KOBE-ADB Innovation Gateway -Empowering Asia-Pacific with Kobe’s Innovationn

13:00–15:00, Manila Time

Nine startups and corporations from Kobe City, Japan, will present cutting-edge technologies and solutions to explore collaboration opportunities with ADB projects. Each pitch will feature a 5-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.

Among the featured companies is Atomis, which offers a breakthrough Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) technology developed by Prof. Susumu Kitagawa, recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Lindsay Renaud

 Lindsay Renaud is a Results Management Specialist and ADB’s focal point for the Design and Monitoring Framework and Development Effectiveness Review.  Before joining ADB, Ms. Renaud was the Results Management Specialist at the Caribbean Development Bank, where she led the Results Unit of the Strategic Planning Division. In 2013-2015, she was a Consultant during which time she designed and implemented Result-Based Management and Monitoring & Evaluation systems for various clients, including MDBs, UN agencies, and government agencies.

Gordon Falconer

Gordon is currently the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the UN United Smart Cities program and is a city developer, city consultant, global thought leader in cities, technology clusters, property& infrastructure developer, chartered surveyor who has been based in Singapore for the last 10 years. He has previously been Head of Masdar City Strategy in Abu Dhabi and Director of Cisco Urban Innovation. He has worked worldwide with governments, NGO’s, the UN, World Bank, and the European Commission.

Jaime Webbe

Ms. Jaime Webbe leads the Climate Technology Centre and Network's (CTCN) work in the Asia-Pacific and is the chief expert on climate change adaptation. Ms. Webbe previously worked as the head of the UN Environment's Environmental Education Unit, including serving as the focal point for the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness.

Gergana Majercakova

Gergana is the Senior Learning SpecialistSenior Learning Specialist at Global Water Partnership. Prior to this, she also served as the Communications Officer for Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe. 

She earned her Master's degree from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and her Ph.D. in Translation Theory from Comenius University, Bratislava.