Evelina Santa-Kahle

Evelina Santa-Kahle is Head of the Division for Quantum Technologies and Photonics at the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). She joined the ministry in 2011 and has held various policy and leadership roles, including coordinating Germany’s EU Council Presidency in research and innovation in 2020. From 2021 to 2025, she served as Science Counselor at the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C., where she focused on emerging technologies and health research. During her time in Washington, she also co-founded the Women in Science Diplomacy Association, a network of more than 60 women professionals working in science diplomacy. With a background in European research policy, Evelina has worked in Brussels, Madrid, and her hometown Vienna. She is a trained neurobiologist and speaks six languages. Outside her professional work, she is passionate about photography.