Navigating innovation and security to define Europe’s next maritime era

Justus Reinke, Managing Director at Lürssen, has been instrumental in advancing innovative propulsion technologies, such as methanol fuel cell systems, for large yachts. Reinke has been with Lürssen for almost ten years and holds a PhD from the Technische Universität Berlin.

Teuta Duletić, Managing Director of the Lürssen Design Center Kvarner and the Maritime Center of Excellence, holds a Master of Engineering in Naval Architecture and a Master of Business Administration (EMBA), with 15 years of experience in shipbuilding. Duletić is also a member of the University Council of the University of Rijeka and the President of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering.

Manuela Šola is the founder of Komunikacijski laboratorij, one of the leadingcommunications agencies in the region, specializing in integrated public relations services. Komunikacijski laboratorij today partners with a wide range of leading global and regionalcompanies, including Microsoft – managing communications across as many as nine markets- as well as Nestlé Adriatics, Visa, McDonald’s, Kaufland, Glovo, Infinum, Knauf Insulation, Fjällräven, and Deichmann, alongside numerous other organizations from diverse industries. The agency is also the creator and organizer of the internationally award-winning Future Tense conference.

She is actively engaged in numerous professional and business associations, including HUP, where she serves on the Executive Board. She is also a member of HURA and HUOJ, part ofthe Croatian Association of Managers and Entrepreneurs (CROMA), head of the WomenGreen Leaders Club within the International Institute for Climate Action (IICA), co-founderof the Lead.you association, and a member of the global professional network IPRA.

Ivica Lukanović was born on January 19, 1969, in Rijeka. He completed his education in Kastav and Rijeka, graduating as a civil engineer. In 1992, inspired by his family’s long tradition of craftsmanship, he founded a company that grew into a regional manufacturer of PVC, wooden, and aluminum joinery.

In 2019, he expanded his business into hospitality and tourism, and his companies today employ more than one hundred people. He has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurial achievements and has long been active in the Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Croatian Employers’ Association.

Alongside his business career, he has played an important role in public and political life. He served as Mayor of Kastav from 2009 to 2017, became President of the SDP County Organization of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in 2021, and was elected County Prefect in the 2025

Professor Alen Ružić, MD, PhD, is a distinguished Croatian physician, cardiologist, and university professor with extensive experience in healthcare management, higher education, and public service. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, earned his PhD from the Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, and completed his specialist training in internal medicine and cardiology. Over the course of his career, he has held a number of prominent positions, including Director of the University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Vice-Rector of the University of Rijeka, and full professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka. He has made a significant contribution to medical science and education through his publications, teaching, research work, and mentorship. In 2026, he was appointed Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy.

Goran Hauser is a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka and a gastroenterologist by training. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, where he later earned his PhD. In 2020, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, and since 2021, he has been Head of the Internal Medicine Department at the Faculty. In 2023, he was elected Head of the Internal Medicine Clinic at the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, and took office as the Rector of the University of Rijeka in February 2026.

As a healthcare professional, he held various management positions in national and European healthcare system bodies: President of the Assembly of the Croatian Medical Chamber (2016–2019), President of the Council of the Croatian Medical Chamber (2019–today), member of the Executive Board of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM), and member of the Steering Committee of the United European Gastroenterologist (MoM UEG).

Throughout his career, he has been a valued member of the organizing committees of numerous congresses and symposia and has authored several chapters in books on gastroenterology and internal medicine.

Iva Rinčić was born in Rijeka in 1975. She completed Vladimir Gortan Elementary School and the First Croatian Sušak Gymnasium in her hometown, after which she continued her studies in Zagreb. At the Faculty of Croatian Studies, she studied sociology and Croatian culture, completed her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Political Science, and earned her doctorate at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. Since 2001, she has worked at the University of Rijeka (first at the Faculty of Medicine, and from 2013 also at the Faculty of Health Studies), with bioethics as her primary area of interest. In 2023, she was appointed as a full professor. Until taking office as Mayor, she served as the head of the Department of Public Health at the Faculty of Health Studies. In the academic year 2021–2022, she received the University of Rijeka’s Award for Teaching Excellence. From 2013 to 2021, she was the Director of the University of Rijeka Foundation, during which time the Foundation was awarded the Golden Plaque “Coat of Arms of the City of Rijeka” for its longstanding promotion of philanthropy, contribution to the development of the university community in Rijeka, and support for the local community by fostering a knowledge-based society. In May 2025, she was elected Mayor of Rijeka as an independent candidate with the support of the Youth Action, Kvarner Union, Centre, Croatian Seniors’ Party, Fokus, and Alternative 101, becoming the second female mayor in Rijeka’s history. She bases her city management on responsibility that demands knowledge, transparency, empathy and persistent work, placing citizens—especially young people—at the centre of her policies.

