Dr. Denis Bednyagin

Dr. Denis Bednyagin holds a PhD in the economics of innovation in the energy sector, as well as a postgraduate Master’s degree in energy from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), which is ranked among the world’s top 20 universities. He is also a graduate of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), where he specialized in economics, foreign trade, and marketing. During his studies, he participated in a student exchange program in international management at HEC Paris, a leading French business school.

After graduating from university, Dr. Bednyagin worked for several years as a project manager in the construction of hydro and thermal power plants. He then joined the Laboratory of Energy Systems and the Chair of Economics and Management of Innovation at EPFL, where he conducted engineering-economic studies focused on integrated (Energy – Economy – Environment) assessment modelling, life-cycle analysis, GIS, technology foresight, and uncertainty & risk management. Based on the findings of his PhD dissertation, he wrote several peer-reviewed articles and scientific reports in which he presented an innovative approach to the evaluation of large-scale R&D programs, such as thermonuclear fusion, taking into account their total social costs and benefits with the help of long-range scenario projections, “real options” pricing models, and fuzzy numbers.

Since 2010, Dr. Bednyagin has been working in the private sector as a business development advisor, technology consultant, and board member for various long-only and private equity investment funds, medium-sized companies, and start-ups. As an expert in energy technologies, IT applications, and investment management, he helped clients define business strategies, design specific projects, structure M&A deals, and raise funds through traditional debt and equity instruments, as well as innovative cryptocurrency-based mechanisms.

In 2017, Dr. Bednyagin became interested in blockchain technology, one of the pillars of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Having gained extensive experience with other innovative digital technologies, such as IoT, AR/VR, AI, smart sensors, mobile apps, and big data analytics, he recognized the profound disruptive impact that Industry 4.0 could have on the economy and social governance. As a result, he started collaborating with Soramitsu, one of the leading Japanese blockchain IT companies, serving as a corporate adviser, community ambassador, and operational manager for various CBDC, DeFi, NFT, DeSci, and RWA tokenization projects.

Dr. Bednyagin spent eight years of his academic career at EPFL, working as a researcher on various theoretical studies, while also providing teaching assistance for the undergraduate and Master’s courses “Modelling of Energy and Transportation Systems” and “Integrated Planning of Energy Infrastructure”. After gaining nearly a decade of additional practical business experience, he rejoined academia as an Adjunct Professor at SSHE. In addition to teaching select major disciplines and ad hoc courses, Dr. Bednyagin has initiated a new scientific research program on “Energy Security in the Face of Climate Uncertainty”.

List of publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=htXVkAMAAAAJ

Energy-food-water nexus; integrated energy-economy-environment (3E) assessment modelling; digitalization; smart energy systems; smart cities; green innovation; hybrid mini-grids; blockchain applications in energy, finance, agriculture, supply chain management, contemporary art.

With diverse professional experience and a solid academic background, Dr. Bednyagin is eager to share his knowledge with SSHE students on topics such as climate, energy, sustainability, finance, IT, marketing, start-up entrepreneurship, etc. He also brings practical experience in managing energy projects, creating start-up companies, and conducting market and scientific research.