Horizon Europe Expert

I am an interdisciplinary researcher, research leader, and policy expert with over 20 years of experience in science, technology and innovation (STI), research governance, research funding, international research collaboration, and innovation ecosystem development. My expertise combines scientific research with evidence-based policy to strengthen national and international research and innovation systems. I currently serve as Chief Executive Officer for National Research Development at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, Secretary of the National Research Grant Council, and National Contact Point (NCP) for the European Union's Horizon Europe Programme. In these roles, I lead initiatives that promote research excellence, competitive research funding, international partnerships, researcher mobility, and innovation-driven sustainable development. My research interests include science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, research governance, research management, research funding and evaluation, innovation systems, science diplomacy, technology governance, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, intellectual property, digital transformation, bioeconomy, One Health, biotechnology, and animal genetics and genomics. I have published extensively in peer-reviewed international journals and have contributed to national and international policy development, capacity building, and research management.

I actively support researchers, universities, research organizations, governments, funding agencies, and international partners through grant proposal development, Horizon Europe consortium building, project design and management, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional capacity strengthening. I have extensive experience organizing international workshops, facilitating multidisciplinary collaborations, and promoting partnerships between academia, government, industry, and civil society. I welcome collaborations on Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), COST Actions, Erasmus+, African Union, and other international research and innovation programmes. I am particularly interested in multidisciplinary projects addressing responsible AI, technology governance, research and innovation policy, digital transformation, climate resilience, bioeconomy, One Health, sustainable agriculture, and evidence-based policymaking. I am committed to fostering international research partnerships that generate scientific excellence, societal impact, and sustainable development across Europe, Africa, and beyond.