Prof. Dr. jur. Matthias Leistner, LL.M. (Cambridge), holds the Chair of Civil Law and Intellectual Property Law with Information Law and IT Law (GRUR Chair) at the Faculty of Law, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His research focuses on German, European, and international patent law, including the European Unitary Patent (UPCA/UPC), standard essential patents (SEPs/FRAND), patent pools, and legal challenges in biotech, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and electronics. He also specializes in copyright law, data law, and regulatory frameworks for AI, platforms, and Industry 4.0, as well as trade secrets and licensing contracts. He teaches German and European Copyright Law (Summer Semester 2025) German and European Patent Law (Winter Semester 2024/25) and leads a seminar in Focus Area 3 for the winter semester. Contact: Phone: +49 89 2180-71240 Email: sekretariat.leistner@jura.uni-muenchen.de His work is affiliated with the German Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and Copyright (GRUR) and the Munich Centre for Patent Law Research (MUCPAT) .
Professor Jörn Müller-Quade is a leading expert in cryptography and IT security at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He serves as Director of the KASTEL — Institute for Information Security and Reliability at KIT and heads the Cryptography and Security research group. Müller-Quade is also the head of the "IT Security, Privacy, Law and Ethics" working group at the Learning Systems Platform initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. His work focuses on developing secure systems that can withstand intelligent attackers through rigorous mathematical models and cryptographic methods. Professor Müller-Quade's research spans multiple critical areas of modern digital security. His primary interests include cryptography, secure multi-party computations, privacy-preserving analytics, and the intersection of artificial intelligence with security systems. He investigates how to develop security properties that can be mathematically proven, particularly against intelligent adversaries who constantly develop new attack methods. His work on cryptographic voting procedures demonstrates how seemingly contradictory requirements like ballot secrecy and verifiable counting can be simultaneously achieved. Müller-Quade also explores how AI systems change IT security landscapes, creating both new vulnerabilities and potential defense mechanisms. Analysis of Professor Müller-Quade's publications reveals consistent focus on practical security applications with societal impact. His work spans election security, patient data protection, surveillance debates, and industrial espionage prevention. A recurring theme is the need for security systems that remain robust against previously unknown attacks. His publications show increasing attention to AI's dual role in security - both as a tool for attackers and defenders. The evolution of his work demonstrates growing emphasis on European digital sovereignty and the need for mandatory cybersecurity standards. Professor Müller-Quade's notable achievements include: Receiving the German IT Security Award in 2008 for his "Bingo Voting" system Initiating and directing KASTEL, which evolved from a competence center to a permanent institute at KIT Contributing to influential white papers on AI security and medical applications of AI Providing expert testimony on critical security issues to policymakers As Director of KASTEL — Institute for Information Security and Reliability, Müller-Quade leads a major interdisciplinary research effort that brings together cryptographers, IT security experts, software engineers, lawyers, and network specialists. The institute focuses on "Engineering Secure Systems" for economically and socially relevant fields including energy, mobility, and production. Müller-Quade emphasizes the importance of evaluating security in a comprehensive manner, noting that security engineering should ideally encompass all aspects of a system. His team works closely with existing infrastructures to develop practical security solutions that address real-world challenges.
Anton Gollwitzer is an Assistant Professor at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, and an Associate Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, Germany. His work bridges psychology, data science, and political behavior, with a focus on understanding human cognition and social dynamics. Gollwitzer earned his PhD from Yale University in 2021, following dual Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Psychology from New York University. His academic trajectory reflects an interdisciplinary approach that informs his research methodology and theoretical frameworks. His research interests span psychological processes and human behavior, with particular focus on non-normative behaviors, perceptions of social outliers, fanaticism, and the sharing of misinformation and propaganda. Gollwitzer's work lies at the intersection of psychology, data science, and political behavior, examining distorted belief systems and their societal impacts. His research is motivated by a commitment to protecting democratic institutions, civil liberties, and human rights. Analysis of Gollwitzer's recent publications reveals consistent themes across psychology, political behavior, and social cognition. His work frequently examines how cognitive processes influence social behavior, particularly in polarized contexts. Key research strands include deviancy aversion (how discomfort with pattern disruptions influences social judgments), social psychological skill (individual differences in predicting social phenomena), intellectual humility as a buffer against false beliefs, and the psychological underpinnings of fanaticism. His methodological approach combines experimental psychology with real-world data analysis, including large-scale studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gollwitzer actively collaborates with researchers across institutions and disciplines. His work has been published in leading journals including Nature Human Behaviour, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. His research has received media coverage from international outlets including CNN, BBC, and The Times, indicating its relevance to contemporary societal issues. He leads several research projects including investigations into Deviancy Aversion, Social Psychological Skill, Artificial Intelligence applications in data analysis, Motivation, Fanaticism, and Misinformation. These projects reflect his commitment to both theoretical advancement and practical applications of psychological science.
