Mara Diaconu

With a keen eye for innovation readiness and societal readiness, I evaluate solutions and organisations, guiding them toward the next steps in growth, market readiness and securing external funding – whether through national and European grants, private investors or other financial mechanisms.

With over 16 years of experience spanning government, business, and academia across Romania, Scotland, Spain, and Norway, I have the ability to foster collaborations across disciplines and sectors, making me a valuable partner in the innovation landscape.

I successfully led over 40 projects, building an extensive international network and advancing ideas toward market-ready solutions. Recognised as a finalist for Årets DigIT Kvinne 2023 (Women in Technology) in Trondheim and Midt-Norge, I actively engage with businesses and universities in Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Romania. I thrive in international environments, and I am a researcher and PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, focusing on Sustainable innovation, exploitation of research and innovation competencies.