Dr. Yaroslav Grosu, Group Leader at CIC energiGUNE, specializes in solid–liquid interfacial science and nanoconfined liquids to develop breakthrough energy conversion technologies. His research focuses on harnessing forced intrusion and spontaneous extrusion of non-wetting liquids into nanopores to store, dissipate, and convert mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy. He pioneered intrusion-extrusion triboelectric nanogenerators (ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017), which laid the foundation for the EU-funded Electro-Intrusion project (2021–2025, www.electro-intrusion.eu). This project, coordinated by Dr. Grosu, aims to create regenerative shock absorbers for electric vehicles that convert vibration energy into electricity. His extensive work includes record-low critical temperature of nanoconfined water (JACS 2024), negative compressibility in metastable systems (Nat. Comm. 2024), and nanoporous expansion under intrusion (Nano Lett. 2021). He also leads the STES project on thermal energy storage using nanoconfined supercritical fluids. With 100+ publications, 4 patents, 2000+ citations (h-index 31), and global collaborations, Dr. Grosu was awarded a Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (2022) and Honorary Professorship at the University of Birmingham (2024).

Senior Manager in Product Development, Market Research & Business Development

Hans Gijrath is currently responsible for Strategy and Market Intelligence for the BU Monroe Ride Solution at Tenneco, a globally leading automotive tier 1 supplier. Educated as aerospace engineer and with a career background in engineering, business development, product management, market research and strategy development Hans plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of advanced suspension systems for both mass market and high-performance vehicles. Hans was instrumental in advancing Tenneco’s advanced Kinetic suspension system, adopted by car brands McLaren, Rivian, AMG and Range Rover, and recently the market introduction of the CVSA2 semi-active damper with a major Chinese NEV OEM. With a forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of market dynamics and technology trends, Hans supports Tenneco developing the future product strategy for conventional, semi-active and fully active suspension solutions and to bridge the gap between cutting-edge R&D and real-world applications.

2022 - present: Director and IPR owner, Stryker Design Ltd.

1996 - 2022: Project Manager, Erco Lighting Ltd
Whilst at this global opto-electronics company, the relevant responsibilities that were fulfilled included: Active listening to customers, leading to marketing and technical briefs for developing what became four new generations of patentable, globally best selling product ranges, helping the company transition from traditional sources to disruptive LEDs. Consistently hitting KPIs and targets: Projects with UK invoiced turnover starting at £450k, growing to £1m - £1.2m individually, £3.1m as a team (of four) manager per year, at high profitability.

BA (Hons) Design for Industry, University of Northumbria

Emilie Boulay is an R&D engineer with over 10 years of experience in materials science and automotive innovation. She is currently R&D manager at Gabriel Europe Engineering Centre, where she coordinates research and development activities focused on innovative technologies and product performance optimization. Previously, she worked at Tenneco on advanced suspension systems and the integration of lightweight composite materials, combining simulation and prototyping to deliver high-performance, reliable and energy-efficient solutions. She has contributed to several EU-funded projects (Horizon 2020, MSCA), ensuring that technological developments align with strategic objectives and regulatory standards. Holding a PhD in applied sciences and a master in management, Emilie combines a strong scientific background with a strategic approach to drive innovation in mobility. At the workshop “From Bumps to the Nanoscale", she will present insights on design optimization and innovative technical solutions enabling high-performance products.