Dr. Soli Makohliso is an international bio-entrepreneur with experience in the US, Switzerland and southern Africa. His current professional interests are in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in the establishment of local manufacturing of health/medical products in Africa. He currently serves as the Deputy Head of the EssentialTech Centre at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), where he is actively involved in harnessing cutting-edge EPFL research to develop technology innovations that can leapfrog sustainable development and drive large-scale impact in low- and middle-income countries.

He is currently a member of the Technical Expert Group for the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), which is developing the Target Product Profile for a new and more globally accessible Glucose Self-Monitoring Test. He was recently a member of the Ministerial Task Team for National Technology Innovation Valorisation for the South African Minister for Science & Innovation and has held various advisory positions in the past in advancing national biotechnology innovation, and for the implementation of the South African Nanotechnology Strategy. He also served as the advisor to the Swiss government, where he was responsible for developing the bilateral strategy with South Africa in science, technology & innovation. Soli received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering at Brown University in the US and his Ph.D. at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). He also completed the Certificates in Executive Leadership & Finance with Cornell University (online).