Professor Ursula Klaschka is faculty at Ulm University of Applied Sciences (THU), where she holds the position of Professor. She serves as Responsible for the additional qualifications "Environment and Management" and "Environment and Technology," is Head of the Fairtrade University Steering Group, and acts as Contact person for the German National Academic Foundation. Her research focuses on Ecotoxicology, Environmental hazard assessment, Chemical classification and labeling, Environmental certification, Fragrance chemistry, and Infochemical effects. Professor Klaschka's work bridges chemical safety, consumer protection, and environmental sustainability, with particular emphasis on how chemical substances in everyday products affect both human health and ecosystems. Her publication record shows a consistent trajectory toward investigating fragrance-related chemicals, their health impacts, and regulatory frameworks. She has pioneered research on the "infochemical effect" - how anthropogenic chemicals interfere with chemical communication in ecosystems. Her recent work (2020-2023) increasingly addresses fragrance-free policies, consumer health impacts from fragranced products, and assessment frameworks for chemical alternatives. Professor Klaschka teaches courses on Umweltverträgliche Produkte (Environmentally compatible products), Globalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit (Globalization and sustainability), Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt (Environmental impacts), Rohstoffe und Recycling (Resources and recycling), and Umwelttechnik, -recht und –management (Environmental technology, law and management). She advises students to access current lecture information through the Public Server at the beginning of each semester.
Christian Stauf serves as Professor at Weiden Business School, Amberg-Weiden University of Applied Sciences, specializing in International Business and Intellectual Property Law. His academic profile spans teaching, research, and industry collaboration with a focus on practical IP management applications. His research interests center on Intellectual Property Management , Innovation Protection , and Know-How Protection , with particular emphasis on digital transformation challenges and Industry 4.0 integration. Stauf's work bridges legal frameworks with business strategy, addressing critical gaps in IP implementation for SMEs and startups. Recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward digital IP systems (2020-2021), Industry 4.0 integration (2018-2020), and practical protection methodologies for service industries and supply chains (2014-2017). His research consistently targets actionable frameworks rather than theoretical constructs. Fürther Ludwig Erhard Preis for contributions to business innovation Wolfgang-Ritter-Wissenschaftspreis for academic excellence in IP research Stauf leads the DIN committee on IP Management Quality and directs QIMIP's implementation partner qualification program. His research funding includes TU Kaiserslautern's individual research grant for corporate IP management systems and the KoPiKomp anti-piracy initiative for industrial components. As editor of the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management and coach for startup competitions, he maintains strong industry-academia connections. His professional activities extend to lecturing at DHBW Mannheim and VWA Kaiserslautern, with frequent workshops on IP protection for SMEs through Business + Innovation Center Kaiserslautern.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Ann is a renowned Professor of Business Law and Intellectual Property at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding the Chair of Business Law and Intellectual Property. He is also an Executive Board Member of the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC). His academic career spans over three decades, with prior roles including Professor at Freiburg University (2000–2003) and Judge at the Mannheim Regional Court's IP Infringement Panel (2001–2003). He earned his LL.M. from Duke University and holds doctorates from the University of Bayreuth and habilitation from Tübingen University. His research focuses on patent quality, IP strategy, trade secret protection, and antitrust law with a global perspective. He has organized the Munich International Patent Law Conference since 2013 and serves on numerous international boards, including the VPP (Intellectual Property Professionals Association) and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. He has received accolades such as the Best Teaching Award (TUM School of Management, 2006 & 2008) and was nominated for a judgeship at Germany's Federal Court of Justice in 2018. Prof. Ann is fluent in German, English, French, and has working knowledge of Italian and Afrikaans. His professional memberships include the Bavarian-American Academy, German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), and the Licensing Executive Society (LES Germany). He teaches courses on patent protection, trade secrets, and IP management, contributing to both academic and practical education in the field.
James E. Hansen is an Associate Professor of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale School of Medicine and a key member of Yale Cancer Center. He serves as Chief of the Gamma Knife Program and Co-Director of the Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Body Radiotherapy Fellowship. Dr. Hansen is affiliated with multiple cancer programs including the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers, Center for Thoracic Cancers, Head & Neck Cancers Program, and Prostate & Urologic Cancers Program. Dr. Hansen specializes in Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for treating various cancers including Central Nervous System tumors, Head and Neck cancers, Lung cancer, Lymphoma, Skin cancer, and Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary cancers. His clinical philosophy emphasizes personalized care, as he states: "Every patient journey is unique. Please know that in good times or challenging times, you are never battling this disease alone." Dr. Hansen's research bridges radiation oncology with molecular immunology, focusing on how autoantibodies from autoimmune disorders can be harnessed to fight cancer. He is particularly excited about advancements in drug design that allow treatments to cross the blood-brain barrier, stating: "I have never been more excited and optimistic about the future benefits of therapies that cross the blood-brain barrier and target brain tumors." His work has been featured in media outlets including WTNH News 8, Healio, and Yale Medicine News. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on nuclear-penetrating autoantibodies, DNA-targeted cancer therapies, and stereotactic radiation techniques. Dr. Hansen has made significant contributions to understanding how lupus-derived and scleroderma autoantibodies can be repurposed for cancer treatment, including their ability to deliver therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier and activate tumor immunity. Dr. Hansen received his medical training at UCLA School of Medicine, followed by residency and chief residency in therapeutic radiology at Yale School of Medicine. He also holds a Master's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCLA. His clinical and research work exemplifies the interdisciplinary approach needed to develop innovative cancer treatments that combine radiation therapy with molecular targeting strategies.
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