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Senior Experts, Hybrid Mindset

Our Team

Senior Experts

Our team combines a unique blend of science, business, and innovation expertise. We understand the complexities of the innovation landscape approaching each project with a hybrid mindset that allows us to seamlessly integrate scientific, social & business considerations.

MATICAL'S DNA

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MATICAL'S DNA

Experts in Business development

Project managers

Scientists who have evolved into innovation managers

Experts in Funding opportunities

Renowned consultants with a large network of contacts

Experts in Business development

Project managers

Scientists who have evolved

into innovation managers

Experts in Funding

opportunities

Renowned

consultants

with a large

network

of contacts

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT & SENIOR TEAM

Mario Aznar

CEO – Director of European Funding

ANTONIO RUIZ

Director of National Funding

AMELIA SUAREZ , PhD

Strategist, Technologist & Scientist, Innovation Funding

LAURA MUÑOZ, PhD

Innovation Funding, Scientific Project Management, Project QA, Training

ANA MIGUEL PhD

Innovation funding, Scientific project management, Project QA, Training

PAULA JIMENEZ, PhD

Innovation funding, Scientific project management, Project QA, Training

ENIF PEREZ

National Funding
Technical Director

Iván Rivero

Innovation Funding, Business Strategy, Financial Planning

Pedro Salazar

Innovation Funding, Technology Transfer

Janna Slabbekoorn

Project Management, RRI

Ellen de Waal

Strategic Communications

Clara Barquín

Public Procurement, Tendering

External advisors

Karine Seymour

Health technologies, health industry and health data expert

Ricard Martinez

DPO, Legal & Ethical Affairs External Advisor

Juan Antonio Castro

ICT, Digital Transformation, Business strategy

We VALUE

We believe in transparent communication and building trust with our clients and colleagues.
Honesty & Integrity
Honesty & Integrity
We approach every project with dedication and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.
Professionalism
Professionalism
We're adept at conveying complex ideas clearly and concisely, fostering collaboration and understanding.
Communication Skills
Communication Skills
Leaders in strategic R&D support. Partner with us to accelerate, scale, and manage your innovation.

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Mario Aznar

CEO – Director of European Funding

Strategy, innovation, financing and project planning

With over 15 years of professional experience in strategic innovation, R&D project financing, and international project management, Mario specializes in overseeing large-scale international R&D projects and innovation management. He possesses exceptional management, communication, and analytical skills, a hands-on approach and a wide contacts network. Prior to founding Matical, he built a successful career as an international project coordinator and manager for major multinational corporations, including Randstad and Elsevier. Additionally, he served as an external innovation consultant for some of the world’s leading consultancy firms. Mario’s expertise extends to managing large international R&D and innovation projects across diverse scientific, technological, and industrial sectors. These include Health, Advanced Computing (Blockchain, AI, Big Data, etc.), Renewable and Green Energy, Industry 4.0, and Smart Cities.

His experience encompasses managing substantial budgets, coordinating multiple partners, and negotiating complex Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) agreements.

He is actively engaged in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs as a coach and investor, securing financing and building valuable connections for their start-ups.

Antonio Ruiz

Responsible partner at Matical

Expert in tax strategy, finance and R&D&I | Boutique innovation consultant

Chemical Engineer by training, specialised in Marketing Management and in corporate finance and public instruments, with more than 10 years driving innovation from a fiscal and strategic point of view. My mission is to help you turn your innovative projects into tangible opportunities, maximising returns (increasing revenues or reducing costs) and always trying to facilitate complex regulations.

I started my career in Management, as Quality Manager and later, as Business Unit Director, specialising in team and project management, until 2010, when I turned my career around, getting into public support mechanisms (national and regional grants, R&D&I tax deductions, bonuses…), which allowed me to develop a solid understanding of how innovative companies can benefit from the ecosystem of direct and indirect institutional funding. Today, as partner in charge at Matical, I lead a boutique firm that combines technical expertise with strategic creativity to offer tailor-made solutions to startups, SMEs and corporates.

  • Relevant experience: structuring of fiscal operations, access to specific funding lines, design of financial models that articulate public incentives with scalability and sustainability objectives.

  • Proven methodology: analytical identity – comprehensive diagnosis – fiscal structuring – fundraising – implementation – quantifiable results: more efficiency, less uncertainty.

  • Key roles: negotiator with public entities, mentor of innovative projects, speaker in sectorial forums, and reviewer/proponent of integral strategies with an innovation and business perspective.

