Dr. Roland Waldner, currently Chairman of the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF), has dedicated his career to innovation and economic development. With a background in polymer engineering from Montanuniversität Leoben, he spent 30 years at PHILIPS and its spin-off Versuni, ultimately leading Front-End Innovation research in Klagenfurt and Shanghai. He played a key role in developing and training innovation and creativity programs at the Klagenfurt site. A passionate advocate for Open Innovation, he has contributed to academia and social initiatives, including Lebenshilfe Kärnten and SOS Kinderdorf. As a board member of IV-Kärnten and head of its “Team Innovation” working group, he gained deep insights into Carinthia’s economic landscape. One of his standout projects, the “Innovation Marathon – Product Development in 24 Hours,” reflects his commitment to fostering creativity and groundbreaking solutions.