Dr Thanasis Dimitriou

I began my career in 2005 with a BSc in Wood Science and Furniture Design and Technology at the Technical Educational Institute of Larissa in Greece, a degree that uniquely merged material science with product development. From day one, I was trained to look at the full system: how design decisions depend on the physical behaviour of materials, and how innovation happens when we stop thinking in silos. I became a materials scientist with a designer’s mindset, and that way of thinking has guided every step since.

In Greece, I worked part-time as a quality control technician at the University while supporting small timber manufacturing companies. I was hands-on with testing, production, and technical problem-solving, learning how timber behaves, how to improve its performance, and what truly matters to industry on the shop floor.

Driven by a desire to go deeper into research, I moved to the UK to complete a PhD in Wood Science at Bangor University. There, I specialised in wood polymer composites, surface modification, and adhesion optimisation, building a strong foundation in biomaterials and lab-scale innovation.

After completing my doctorate, I took on a series of research roles at Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, where I led and contributed to UK- and EU-funded projects focused on sustainable materials, bio-based innovation, and circular construction. These roles deepened my technical expertise while also developing my experience in multidisciplinary team leadership, funding development, and guiding early-stage ideas toward application.

Over time, I became increasingly aware of a recurring challenge: while academic research often achieved technical excellence, it rarely reached the market. Projects met milestones and publications were delivered, but the value to end users was often lost along the way.

That realisation led me to agile and lean innovation thinking. It transformed how I approached research, shifting my focus from rigid processes to iterative, value-driven experimentation. I began applying these principles in my own projects, building psychologically safe, high-performance teams focused not on ticking boxes, but on delivering real-world outcomes.

This journey ultimately led me into technology transfer. Today, as Technology Transfer Manager at Wrexham University, I work at the interface between research, industry, and enterprise, supporting academics and industries to navigate routes to impact, strengthen industrial engagement, and translate innovation into practical value. Alongside this role, I am the founder of Thinktivate, a consultancy dedicated to transforming how academic–industry collaboration is designed and delivered so research works better for everyone involved.