Caroline Hornstein Tomić (PhD) is Research Advisor at the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences in Zagreb (Sociology / Cultural Anthropology). Her research focuses on return, labour and high-skilled migration and related policies, as well as diaspora and identity politics in state-building and transformation processes (regional focus: Southeast Europe). Currently, she leads a work package within the Horizon Europe-project We-ID: Identities – Migration – Democracy, and qualitative research in Croatia. She has also worked in the public sector, as Head of the Operative Division and Deputy Head of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education from 2016 to 2018 (Bonn/Berlin), and as Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2001 to 2005. She is Co-Founder of the pan-European non-profit THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, the Croatian Foundation Wissen am Werk/Znanje na djelu, and she serves on the Board of the European Forum Alpbach.

Toma Vlajčić is a Research Consultant at the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, where he contributes to projects in energy economics, regulation, and finance for both public and private sector clients.He graduated from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Economics and Business and gained international academic experience in South Korea, Netherlands and Portugal. He was a scholarship holder of the European Forum Alpbach in 2023, after which he remained actively involved as a member of Club Alpbach Croatia, where he currently serves on the Executive Board.

Neno Rakić is experienced professional in innovation and project management, specializing in innovation project management, AI, digitalization, access to finance and policy design. He leads a team at the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO),overseeing the financing and implementation of over 1100 EU-funded innovation projects valued at more than €900 million across diverse sectors. In 2023, he served as executive secretary of Taftie, the European network of national innovation agencies. He represents Croatia in the European Innovation Council Programme Committee, influencing European innovation funding priorities. As an accomplished European Commission expert, Neno has advised multiple national institutions on reform processes through expert missions in areas such as SME grant funding, technology transfer, creation of industrial and innovation parks and regulatory impact assessments. His academic credentials include master’s degrees in finance (University of Zagreb), international relations and European studies (Central European University, Budapest)and public procurement management (University of Rome – Tor Vergata).

Professor Luka Mihanović, PhD, is a university professor, researcher, and officer of the Croatian Navy with extensive experience in naval studies, ship propulsion systems, and ship maintenance. He teaches several courses within the integrated undergraduate and graduate Naval Studies programme at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman University of Defence and Security, including General Tactics, Ship Maintenance, Maintenance Management, Marine Engineering Systems, and Fault Diagnostics. He also contributes as an external lecturer at the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Split and at the postgraduate Maritime Studies programme of the University of Rijeka. He has been actively involved in a range of international and national projects related to security, defence systems, and modern maritime technologies. He also participated in the establishment and development of the Naval Studies programme and served as its head. He currently holds the position of Vice-Rector for Teaching, Student Affairs, and Quality Management at the Dr. Franjo Tuđman University of Defence and Security.

Prof. Dr. sc. Slavko Vidović is a leading expert in the field of developing complex solutions using modern technologies in the public and business sector. He began his university career at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and for many years he taught at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics in Varaždin and the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, where he taught the subjects Artificial Intelligence, Decision Support Systems, Virtual Organizations, and Programming. He is the founder of InfoDom Group, Smart Industry Technologies and ILBA Education. As the founder and director of InfoDom Group, he founded companies in Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia,and the United Kingdom. In 2021, he initiated the establishment of the “Association for the Promotion of Smart Industries” to develop awareness and build readiness for the application of 5th Industrial Revolution technologies through industrial transition and social transformation.
Following new business and technological trends, based on many years of experience in the economy, public administration and science, he is currently mainly engaged in the introduction of generative artificial intelligence and the development of architectures and components for Smart products in Smart Industry 5.0, Smart City and Digital Government

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Clarissa Rheineck is an HR and Organisational Development professional with over ten years of expertise in HR Analytics and designing and implementing talent management programmes. Clarissa holds a master’s degree in Economics from Humboldt University of Berlin.

Snježana Prijić Samaržija is a Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Rijeka. She recently completed her second term as the Rector of the University of Rijeka. Prior to her two mandates as Rector, she served for twleve years as Vice-Rector for Students and Studiesand the Director of University of Rijeka Foundation. 

