Jana De Merlier has over 20 years of experience in project management, strategic planning, and education. Since 2007 she has been active at the municipal level and currently serves as Vice Mayor of Dolní Břežany, focusing on education, investment projects, and strategic planning. Since 2014 she has worked at the HiLASE Centre, managing the Grant Office and coordinating strategic projects. In 2015 she co-founded the STAR Research & Innovation Cluster, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting research, industry, and municipalities to foster regional development, with a strong emphasis on innovation, education, and networking. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the BRAIN4INDUSTRY consortium, with STAR responsible for the educational platform Brain4Industry Academy. Drawing on her experience, she seeks to contribute to the Leadership Academy for Researchers, believing that empowering people is the foundation of true progress and impact.