The Institute for Business Innovation attracts top researchers and executives from companies and universities around the world who work with our faculty, students, and staff. These fellows bring deep expertise around innovation to the institute and enrich our programs and projects through their long-term connection with IBI.
IBI Fellows
Esteve Almirall
Full Professor of Innovation & A.I. and Dtr. of the Center for Innovation in Cities, Esade
Esteve Almirall serves as Professor of Innovation & A.I. at Esade and director of the Center for Innovation in Cities. He has lectured at several global universities, including Purdue, UC Berkeley, UPF, UPC, and EPFL. With a background in management science and AI, he is passionate about the intersection between digital technologies and innovation, particularly in Smart Cities. He has been involved for more than a decade with the Smart City Expo, the World Bank and many European projects raising more than €30M. His research has been published in major scientific journals such as AMR, MISQ, AMP, Business Horizons, CACM, CMR, and GIQ, and he is also a frequent press and media contributor and speaker. He is active on social networks such as X, where he can be followed @ealmirall.
Marcel Bogers
Professor of Open & Collaborative Innovation, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Marcel Bogers is full professor of open and collaborative innovation at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and serves as conference chair of the annual World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC). His research explores open and collaborative innovation across multiple levels of analysis—from the microfoundations and the human side of innovation to broader topics, such as innovation ecosystems and business model innovation. Through his work, he aims to inspire and support organizations in addressing complex challenges—both in business and society—by bridging scientific knowledge and practical insight. He has published extensively and received multiple honors for excellence in research, teaching, and outreach.
Raj Pai
Govt & Industry Fellow, AERIS; Former NASA and Silicon Valley Executive
Raj Pai works with the Fisher Center for Business Analytics aligning innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities in the Berkeley ecosystem through mentorship, co-investment, bespoke training, and co-development programs in aerospace and physical AI industries.
Professor and Director of the Business Digital Transformation Research Centre, School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania.
LinkedInAsta Pundzienė
Professor and Director of the Business Digital Transformation Research Centre, School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania.
Dr. Asta Pundziene has been an affiliated scholar at the Institute of Business Innovation, Haas Business School, UC Berkeley, since October 2018. She started at UCB as a visiting scholar working with Prof. David Teece and extended her collaboration to work with Prof. Henry Chesbrough. She is a professor and the principal investigator for the Digital Healthcare Innovations Research Group, and director of the Business Digital Transformation Research Centre at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania. Her main research and innovation interests include, but are not limited to, multisided digital platforms, including artificial intelligence (AI) and big data innovations, stakeholder engagement and technology acceptance, impact evaluation, and scaling with applications to the healthcare industry.
Fred Reid
Global Head of Business Development, Surf Air Mobility
Fred Reid is an experienced global leader, executive, and board director. A skilled communicator, and innovative problem solver with an unpretentious and common-sense ability to engage parties and build alliances to deliver superior results, he has C-suite and board-level experience in financial, operational, and commercial aspects of the airline transportation, hotel, food and beverage, and business services industries. He also has executive experience with two prominent tech startups in Silicon Valley. He has built a career on his proven ability to launch new businesses and joint ventures, as well as on strong employee relations skills and exceptional ability to recruit, develop, and motivate leadership teams. Fred brings a multinational approach to business – he’s lived in eight countries during his career – and speaks English, French, and German. He also has significant director-level experience on both corporate and not-for-profit boards.