Graduate from International Relations faculty at the University of Wrocław, Administration at Law and Administration Faculty at the University of Warsaw in progress. International experience in development, management and implementation of projects related to technology transfer, innovation and SME support, funded by public mechanism, mainly from EU Structural Funds and EEA FM projects. Expertise in feasibility studies, application and tendering documentation Experience in running commercial entities in international environment.

Rita Anson has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Labour Law from Zaragoza University (Spain).

She is in charge of Business and Entrepreneurship training and mentoring at IDN.

As Project Manager Rita coordinates the communication between beneficiaries and the partners. She collects and structures information from the beginning of the project until the completion of the project and communicates with the beneficiary about the training sessions, validating results and collaborating extensively with experts and companies. She takes part in the process of structuring deliverables in the training sessions and plans/organizes study trips and workshops in Norway and abroad.

Other positions/roles:

Program Manager at Oslo International Hub – Facilitating training programs and events in Norway and delivering courses on entrepreneurship training (Investment readiness, Pitching training, Startup guidance for migrants, Entrepreneurial Orientation) to strengthen individuals in the Nordics on how to establish their own company, guiding and helping professionals and young entrepreneurs in the innovation eco-system, to set a network and to get introduced to investors, guiding and helping professionals and entrepreneurs in the innovation ecosystem

Secretary General at NorBAN. Expert consultant and Project Manager as head of program coordination for business angels training and startups, helping to create arenas where angel investors and entrepreneurs/companies meet. Delivering courses for new angel investors in startup investment strategies, covering the evaluation of startups, and creating local networks.

Co-founder Nordic Ignite. Management team member as investment dealflow pre-screening team responsible for the initial due diligence of ventures.

Co-founder WIN Women Investor Network Norway. Empowering women to strengthen their financial position, with programs to learn how to invest in startups, and by providing an arena for women to evaluate investment opportunities and invest together.

Mr. Stølan holds an M.Sc. degree from the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), in technical-economic planning in regional and urban areas. His Master’s thesis focused on Regional and Local Economic Impacts of Petrochemical Industrialization.

He is the founder and CEO of International Development Norway. In the period 1997-2008, he was the Research Director at three different SINTEF departments (Applied Economics, Logistics & Economics, and International Operations), one of the largest Scandinavian research institutes.  As a researcher on “commercialization of technology,” he was engaged at Surrey Technology Center, Surrey University, Guildford UK, 2003-2004. He also has experience as an Assistant Professor, at the Department of Economic and Operations Research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Mr. Stølan has extensive international experience in project development management and consulting, local economic development, innovation, and transnational technology transfer. More than 20 years of practice experience in delivering and managing SME innovation and competitiveness actions. In total more than 12 years of experience in building up and managing research activities in SINTEF and coming competencies in terms of R&D and innovation within Norway, Europe, and developing countries. Direct access to numerous institutions and networks regarding technology innovation, innovative SMEs, regional development, and science and technology policy. Experience in managing projects funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), EU funded: Framework Programs, Competitiveness Innovation Programs (CIP), and EEA grants.

Immaculate Deus Komba is a sustainability professional with over five years of experience in project management in Tanzania. She holds a Master of Science in Globalization and Sustainable Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, which gives her strong expertise and passion in climate change, sustainability, energy transition, environmental management, and sustainability reporting. Immaculate has a proven track record of developing and implementing projects that address the unique needs of African communities while effectively engaging stakeholders. With extensive networks across Africa and experience managing large donor-funded programs, including USAID and EU, she combines analytical problem-solving skills with a deep commitment to driving sustainable and positive change.

M.Sc Forestry, Forest owner, Senior Consultant. Expert in land use planning, property development, construction management, forest management, forest certification and project management. Experiences from Norway, Slovakia, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Manage 800 ha privately owned forest property. Develop parts of the property to areas for recreational use. Responsible for development and management for wastewater treatment solution for 600 recreational houses.

Leif has an M.Sc. in Mechanical and Production Engineering at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), 1971-74, with specialization in Production Engineering and Material Technology. Head of the Norwegian User Group of Numerically Controlled Machine Tools (CNC) since 1990. Current position as Senior Advisor (80%) at SINTEF Technology and Society, Trondheim, Norway. Former positions at SINTEF, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Fraunhofer, UNDP, UNIDO.

Main project contributions:

VRI (Program for Regional R&D and Innovation). Since 2007 to present Senior Adviser and Broker to assist companies in defining the R&D challenges and needs, and in finding suitable researcher expertise.

> Project manager of IDESØK9 – a regional and company specific innovation and network program with 8 companies from the counties Oppland and Hedmark.

> Technology attaché in the national technology transfer programs DTS (Districts Technology Transfer) in the region of North-Norway in 1992-1993 (Troms and Finnmark).

> TEFT (Technology Transfer from R&D Institutes to Small and Medium Sized Companies) in the region of Mid-Norway in 1994-1996 (Sør- and Nord-Trøndelag), South-Norway in 1997-1998 (Buskerud and Østfold) and East-Norway in 1999-2003 (Oppland and Hedmark). The last-mentioned also in 2004 financed by Innovation Norway.
R&D based Competence Broking for SMEs. Adviser in a national program 2005-2007.

> VRI (Program for Regional R&D and Innovation). Since 2007 Senior Adviser and Broker to assist companies in defining the R&D challenges and needs, and in finding suitable researcher expertise.

> IRC Norway collaborator with responsibility for the region of Oppland, Hedmark, Østfold and Buskerud since April 2004 to April 2008.

> Europe Enterprise Network. Norwegian Senior Counselor since April 2008.

> Technology Adviser in TIDE (Technology for Industrial Development in Zimbabwe). A NORAD supported project in Zimbabwe in 1995-2001 aiming to boost the national R&D Institute SIRDC to effectively work with Zimbabwean industries. The project was split into two main phases: Initiation and Implementation. The Initial Phase included program development, training of scientists at SIRDC, and selecting a target group of companies for the Project Phase. In the latter implementation of agreed projects in the companies were conducted heavily involving SIRDC scientists (“on the job training”).

> Technology Adviser in SME-ART-project which addresses the needs of the SME-sector in Macedonia (2001-2004), where the universities in collaboration with government and SMEs together strive to better support the SME sector. Synergies between the proposed activities were given priority. The project was financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and executed by SINTEF in close cooperation with the university community in Macedonia.

Jonathan Kifunda – Graduate from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) in Business Administration and Project Management and University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with a bachelor of Education, Jonathan Kifunda, a proud African development professional with a passion for local solutions to local challenges, has committed to himself and communities at large to solving various problems such as provision of Financial Education and Economic Empowerment and wellbeing. Jonathan has managed several large and small projects successfully.  He has good experience in organizational development and leadership, fundraising, and an outstanding track record in managing all types of resources. He has worked in a cultural diversity team and is very flexible and team-driven.

Mari Stølan is a Norwegian cultural strategist and executive advisor with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of culture, design, business and public institutions. She specializes in strategic development, international partnerships and cross-sector collaboration, with methodological expertise in user- and insight-driven development, design thinking and participatory processes. Prior to joining IDN Norway as an affiliated partner, Mari led strategic development at MUNCH museum in Oslo, where she developed the museum’s international strategy and established partnerships across Europe. She contributes to international cooperation projects with expertise in cultural strategy, user engagement, institutional development and knowledge exchange.