Innovation Management
Panel Debate
Innovative capacity is always present in the leading companies of the international ceramics industry, but their strategy and management processes differ from one to another. In the case of companies that occupy different links in the supply chain, the analysis of the different approaches is also interesting to understand the needs of potential customers and suppliers. In this keynote session of the congress, a machinery manufacturer, a company specializing in raw materials and semi-finished products and a tile manufacturer will present how they understand innovation and how they implement it. In a subsequent discussion moderated by Enrique Sanchez, Director of the IUTC, the most interesting issues will be analyzed and the points that may be in common such as the management of collaborative projects with other institutions, as is the case of chairs or technological institutes. And also the relationship with areas such as human resources management and the search for talent or the economic-financial, its valuation and risk management.
He has been working in R&D at the Institute since 1988. Author of more than 160 research articles, more than 120 communications to congresses and scientific meetings, co-inventor in 11 patents and collaborator in 4 books. Principal investigator in more than 80 R&D projects and Technological Consultancy, financed by ceramic companies, as well as more than 30 competitive research projects financed by national and international public entities. His research areas have focused on raw materials, processing of traditional and advanced ceramic materials and ceramic coatings. He currently has 6 accredited six-year research periods. He currently chairs the Industrial Ceramics section of the Spanish Ceramics and Glass Society and is a member of the permanent working group PWG4 “Resources and Circularity” of the European platform Processes4Planet.
Kağan Kayacı is Director of Research & Development Center at Kaleseramik Çanakkale Kalebodur Seramik Sanayi A.Ş, Çanakkale, Türkiye. He earned his Doctor’s degree specialized in Ceramic and Geological Sciences at Istanbul Technical University in 2008. He took part in many positions in the Turkish Ceramics Industry, such as Technical Assistant General Manager, Technical Manager and R&D Manager. Kayacı authored over 30 papers on ISI-JCR journals and held four patents, along with around 90 industry – oriented publications on non-JCR journals and proceeding. He was worked as coordinator and researcher over 30 R&D projects with industries in the field of traditional ceramics.
He is a member of the R&D Committee at Association of Türkiye Construction Material Producers (IMSAD) since 2018. He has been a board member of Türkiye Ceramics Research Center (SAM) since 2013.
He holds a degree in Chemical Sciences (specializing in Industrial Chemistry) from the University of Valencia and currently holds the position of Technical Marketing Manager at Colorobbia España. Throughout his professional career at Colorobbia, he has carried out different activities in the colorificio that have given him in-depth knowledge of product, process and market aspects. His professional beginnings were in the field of quality and R&D&I, participating in the development of projects and patents, especially focused on products and processes committed to the environment. Subsequently, he was responsible for the technical coordination of the Group at international level until he reached his current management position.
Guaita holds a degree in Chemical Sciences, training that he later complemented with an Executive-MBA in Business Management, both from the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón.
During his professional career in this group, for more than 24 years, he has played significant roles in different departments, including Logistics, Information Systems and, most notably, in the Innovation area. Although throughout his career, he has focused mainly on the development and management of projects and especially R&D projects, where his participation has been remarkable in more than 40 national and 10 European projects, playing a leading role as coordinator in 3 of the latter. All this has led him to be co-author of 3 patents and several scientific articles, as well as actively participating in various technology platforms.
In addition to his vocation for innovation and commitment to sustainability in the industrial field, Guaita also devotes part of his time to the training of future professionals as a professor in the Master of Industrial Process Management at the Universitat Jaume I.
