Ilia A. Dubinsky, Ph.D.
Lead of Educational Products and Tech at CUSTIS, a recognized leader in the digitalization of higher education in the Russian Federation, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs at Central University, a serial entrepreneur, venture investor, and educator with over 25 years of experience.
After earning his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and several years of research work, consulted major corporate clients in high-tech industries, banking, industrial manufacturing, telecommunications, and venture capital in the U.S. and Europe on technological, strategic, and investment matters. Led business development in high-tech and telecom sectors across Central and Eastern Europe for the International Finance Corporation (IFC, the investment arm of the World Bank), served as a partner at two venture capital funds, co-founded several high-tech startups, and acted as CEO of two of them—Infra Technology Co. and Cambridge Strategic Advisors.
From the inception of the Skolkovo project, served as Director of the Energy Cluster at the Skolkovo Foundation. Later, established and led the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) for seven years. Has been a professor and lecturer at universities in Russia and abroad, including MIT, where authored and delivered several educational programs in Engineering Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurhip.