the Executives · A Dialogue with Majid

Dr. Manel González-Piñero, Head of Innovation @ CREB, UPC and Head of Strategy @ XartecSALUT

With Dr. Manel González-Piñero

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About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Manel González-Piñero, economist, professor, and innovation leader, shares his journey from academia to creating real-world solutions. He reflects on what inspired his PhD, the challenges he faced, and how it shaped his career.

The discussion covers the evolving role of universities in driving innovation, strategies to address Spain’s brain drain, and the concept of cross-innovation across industries. Dr. González-Piñero also offers advice for aspiring PhD candidates and tips for staying relevant in research.

The episode concludes with insights from his published works, including La Innovación en la Gestión de la Cultura, and highlights his leadership roles at CREB, XartecSALUT, and the University of Barcelona.

Episode chapters

00:11 Introduction
00:25 Dr. Manel’s Introduction
05:34 Topic introduction
06:10 What inspired Dr. González-Piñero to pursue a PhD and its influence on his career?
12:01 The significant challenges faced during his PhD journey
14:14 The evolving role of universities in innovation and research
20:20 The brain drain issue in Spain
27:30 Retention of talent in the industry
34:51 Understanding cross-innovation and its applicability in various industries
30:01 Valuable advice for aspiring PhD candidates and those considering a career in academia
42:00 Staying updated and relevant in the field of research
44:19 The books Dr. Manel has written/contributed to
49:36 Closing remark from Dr. Manel

About the guest

Dr. Manel González-Piñero

Head of Innovation @ CREB, UPC and Head of Strategy @ XartecSALUT

Dr. Manel González-Piñero holds a Doctorate in Economics, an MBA, and a Master's in Management Techniques from the University of Barcelona. Additionally, he possesses Bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and English Philology from the same institution. Dr. González-Piñero is the Head of Innovation at the Research Center for Biomedical Engineering (CREB) at UPC and the Head of Strategy at XartecSALUT. He also serves as a professor of Economics and Innovation at the University of Barcelona and ESMUC (Music College of Catalonia). He co-directs the Summer School on Management of Creativity in an Innovation Society, a joint initiative between HEC Montréal and the University of Barcelona. His teaching and collaborative efforts focus on innovation and organizational culture. His professional experience includes roles in business development at the Biotechnology Research Centre of the National Research Council Canada in Montreal and the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. He has also worked as a researcher at INN University in Lillehammer, Norway. Dr. González-Piñero is the author of numerous scientific articles and three books, with his latest work titled 'La Innovación en la Gestión de la Cultura' (Edicions UB).

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