One of the world's most influential and innovative thinkers: Professor Mariana Mazzucato is our Global Summit keynote speaker

Economist. Professor. Author. Innovator. Adviser. Thinker.

Named as “one of the most important thinkers on innovation” by the New Republic,
Mariana Mazzucato, PhD is a global name, with the reputation to match.

Internationally recognised for her work on the dynamics of technological change, the role of the public sector in innovation, and the concept of value in economics, she is known for turning economic ideas into policy.

Her reputation and knowledge has led to numerous high-level policy roles across the globe, and her ideas heard and read in numerous international outlets, on broadcast and in print.

Now, those insightful ideas will be heard live from the stage at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit as we announce Mariana Mazzucato as our 2023 Keynote Speaker.

The UITP Global Summit is the defining event in the world of urban mobility.

Held across four days (Barcelona, 4-7 June 2023), with numerous other activities before and after, it is the gathering of the sector’s most important names and faces, brought together to discuss how best to define the future of public transport.

With an important agenda such as this, it requires the very best voices to drive that direction.

Mariana Mazzucato is a conversation starter, whose advice to policy makers around the world on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth, has led her to become one of the most sought-after speakers across the globe.

She will take to our Summit stage to discuss fostering and leveraging innovation for sustainable mobility.

Internationally respected for her extensive research and policy work, her particular areas of interest are innovative-led growth, collective value financing, structural change, mission-oriented policy, purpose driven corporate governance, and from the public good to the common good.

Originally from Rome, in recognition of her contributions to economic theory and policy, she received the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana from the Italian President, Italy’s highest civilian honour.

As an educator, Professor Mazzucato, PhD teaches the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at the University College London, where she is the founding director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.

As an author, she has written four highly-acclaimed books, The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths, The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy, and Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism, the first published in 2013; the most recent The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens our Business, Infantilises our Governments and Warps our Economies, published just this year.

As an adviser, she brings her experience and insight to numerous high-level roles, including Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Council on the Economics of Health for All, Co-Chair on the Council on Urban Initiatives, member of the South African President’s Economic Advisory Council, the UN High Level Advisory Board for Economic and Social Affairs, the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group on Human and Robotic Space Exploration for Europe, Argentina’s Economic and Social Council and the OECD High-Level Advisory Panel on Climate and Economic Resilience, to name just a few…

And UITP is delighted to present Professor Mariana Mazzucato, PhD as our 2023 keynote speaker!

Public transport is a sector full of innovation, redefinition and ongoing transformation.

And like many sectors, we know that we must consider all possibilities to truly embrace the most innovative, accessible, and exciting future for our cities and those who call them home.

Bringing together over 300 speakers across 85 Congress sessions, almost 400 exhibitors across 40,000m2 of space, the UITP Global Summit for 2023 will be held under the theme “Bright Light of the City”.

With technical visits, innovative tours, networking and social events, it is the global platform for all public transport professionals.

We cannot wait to hear what Mariana Mazzucato has to say at the UITP Summit this June!

Register for the UITP Summit to hear Mariana Mazzucato live in Barcelona

Our official press release announcing Professor Mazzucato to the media

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to our member RTA, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority for their kind sponsorship of the UITP Summit Opening Ceremony. Their support makes it possible to bring together the entire public transport family in Barcelona. Thank you!