Yannis Pierrakis

Head of Investments Research

Yannis specialises in innovation finance research and has extensively published research and policy reports on the development of private sector investments to high growth companies and the impact of the accomplished public interventions in the supply of finance. He also works as a consultant at the World Bank, Private and Financial Sector Development.

Before joining Nesta in 2007, Yannis was based in Luxembourg where he managed the multimillion Innovation TrendChart project with a network of national correspondents in 39 countries. He also worked in the Innovating Regions of Europe (IRE) Network Secretariat and at the Observatory of Innovation, Cardiff Business School.

Yannis studied in Greece, Italy and the UK. He holds an MSc in Regional Development and a PhD in Investments and Innovation both from Cardiff University.