She has held several prominent leadership roles in international academic networks. She served as President of the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, President of YERUN (Young European Research Universities Network), and President of the Alpe-Adria Rectors’ Conference. She was also a member of the Strategy Council of the European University Alliance YUFE. Currently, she is a member of the Steering Committee for Education and a member of the Subgroup on Higher Education Policies at the Council of Europe. Her main research interests include the democratic and civic mission of education, the future of universities, and political epistemology in the digital era. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Lürssen Foundation.

Dr. Jasna Jankovic is an Associate Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Connecticut (UConn), USA. She is also a founder and a leader of an international scientific network of networks in hydrogen field: Research and Education Accelerated by Connections in Clean Hydrogen (REACH2) and leads UConn’s partnerships in hydrogen and clean energy field. Prior to joining UConn in 2018, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, Canada followed by a 7 year employment as a Senior Research Scientist at the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Daimler. Dr. Jankovic’s research focus is in advanced, data-enabled characterization of fuel cells, electrolyzers and batteries using microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and fabrication of novel electrodes for electrochemical devices. She has more than 30 years of experience in clean energy sector, extensive list of publications, 2 patents and 2 provisional patents. Dr. Jankovic is a recipient of several Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) awards in Canada, a number of National Science Foundation (NSF) awards and Department of Energy (DOE) sub-awards in the US, and a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Award to conduct research in Germany, at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy, Hydrogen Department.

Roko Perinić is a Mechanical Engineering student at Graz University of Technology with a strong interest in innovation, energy systems, and applied engineering. He has gained experience through internships in industry and research, including work on hydrogen technologies, logistics systems, and technical development. Alongside his engineering background, he has also built skills in marketing, entrepreneurship, and project coordination. His profile combines technical knowledge with practical business and management experience.

Catrien de Vries is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Naval Architecture, specializing in Marine Engineering, at Delft University of Technology, and is completing her thesis at Lürssen. Her research focuses on waste heat recovery from engine exhaust gases, particularly evaluating how compact waste heat recovery systems can improve onboard fuel efficiency.

Janik Grafelmann completed his bachelor‘s degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Bremen and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (Energy Systems).

Prior to taking part in the 2025 Lürssen Scholarship program, he gained experience in academia and industry through internships and student positions, before ultimately joining the shipyard in Bremen in 2024 as a student in the Quality/Lean and HSE department. Due to the program, the opportunity came up to transition into the electrical design department and work on AI-related topics, building on his scholarship project, where he explored the use of machine learning for HVAC optimization on ships.

The scholarship enabled Janik to gain international experience, study abroad in the US and collaborate with expert in his field of study. The program proved to be especially a personal developing experience. It created lasting connections and helped him gain a clearer direction for his future.

Marin Veršić holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rijeka, Croatia, and a master’s degree in Thermal Energy and Process Engineering from Aalborg University, Denmark, which he completed in 2025. He is currently engaged as a Research Engineer at the Maritime Center of Excellence (MCoE), with a focus on the integration of alternative propulsion technologies in maritime vessels. Last year, Marin participated in the Lürssen Foundation Scholarship Programme, conducting research on hydrogen technology applications in the maritime industry. The programme marked his entry into the professional world and led directly to his current role at the MCoE.

Basil Germond is Professor of International Security at Lancaster University, United Kingdom, and is Co-Director of the University’s research institute, Security Lancaster. His research focuses on maritime security, sea power, the maritime threat landscape, critical undersea infrastructure, and the strategic governance of ocean spaces. He has published extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals and regularly contributes to academic and policy debates on international security and maritime strategy.

Fausto Ferreira has been involved in 16 EU Projects (FP6, FP7, H2020, Horizon Europe, EMFAF, INTERREG, Erasmus+) and 2 Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) projects (including a Visiting Scientist Program grant). He was the Coordinator of the Erasmus+ project Marine Robots for better Sea Knowledge awareness (MASK). He has been the Deputy Technical Director of 6 Robotics competitions (SAUC-E 2014, euRathlon 2014, euRathlon Grand Challenge 2015, ERL Emergency 2017-2019) and Technical Director of 1 robotics competition (SAUC-E 2016). He has also been PI and co-PI of two U.S. Office of Naval Research Global funded projects and is currently PI of three EU funded projects. Dr. Fausto Ferreira is an Assistant Professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and an Experienced Researcher and Acting Head of Research Support Office at CoE MARBLE – Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy. His research activities are conducted within the Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies (LABUST).

