Eli Haugerud hold a M.Sc. degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Oslo (UiO) and has taken several additional master courses within Design Thinking and strategic innovation, computers science and pedagogy.

Eli has previously worked at Tekna for 12 years and held positions as Head of Innovation, Director of Politics and Head of Professional Societies. She has been developing networks, policies and arenas to share competence and building a better society. Prior to her time at Tekna, she came from a background as a leader in international IT companies and the education sector. Eli also currently holds some positions within tech and engineering organization boards.

In her job at Smart Innovation Norway, she holds the position as Head of Clusters and is responsible for the company’s overall operation of the two clusters, NCE Smart Energy Markets and Cluster for Applied AI. She is a part of the management team and reports to the CEO.

Inge Michael Bilet has broad experience from both Norwegian and international business, covering market research, FMC, energy and automobile industry. He has been an entrepreneur and part of large international companies.

In the year 2000, he took a Bachelor’s degree in Export Marketing (Norway/Germany), followed 20 years of experience from sales, marketing, market research, consultancy and innovation. His recent positions were Head of Marketing and Product Development at Fredrikstad EnergiSalg (Fortum) and Sustainability Advisor/Project Manager at Brox Consulting.

As Business Developer at Smart Innovation Norway, Inge Michael is determined to use his experience and expertise to speed up the transition to a circle economy, by helping companies innovate in a slightly faster pace, thus helping to create sustainable businesses.

Inge Michael is a business oriented, creative team player with a passion for sustainability, digitalization, new business models and circular economy.

Victoria Næss Jensen holds a MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Norwegian University of Life Science, Ås, with Technology Entrepreneurship from Rice University – Jess H. Jones Graduate School of Business, Houston, Texas.

Formerly, Victoria worked as a PMO for Sykehuspartner’s IT projects to the new hospital, Sykehuset Østfold Kalnes. Her role was to support the management in the program and to support interaction between various projects in Prosjekt Nytt Østfoldsykehus (PNØ).

At her current position in Smart Innovation Norway, she is involved in realizing innovative project ideas, both towards the clusters and towards our smart cities and communities.

Victoria works systematically and carry out plans with commitment and persistence, ensuring progress in project activities. She is motivated by innovation, progress, change and improvement.

Marianne Jansson Bjerkman holds a MSc in Food Science from the Norwegian University of Life Science, Ås, focusing on product and process innovation. She has also studied pedagogy and science didactics at Østfold University College.

In the past years, Marianne has been working as a project manager and product developer, first with Orkla Foods Norway in Kolbotn and later Brynild Gruppen in Fredrikstad, developing leading Norwegian brands. During this time, she has also held her own company, working with design.

In her current position as Cluster Leader at Smart Innovation Norway, she is involved in realizing innovative project ideas towards Cluster for Applied AI.

Marianne is motivated by the idea that systematic work with innovation and technology across different sectors can lead to a more effective and sustainable society and business environment. She highly values interdisciplinary collaboration, and aims to put creative thinking into systems.

Tor Ø. Frydenberg holds a M.Sc. degree in Radio Technology and Information Systems from the Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU).

Tor held the position of CEO at Ericsson, Norway from 1999 to 2010, and as Vice President of Ericsson Professional Services in the Nordic and Baltic regions for 5 years in the same period.

Prior to 1999, he served as General Manager of Ericsson Radar, Kongsberg Ericsson Communications and Telettra Norge. Tor began his career as a scientist at Telenor Research & Development.

He is currently serving as an investor, chairman and member of the board for a number of start-up companies. At Smart Innovation Norway, he is engaged as a Special Advisor and Senior Consultant, specifically within the ICT industry.

Qazi Sohail Ahmad holds the position as International Project Manager, with main focus at project acquisition and EU Advisor for the partners of the NCE Smart Energy Markets cluster.

Before joining Smart Innovation Norway, he was Advisor in research and project coordination at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, where he participated in several EU and RCN research & innovation projects under the FP7, Horizon 2020, Nano2021 and Petromaks research programs.

Qazi Ahmad holds an MSc in Computer Science from Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, and an MBA from the University of Bradford School of Management, UK.

His education also comprises project management training from the University of Massachusetts Boston, USA, and from the College of Europe, Belgium.

Elena Calzado is International Project Manager at Smart Innovation Norway. She has a BS in Chemistry from Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

During the last 20 years, she has been involved in Research & Development & Innovation activities in different sectors, including energy, agri-food, environment and health. She has been involved in numerous R&D projects at national and international level, as Innovation and Exploitation Manager, supporting international organisations, research centres and industrial partners in the identification of their innovation potential, the identification of opportunities of financing and proposal preparation.

Elena has worked at CDTI in the international department, she has also worked as R&D consultant, as a coach for entrepreneurs, as a technician of knowledge transfer, as manager of several national technology platforms, as R&D and quality manager and also as external evaluator of R&D proposal for both Spanish Ministry and the European Commission.

Avanish Verma is a senior researcher and business development manager with a main focus on the fields Transactive Grids, e-mobility , flexibility markets, peer to peer energy, and Clean energy.

Avanish has 13+ years of experience working in all facets of the electricity value chain- Generation, transmission, distribution, and power markets. He has worked with leading energy companies in India namely Tata Power, RPG Transmission, and Jindal Power. He has also worked with the Indian Electricity regulator – Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Before SIN he was working for Innovation Norway handling Clean energy activities.

Avanish Verma holds an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and Masters in Power Management from the National Power Training Institute – Govt of India. He has a bachelor’s in mechanical and automation engineering.