Dr. Florian Gasser is a distinguished researcher, consultant and politician based in Italy and Switzerland with a strong interdisciplinary portfolio, with six university degrees, including a Ph.D. in Management from the University of St. Gallen. Specializing in digital transformation, election participation, and consumer/sustainable behavior, he has made significant contributions as a consultant and researcher at the University of St. Gallen and the University of Bolzano. He has lived/worked across the US, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria and has conducted an additional executive diplomatic degree with honors. He currently serves as a Vice-President of the Youth of the European People's Party and holds memberships and fellowships in esteemed academic and private organizations. He is involved in think-tanks (Zukunft-Fabrik.2050; GreenTech-Alliance), and is a speaker at global conferences (COP28, St. Gallen Symposium, European Forum Alpbach, LSE-German-Symposium). His contributions have been recognized with the DGT-ITB Research Award 2024, Alfred Gerardi Memorial-Award 2024, the American Marketing Association Best Doctoral Dissertation Award 2024 (RU) and the EPP-Postgraduate Research-Grant 2024.

Awards: 

• Research Award for Outstanding Early-Career Research in Wholesale 2025 from the ForveG / Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen e.V. (BGA) [9,000 €]

• University of  St. Gallen Best Teaching Award 2025 - Top 3

• Alfred Gerardi Memorial Award 2024
• DGT-ITB Research Award 2024
• AMA Sales SIG Dissertation Award 2024 (Runner-up) 
• ICIEMC 2024 Special Distinction Award in Consumer Behaviour & Tourism
• AIEST Best Contribution Award 2024 – Runner-up* und den AIEST Peter Keller Award 2024 – Runner-up
• EPP Postgraduate Grant 2023 with a research stay at the European University Institute (IT)
• AMA DocSIG Grant 2023
• PHD Scholarship der Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
• PHD AIEST-AWARD 2021 (1st-runner-up)
• EUREGIO-Youth Researcher Award-Finalist 2021 & 2020
• Entrepreneurial Talent 2020 - Awarded by the Dr. Werner Jackstädt Foundation & Chair of Entrepreneurship for the idea of Crowdy
• VersusVirus 2020 Awardee - Initator of the Crowdy-Project (awarded funds)
• Scholar of the German Symposium 2020 of the LSE German Society
• Wings of Excellence-Award - "Leader of Tomorrow" of the St. Gallen Symposium 2019
• Award for brilliant academic achievements of the country South Tyrol 2015
• Award for brilliant academic achievements of the country South Tyrol 2014
• High Potential Award 2015 (Awarded from "Profil" to be one of the best graduates of Austrian Universities)
• High Potential Award 2014 (Awarded from "Profil" to be one of the best graduates of Austrian Universities)  
• Research Grant for the diploma thesis with the emphasis of Strategic University Management - Quality Management 2014
• Award for outstanding academic achievements (for International Business & Economics) 2013 - Awarded from University of Innsbruck
• Award for brilliant academic achievements of the country South Tyrol 2011
• Award for outstanding academic achievements (for Business & Economics) 2011 - Awarded from University of Innsbruck
• Award for outstanding academic achievements (for Political Science) 2011 - Awarded from University of Innsbruck
• European Forum Alpbach scholarship 2009 / 2011 / 2014 / 2020
• European Forum Alpbach scholarship 2015 - Awarded from PwC Austria