Leif Estensen

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.

GEOGRAPHICAL EXPERTISE

  • Germany
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway

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