Dominik Reinertz is the Managing Director of WAITRO Operations e.V., the legal and operational arm of WAITRO. In this role, he leads global initiatives to strengthen international research collaboration, forge strategic partnerships, and advance innovation for sustainable development.
He holds degrees in Political Science from the Universities of Cologne and Mainz, with additional studies in International Economics and Economic Geography. His career has focused on international cooperation, open innovation, and capacity development—shaped by years of experience in program development, stakeholder engagement, and global R&D strategy.
Dominik’s journey with WAITRO began in 2015 as a student assistant at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, where he participated in the WAITRO Management Programme while the Secretariat was hosted in Malaysia. From 2019 to 2022, he led the WAITRO Office under Fraunhofer’s leadership, designing global initiatives and services for over 180 member organizations. Prior to becoming Managing Director, he spent more than eight years at Fraunhofer headquarters-
He is also the founder of SAIRA, an open innovation platform that connects researchers and innovators to address global challenges. In addition, Dominik works as a consultant on EU-funded sustainability and innovation projects with GIZ.
Having lived and worked in Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ecuador, he brings deep intercultural experience to his work. Dominik is fluent in German, English, and Spanish.