I am fluent in highly complex environments -legislative, tax or technical-, but always with a pragmatic outlook, focused on medium and long-term results. My style is professional, direct and humorous: if a tax report does not have a metaphor, it goes with me.

AMELIA SUAREZ, PhD

Strategist, Technologist & Scientist, Innovation Funding

Managing Consultant: Data science, health, IT, energy, biosciences

Amelia is a distinguished physicist, holding a PhD from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-CSIC (2004). She launched her professional journey as a technology analyst at the London Technology Network, a spin-off of the London Business School, gaining valuable insights into the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Her subsequent roles at the Fundación Madri+d and as R&D Director at Socinser, an SME specializing in bone transplants, further enhanced her expertise in innovation and research management. In 2013, Amelia leaped into entrepreneurship, co-founding Wetech, a technology start-up in the wearable technologies sector.

From 2010 to the present, Amelia has been working as a senior R&D consultant, specialising in the ideation and preparation of projects for European funding programmes in different scientific-technological fields, especially in Health and Energy-related areas. She has worked as a Reviewer for projects in the area of photonics in the FP7 programme and is currently a Proposal Evaluator for the Eurostars, EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder funding schemes of the European Commission.

Amelia is an active advocate for technological entrepreneurship and innovation dissemination. She is the author of “España Lean Startup ELS2015”, has delivered a TEDx talk, and regularly contributes to the broader conversation around innovation and startups. To date, she has authored or co-authored 20 publications in international journals.

LAURA MUÑOZ, PhD

Innovation Funding, Scientific Project Management, Project QA, Training

Managing Consultant: Chemistry, materials, agrifood, energy, life sciences

Laura holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Advanced Materials from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). During her research career at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where she carried out the work that led to her doctoral thesis, she actively participated in several national and European research projects and presented her findings at numerous scientific conferences. Her research work resulted in 10 scientific publications before she transitioned from academia to the field of innovation management over ten years ago.

Since then, she has focused her professional career on innovation consultancy, working closely with researchers in the preparation of competitive R&I project proposals for both national and European funding calls. Her role has been instrumental in identifying funding opportunities, building international consortia, and defining strategies to ensure the success of proposals.

Thanks to her dual perspective as both a researcher and innovation consultant, Laura successfully leads the comprehensive management of R&I projects. She provides strategic support in problem-solving, risk management, and technical coordination, ensuring compliance with administrative and financial obligations required by funding bodies throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Her strong commitment to science communication and the innovation ecosystem has led her to participate as a trainer in seminars aimed at researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovation managers. In these sessions, she shares her expertise on key topics, including funding opportunity scouting, proposal writing, technology monitoring, and project coordination.

In recent years, she has led the negotiation and signing of consortium agreements, as well as designed and implemented sustainability and exploitation plans for projects in which MATICAL is involved. Laura is currently also the coordinator of the European project ARTEMIs.

ANA MIGUEL PhD

Innovation funding, Scientific project management, Project QA, Training

Managing Consultant: Health, biochemistry & biological sciences

Originally a biochemist and biologist by training, Ana holds a PhD in molecular biology and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. Over the last 10 years, she has worked as a project manager and science coordinator in various fields, from wildlife conservation to cancer research, having led the coordination of several international and EU-funded projects. Her research trajectory has led to the publication of 9 peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, and several presentations at international conferences. Ana also holds extensive experience in management, having worked as a country director and head of education at two renowned international companies. Passionate about professional development and staff training, she also completed a master’s degree in business administration specializing in professional coaching and team management.

At MATICAL, Ana is supporting the administrative and financial management for the projects that Matical takes part of, while aiding the financial-administrative support provided to our clients. She is also deeply involved in the elaboration and delivery of MATICAL’s project management training courses and supporting proposal writing efforts.

PAULA JIMENEZ, PhD

Innovation funding, Scientific project management, Project QA, Training

Managing Consultant: Health, biomedicine, cancer research, biotechnology

With a PhD in Stem Cell Biology and over 8 years of experience spanning academic research, EU project coordination, and science policy, Paula is a Scientific Project Manager with a strong track record in leading complex, multi-stakeholder R&D initiatives across Europe. She combines deep biomedical knowledge with hands-on expertise in EU-funded projects, particularly in the fields of health and medical innovation.

At La Fe Health Research Institute, she managed the H2020 ChAImeleon project, aligning over 20 med-tech partners across Europe and ensuring both strategic coordination and compliance with financial and administrative frameworks. Previously, as a Blue Book Trainee at the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation, she evaluated the impact of cutting-edge health research initiatives, contributing to science-policy dialogues and public communication.

