Markus Jerger is a Swiss / German business executive, experienced entrepreneur and 5th generation descendant of a 160 years old Swiss/German manufacturing family. He is a renowned connector of business and politics in Europe as the past and long-term Chairman of the Federal German Association of SMEs and former President of the European Entrepreneurs Association as well as past Vice-President of the International SME Alliance. He chaired and supervised over 2.4 million corporate memberships in his associations. Also he is known for his work in international trade, business development, and innovation. He holds various leadership positions and is actively involved in promoting economic cooperation between Europe and other countries. In 2024 Mr. Jerger was appointed Chairman of the EUPIC FOUNDATION. The European Project Innovation Center (EUPIC) is an organization dedicated to promoting collaboration and innovation between Europe and China. EUPIC serves as a platform for facilitating partnerships, technology transfer, and business opportunities between European and Chinese companies, research institutions, and governmental organizations. EUPIC was established in 2006 as a joint initiative between the European Union and the Chinese government to support the ties between European and Chinese innovation ecosystems. Markus Jerger is involved in a variety of companies as an owner, shareholder and/or member of the supervisory board. The activities include manufacturing, trade, finance, investments, and advisory services. He speaks fluent German, English and French.