Born in 1952 in Treviso, after completing his studies in oenology Mario Moretti Polegato joined the family business, which has been focused on agriculture and wine production for three generations and has became one of the most important wine companies in Italy. In the mid-90s, he has revolutionized the footwear sector inventing and patenting a new technology which makes rubber bottom sole shoes breathable. Thanks to his invention, Mario Moretti Polegato has created one of the strongest market player in the footwear sector. Mario Moretti Polegato is Chairman of Geox Group, which is ranked 1st footwear brand in Italy and one of the premium company worldwide in the life-style casual footwear segment. The Geox Group counts 30,000 direct and indirect, it sells its Milan stock exchange since 1st of December 2004. He was nominated Entrepreneur of the year 2002 by Ernst&Young , the Italian stock exchange and Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, for the best national and international strategic use of market levers and opportunities, combined with constant innovation. He was named “Innovator of the Year” at the Business Leaders Awards, organized by CNBC in parternship wiht the Financial Times, for his ability to develop a fashionable brand starting from a newtechnology. Mario Moretti Polegato teaches “Intellectual Property” in schools and universities, in Italy and in the world. He is Professor in “Intellectual Property”. Doctor Honoris Causa in Chemistry by the Cà Foscari University of Venice Doctor Honoris Causa in Economic Science by Faculty of Economics at University of Florence Phd Honoris Causa in Engineering of industrial design and development of new products by the Ceu- Cardenal Herrera University of Valencia He is Honorary General Consu l of Romania for North-Eastern Italy. He is member of the Executive Council of Confindustria (Italian confederation of Industrialists). He is member of the jury of the European organized by Epo. He is member of Aspen Institute Italia. He is the Founder and he is Member of Board of Directors of the ONLUS “Il Ponte del Sorriso”.