Her academic background includes a PhD at the University of Cambridge, where she secured competitive research funding, led high-impact studies in regenerative medicine, and collaborated with AstraZeneca on translational research. She is the co-author of 6 scientific publications, including Nature Communications, Science Advances and Oncogene, and has presented her work at international forums.

Paula is passionate about bridging science and society, and actively contributes to the innovation ecosystem by supporting collaborative environments that foster impactful research and learning. Her skills include financial management, consortium coordination, IPR negotiation, grant writing, and high-level science communication.

ENIF PEREZ

National Funding Technical Director

With over 14 years of experience in R&D and innovation financing, Enif specializes in managing ICT-driven projects and maximizing public funding instruments within Spain. As Technical Director, she advises organizations on tax deductions, grants, and competitive calls—ensuring strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and financial control.

She has held leadership positions at prominent firms such as Inventium, Deloitte, Kaudal, and Ayming, where she led multidisciplinary teams and provided technical guidance throughout audits, inspections, and administrative proceedings. Her precision, collaborative mindset, and data-driven approach have contributed to successful outcomes and long-lasting professional relationships.

Since 2010, Enif has built a solid career in Spain’s innovation funding ecosystem, helping companies identify and execute high-impact projects, particularly in the ICT sector. Her strategic vision has played a key role in certifying and delivering numerous initiatives aligned with national technological priorities.

Enif remains committed to driving innovation by enabling organizations to unlock the full potential of their R&D efforts and achieve sustainable growth through smart public investment.

Iván Rivero

Innovation funding, business strategy, financial planning

Managing Consultant: close-to-market innovations, market research, computing technologies

Iván holds degrees in Economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and in Philosophy from the Universidad de Valladolid. An expert financial manager and business strategist, he is currently based in the USA.

His professional career has focused on asset management, R&D consultancy and new product development, with a strong emphasis on innovation-driven companies and startups. He has extensive experience in designing robust financial models, business plans and exploitation strategies for product-oriented projects based on proprietary R&D, both to improve existing product lines and to bring new technologies to market.

Iván has a solid track record in writing and winning proposals for both close-to-market and early-stage innovation programmes, with particular strength in Eurostars, EIC Accelerator and other product-oriented schemes. Known for his ability to produce precise yet realistic financial projections and present them in a clear, engaging way, he combines rigorous quantitative analysis with a deep understanding of new product development, marketing and business strategy for innovative products and startups.

Pedro Salazar

Innovation Funding, Business Strategy, Technology Transfer

Managing Consultant: Industrial engineering, energy, circular economy, data science

Pedro is an Industrial Engineer from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche and the Politecnico di Torino. He has excellent communication skills and a natural talent for coordinating diverse international teams and managing substantial, multi-stakeholder project portfolios. A methodical and detail-oriented yet pragmatic and solution-driven professional, he is accustomed to working under pressure while keeping complex projects organised and on track.

Pedro has built a distinguished career as an EU project consultant and strategist in renewable energy (with a strong focus on marine energy engineering and hydrogen), circular economy, Industry 4.0 and advanced materials, covering both close-to-market projects (Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, EIC Accelerator, Eurostars) and early-stage projects (Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions). He is used to identifying, engaging and coordinating the specific industrial, academic and regulatory organisations needed in each project, building tailored ecosystems that maximise impact and ensure a clear pathway to the uptake and use of results.

In addition, he is an expert in technology transfer, including valorisation of research results, management and exploitation of intellectual property rights, and the design of robust business and exploitation plans for new technologies requiring blended public (European R&D programmes) and private investment (venture capital).

Janna Slabbekoorn

Project Management, RRI

Health, biotech, healthcare policy, clinical management, responsible research and innovation

Janna Slabbekoorn, holding a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences and a wealth of experience in European (public) health systems, has consistently demonstrated her expertise in managing large-scale, multifaceted projects within the healthcare sector. Starting her career as a community nurse, she quickly transitioned into more complex roles including health policy advisory and health data security audits, which showcased her capacity to blend clinical expertise with strategic operational management. From the very start of her career Janna has been involved in digitization processes of health data as end user, advisor and consultant. From 2009 to 2015, Janna served as a consultant focusing on health ICT, enhancing data safety- and sharing in primary and tertiary care settings in the Netherlands.

After this, she has developed her professional career to International Project Management, participating in the coordination of significant EU-funded projects (FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, IMI/ IHI-JU), demonstrating her capability in navigating large and complex multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Beyond her primary professional pursuits, Janna has actively contributed to the academic field as a tutor and skills trainer at Maastricht University, focusing on soft skills for public health and professional development. Currently she delivers training in financial management and project management for EC projects. 

