Prof. Laureano Jiménez-Esteller

Biography

Laureano Jiménez-Esteller is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain. His research combines systems engineering, sustainability and evidence-informed policymaking. His expertise includes optimisation, life-cycle assessment, the circular economy, technology and regulatory assessment, and multi-criteria decision support. He has supervised 23 doctoral theses and contributed to numerous European and national research projects. His work has been widely published and cited, including in policy documents from governments and international organisations.
As Scientific Advisor to Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism, he provided independent, evidence-based advice on industrial strategy and technology policy. His remit included space-industry applications, and he contributed to science-policy discussions on the environmental effects and governance of satellite re-entry. He also served on Spain’s Permanent Group for Scientific Advice in Crisis Management and contributed to work on critical chemicals and sites, climate policy and countering disinformation.
He currently serves on the European Commission’s Net-Zero Regulatory Burden Scientific Advisory Group. He advises EU institutions and Member States on industrial competitiveness, sustainability, regulation and the transition to climate neutrality. He also assesses the effects of EU legislation on net-zero industries and proposes ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.
Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across academia, industry, public engagement and government, he brings an interdisciplinary and evidence-based perspective to space diplomacy and the responsible governance of emerging technologies and shared global domains.