D. Beernaert studied engineering in physics, nuclear and material science (University of Ghent – Belgium -1976). Before joining the Commission, he was involved in semiconductor research, prototyping, manufacturing and transfer of technology in innovation. He joined the European Commission in 1990 where he has been responsible as Head of Unit for research programs in micro and nanoelectronics, photonics, and Microsystems under different European Frameworks Programs (FP), dealing with research, innovation and regulatory activities in these fields. In 2008 he was nominated Executive Director at interim to set up the Joint Undertaking ENIAC, the first public private partnership between Industry, European Member States and the European Commission in the field of Nanoelectronics. Untill recently he was responsible for the Unit "Microsystems" dealing with smart integrated systems, Micro and nanosystems, micro-nano-biosystems, smart integration technologies, advanced manufacturing and the transfer of these technologies into innovation for key applications. This included also the Public Private Partnership Electric Green Car Initiative for eMobility, the Public Private Partnership "Factories of the Future". He is recently appointed to Adviser to the Director General of DG CONNECT for Integrating and Interdisciplinary Activities and for planning future activities in Horizon 2020 in this field. Owner of 2 patents and author of more than 120 articles