At MATICAL, Janna applies her robust experience in project coordination, financial management, process optimization, risk management, and team leadership to support the strategic, administrative and financial aspects of projects. Being fluent in Dutch, English, Catalan and proficient in Spanish, Janna brings a global perspective and diverse linguistic skills to her role.

Ellen de Waal

Senior Communication Manager

Communication Strategist & Stakeholders Relations Manager

Ellen has over three decades of experience across life sciences, genomics, and health innovation, offering strategic communications insight and leadership in both public and private sectors.

De Waal’s expertise lies in orchestrating multinational projects and fostering public-private partnerships, exemplified by her pivotal role in the HARMONY Alliance for Big Data in Hematology.

Her professional journey is marked by impactful roles, including:

  • Life Sciences Accelerator: Spearheading community management and serving as a mentor for academic startups.
  • Erasmus MC: Leading corporate communications for personalized medicine initiatives.
  • Netherlands Genomics Initiative: Steering visibility and communication of 16 public-private genomic centers.
  • Volunteer Work: Committed to mentoring academic startups and engaging in international child abduction prevention.

Ellen is an indispensable asset in evolving the intersection of science communication and societal impact.

Clara Barquín

IPR and Public Procurement

Strategic Innovation & Project Planning

Lawyer specialising in the legal regime of foundations, public procurement and drafting agreements with third parties in the field of research. Postgraduate degree in Public Procurement. Master in Health Law and Biomedicine – Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Master thesis: “Public procurement in the field of biomedical research”.

Previous to MATICAL, she worked for 6 years as Head of the Legal and Public Procurement Department for the Andalusian Public Foundation for research in biomedicine and health. In charge of reviewing and drafting contracts and collaboration agreements in the field of biomedical research: basic research projects, clinical trials, European projects. Drafting of the bases for calls for internal grants for research projects. Design, implementation and evaluation of public procurement and tendering programmes

Karine Seymour

Health technologies, Health industry and Health data expert

Strategic Innovation & Project Planning

Master in Applied Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and Executive MBA – Toulouse Business School, with honours.

More than 20 years of experience in the PACS and Teleradiology business. Founder of the start-up MEDEXPRIM in 2015, devoted to transforming the routine care data available in hospitals into harmonized, curated, high-quality regulatory-grade datasets of imaging & clinical data.

Karine has a deep understanding on R&D and Innovation in Health technologies, including software, clinical, legal, business intelligence and contractual engineering. She is one of the main EU experts in projects involving medical research and AI development using real-world data.

Ricard Martinez

Senior Legal Advisor

DPO, Legal & Ethical Affairs External Advisor

Expert in privacy and personal data protection. Doctorate in Law from the Universitat de València. His research focuses on fundamental laws pertaining to data protection, as well as the impact of information and communication technologies on privacy. He is a member of the Ministry of Energy, Tourism, and Digital Agenda’s Working Group on Digital Rights of Citizens and coordinates the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Working Group established by the Conference of Spanish University Principals (CRUE-TIC). He has served as a Data Protection Officer at the Universitat de València, Head of the Transparency Service at the Valencian Provincial Council, and President of the Spanish Professional Association of Privacy. He has also collaborated with various universities as a lecturer in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, while being responsible for the Studies Area at the Spanish Data Protection Agency.

Dr. Martinez has written several monographs on data protection and contributed to commentaries on the Development Regulation of the Organic Law of Data Protection. His work also encompasses monographs on Law and Social Networks, Cloud Computing, and other related topics. He is a member of Fide’s Academic Council and serves as the co-director of its Data Protection Forum.

Main competences: GDPR, EHDS, Data Governance Act. Exploitation agreements, DSA, Ethical issues.

Juan Antonio Castro

ICT, Digital Transformation, Business strategy

Strategic Innovation & Project Planning

He is an accomplished executive with extensive management experience in international and domestic businesses, driving strong and healthy growth across various sectors. He has managed up to seven business units simultaneously, with over 120 employees, and possesses expertise in retail, operations and technology, marketing, risk and security, supply chain, and distribution networks.

Knowledge Areas: Banking systems and products, with a focus on payments and customer regulations; Operations and technology, including operational models, metrics, and BSC; Innovation and digital transformation with cutting-edge technologies; Risk management across operational, compliance, strategic, and enterprise levels; Retail business, customer experience, and service delivery; Sourcing models and vendor management.
Industries: Banking, Technology, Musical

Instruments Manufacturing, Food Processing, Elderly Homes

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