Irena Petrijevčanin (PhD) currently holding a position as State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior Republic of Croatia for more than six consecutive years. Her key strengths are national security, critical infrastructure protection,  cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and government relations.

She is one of the top experts for security crisis management and was a coordinator for earthquake matters that relates to Mup.
Mrs. Petrijevčanin is also a Chairman of the executive board – Center for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity at University of Rijeka.

She held a Ethical hacking and IT risk management subjects at the University of Zagreb and was a AEIF Project Holder “Strengthening and supporting woman in the army force and in the peace mission of the Republic of Croatia”.Worked also in the private sector for several year’s at the top management position and was a member of Croatian Parliament. 

Pascal Hector, born in Saarbrücken on 11 January 1962, is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since July 2025, he has served as Ambassador of Germany to Croatia, following his appointment as Ambassador to Denmark from 2021 to 2025. Over the course of his distinguished diplomatic career, he has held a number of senior positions within the German Federal Foreign Office and abroad, including Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Paris, Deputy Head of Mission in Ankara, and Head of Division for EU Finances, Agricultural Policy and Economic Issues in Berlin. He has also played an important role in European legal and institutional affairs, serving as Deputy Legal Adviser and Director for Public International Law, as well as contributing to the negotiations on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and the European Union’s financial perspectives. Alongside his diplomatic service, he has maintained a strong academic profile as Honorary Professor at the Europa-Institut of Saarland University, where he has also taught for many years. He studied law and political economics in Saarbrücken, Geneva, and Singapore, obtained a degree in economics, passed the German bar exam, and later earned a doctorate in law.

Arne Sannes Bjornstad joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990 after graduating from the Faculty of Law Oslo as desk officer (legal/maritime affairs). After postings to Ankara (1994- 97), Rabat (1997) and Paris (1998-2001), he was Coordinator for Norway’s Foreign Policy and Justice/Home Affairs Cooperation with the European Union from the autumn of 2001 to January 2003, when called to the Office of the Prime Minister as Senior Adviser/Secretary to the Cabinet Secmity Committee.

September 2006 he was appointed Minister Counsellor for European and Economic Affairs at the Norwegian embassy in London, promoted to Deputy Head of Mission in 2008.

Anna Boda holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Stockholm University and has pursued further studies in International and European Law and International Relations in Strasbourg, Budapest, and Stockholm.

She began her career at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2002 as a Desk Officer in the Department of International Law and Human Rights. She later served as First Secretary at the Embassy of Sweden in Buenos Aires and as Adviser at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Argentina.

She went on to serve as Counsellor at the Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE in Vienna and as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Budapest. From 2018 to 2019, she was Adviser on Foreign and Security Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretariat for EU Coordination, before heading the Section for South-Eastern Europe and EU Enlargement at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2023. Since August 2023, she has served as Ambassador of Sweden to Croatia.

Antun Nadramija is a Senior Analyst at the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO), where he contributes to the implementation of EU-funded programmes. His work focuses on innovation support, international cooperation, and facilitating access to funding for SMEs. He has been involved in several Interreg projects, all focused on the blue economy. He is also actively engaged in initiatives such as Eurostars and Horizon Europe, supporting stakeholder engagement, programme promotion, and policy-related activities. He holds a university degree and is three in four languages.

Ivan Škarić is an experienced business and innovation consultant with over a decade of professional involvement in EU-funded projects and international cooperation initiatives. Holding a Master’s degree in Business Economics, he specializes in supporting innovation-driven companies and fostering collaboration between public institutions and the private sector. As an Independent Consultant working with the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Ivan focuses on the development and promotion of innovative enterprises, helping them navigate funding opportunities, scale their operations, and strengthen their competitive positioning in both domestic and international markets. Throughout his career, Ivan has built strong expertise in EU project design, implementation, and management, contributing to numerous cross-border and transnational initiatives. His work emphasizes strategic partnerships, knowledge transfer, and sustainable business development, particularly through cooperation between research institutions, industry stakeholders, and policy frameworks. With a proven track record in facilitating international collaboration, Ivan is dedicated to driving innovation, enhancing business ecosystems, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Peter Lürssen is a naval architect, Managing Director, and CEO at Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co.KG, a well-known company specializing in naval ships and special vessels and one of the leading builders of custom yachts. He studied shipbuilding and industrial engineering in Germany and business administration in the United States. Before joining the family business in 1987, he gathered considerable professional experience working in the commercial shipbuilding industry, including one year spent as a construction inspector at different Japanese shipyards.