Assoc. Prof. Dr Maria Elisabeth Pereita | Biotechnology & Industrial Applications | Research Excellence Award

GOVCOPP & DEGEIT – University of Aveiro, Portugal

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth T. Pereira is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and a senior researcher at the Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP). She holds a Ph.D. in Business Economics from the University of Aveiro, an MSc in Economics from the University of Coimbra, and a degree in Economics from the University of Aveiro. With more than two decades of academic and research experience, she has held several leadership and coordination roles in higher education, including vice-directorship of a doctoral programme, coordination of international dual-degree programmes, and leadership of multiple Erasmus+ strategic partnership projects. Her research interests span competitiveness, international and macroeconomics, monetary and financial economics, gender economics, tourism and real estate economics, entrepreneurship, innovation, and entrepreneurial education. She has supervised numerous doctoral and master’s theses and served as an external examiner at national and international universities. Prof. Pereira is the author and editor of several academic books and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, edited volumes, and international conferences indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Her scholarly contributions and academic leadership have earned recognition through prestigious editorial roles, project leadership, and scientific committee appointments. Overall, her work demonstrates a sustained commitment to high-quality research, academic excellence, and societal impact.

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Featured Publications

Reassessing the International Competitiveness and Economic Sustainability of China’s Solar PV Industry: A Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis

– Energies, 2026

Are Sustainable Supply Chains Managing Scope 3 Emissions? A Systematic Literature Review

– Sustainability, 2025

Leveraging the Synergy of Supply Chain Analytics, Visibility, Innovation, and Collaboration to Improve Environmental and Financial Performance

– Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 2025

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chain Agility: A Perspective of Humanitarian Supply Chains

– Engineering Economics, 2024

The Role of Relational Capital in the Innovativeness of Women-Led Startups: Case Studies from the Italian Food & Beverage Sector

– International Conference on Gender Research, 2025

Dr. MARIA BELEN GUIJARRO DIAZ OTERO | Plant Biology | Excellence in Research Award

INIA-CSIC (National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology – Spanish National Research Council)
Spain

Dr. Belén Guijarro Díaz-Otero is a senior researcher in Plant Protection at INIA-CSIC, Spain, with extensive expertise in phytopathology, biocontrol, and the management of fungal plant diseases. She obtained her academic training in Agricultural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and completed her PhD with a strong focus on plant protection and biocontrol agents. Her professional experience includes international postdoctoral research in Australia, where she worked on plant genomics, plant pathology, and integrated disease management strategies, as well as applied research roles addressing alternatives to chemical fumigants and soil health improvement in horticultural systems. Since joining INIA-CSIC, her research has centered on fungal plant diseases, biopesticides, epidemiology, fungicide resistance, and soilborne pathogens, contributing significantly to sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management. She has participated in numerous national and European competitive R&D projects, including Horizon Europe and EFSA-related initiatives, and actively contributes to regulatory science through her involvement with European Commission and OECD expert groups on biopesticides. Her scientific output includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and extensive participation in international conferences. Recipient of the Australian Endeavour International Postdoctoral Fellowship, her work bridges fundamental research, applied innovation, and regulatory frameworks, supporting the development of safe, effective, and sustainable plant protection solutions for modern agriculture.