Abel M. Maharramov graduated in chemistry from the Baku State University, Azerbaijan, in 1971. He obtained his Ph.D. and Habilitation from the Moscow State University and Baku State University in 1976 and 1991, respectively. Since 1991, he is a Full Professor at the Baku State University; now he is the Rector of this University. He is Full Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. He authored 71 books, (co-)authored 485 research publications, 53 patents, and presented 45 invited lectures at international conferences. His research group focuses on organic, coordination and supramolecular chemistry and in particular on the development of non-covalent interactions in the synthesis, catalysis and crystal engineering. Among his many honors are the ISESCO Prize on Science and Technology (2012, Rabat, Morocco) and honor membership of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia (2013, Tbilisi, Georgia). Kamran T. Mahmudov has obtained his B.Sc. (2001), M.Sc. (2003) as well as Ph.D. (2007) and Habilitation (2012) degrees at the Baku State University, where he worked as an Assistant Professor (2006-2008). Then he stared to work as a Post-Doctoral Fellow (2009-now) at the Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico. His publication record contains more than 65 peer-reviewed publications in ISI journals, 2 chapters in books and 2 reviews. His main research interest is activation of covalent bonds by cooperation of coordination and non-covalent interactions (mainly hydrogen and halogen bonding), and homogeneous catalysis. Maximilian N. Kopylovich graduated with distinction in Chemical Engineering (1993) from Byelorussian State Technological University and completed his PhD degree in Chemistry with excellent mark (1998) at the same Institution. Then MK worked as an Assistant Professor at the Byelorussian State Technological University (1998-1999), and then as a Post-Doctoral Fellow (2000-2007), Auxiliary (2008-2013) and Senior (2014-Now) Researcher at the Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Portugal. His publication record contains more than 140 peer-reviewed publications, including ca. 120 research papers in ISI journals (>1700 citations, average citations per item 14.46; h=23, see below), 11 patents, about 80 conference presentations. Scientific interests of MK lay mainly within Inorganic (Coordination) Chemistry. In particular, he participated in the development of new methods of synthesis of triazapentadienato-, aminopolyalcoholato-, arylhydrazo-, iminoisoindolinone, tetrazolato-, pentane-2,4-dione-, piperazine-, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), etc. complexes of metals from virtually all groups of the Periodic Table. Current research interests of MK are related to the metal-mediated (template) and hydrogen(halogen)-assited syntheses of new coordination compounds and supramolecular assemblies. Armando J. L. Pombeiro is Full Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon (Portugal), Full Member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon (in charge of various directive and representative positions) and President of the Portuguese Electrochemical Society. His research group investigates the activation of small molecules with industrial, environmental or biological significance, including metal-mediated synthesis and catalysis (e.g., functionalization of alkanes under mild conditions), crystal engineering of coordination compounds, design and self-assembly of polynuclear and supramolecular structures, molecular electrochemistry and theoretical studies. He was Chairman of the 25th ICOMC and member of organizing/scientific committees of 40 international conferences or schools. He authored one book (plus three as editor), (co-)authored 600 research publications, 33 patents, and presented 90 invited lectures at international conferences. His work has received ca. 11,800 citations, h-index = 51 (Web of Science). Among his many honors, Dr. Pombeiro has been awarded the Madinabeitia-Lourenço Prize from the Spanish Royal Chemical Society.
