Knowledge Transfer Experts

Ana Hafner is a research associate at Rudolfovo – the Science and Technology Center Novo mesto, where she is also the head of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office. She is a lecturer at the Faculty of Information Studies, DOBA Faculty, and the Faculty of Applied Social Studies. She is a registered representative for trademarks and designs at the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Slovenia.

Her research areas include inventions and intellectual property. She has participated in several research projects, including the Innovation Potential of the Slovenian Automotive Industry, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, and the IPLodB project on patent-related open data, sponsored by the European Patent Office. She is currently the project manager of CRP – IP Support.

Andrej Černetič joined the Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Ljubljana in June 2021 as an advisor for the identification and protection of intellectual property in the field of engineering. He actively promotes entrepreneurship at UL and helps researchers develop business ideas.

He holds a degree in electrical engineering (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UL) and a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Economics, UL. He has extensive experience in sales and management in medium-sized companies and in an international environment, most recently at a multinational, a leading global manufacturer of construction materials.

In parallel, he has also tested himself in entrepreneurship—from founding and developing companies to selling them—which gives him valuable insight into all stages of innovation development.

Barbara Bradaš Premrl is involved in ensuring open access to scientific publications and managing research data. Within the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office, she advises and supports researchers in identifying intellectual property, assists in establishing contacts between researchers and potential knowledge users, and takes care of the promotion, utilization, exploitation, marketing, and sale of intellectual property rights, as well as their transfer to direct knowledge users.

She participates in the development of business strategies, preparation of market analyses, and the establishment of spin-off companies, as well as in knowledge promotion, organizing education, and training.

Dolores Dolšak is responsible for creating and designing graphic materials needed for effective communication with target audiences, as well as for preparing texts aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of knowledge and technology transfer between academia and industry. Her work includes participating in the organization and execution of various events. She is also actively involved in the field of knowledge valorization.

Doroteja Novak provides support to researchers in filing employee inventions and in the subsequent protection of intellectual property. She is involved in commercialization processes and works on projects related to collaboration with companies. She assists companies in identifying partners for RDI activities and other forms of cooperation. She is also actively engaged in international networks that connect businesses with other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

Gabriela Droga Mazovec earned her doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. She continued her research career at the Jožef Stefan Institute and at the IBMC (Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology) in Portugal. As a researcher, she worked in the Sanolabor, d. d. group, collaborating with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Her academic knowledge and industry experience provide added value in technology transfer, enabling a deep understanding of the complex patenting processes and conditions for successful commercialization of new technologies.

Dr. Tina Mesarič, BSc in Biology, supports researchers and students at the University of Maribor in identifying breakthrough technologies and developing strategies for their protection and commercial exploitation. She prepares market assessments for individual technologies and provides advice on the patentability and commercial potential of inventions emerging at the University of Maribor. She is also an active member of the European IP Helpdesk Ambassador network.

Duško Odić is a microbiologist with twelve years of experience in knowledge transfer: 3 years in intellectual property protection, promotion and commercialization, and 9 years in overview, management, and reporting of work on European projects covering support for researchers and small-to-medium enterprises, as well as preparation and revision of business offers/requests for searching for research/business partners. Work has also included participation in projects connecting science to education (design and evaluation of practical courses), and carrying out practical workshops for general population. Most recently, work has included connecting students and researchers to industry, and preparation of scientific content for the general public.

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana, France Podobnik joined the Technology Transfer Office at the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS) in 2006. Since 2023, he has been leading the Office for Industrial Liaison, which emerged from the Center for Technology Transfer and Innovation. For 20 years, he has worked in the field of technology transfer, assisting companies alongside his team in identifying technological challenges to establish collaborations with researchers for R&D and other partnerships, with a recent emphasis on digitalization. He actively participates in the international Enterprise Europe Network, which connects researchers and companies to facilitate international business cooperation, technology transfer, and the formation of consortia for EU project applications.

Jana Hojnik is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Management, University of Primorska. Her main teaching areas are entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Her primary research interests include eco-innovation, social innovation, sustainable development, green consumerism, renewable energy sources, and knowledge transfer and valorization. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Managing Global Transitions and actively works at the University of Primorska’s Centre for Knowledge Development and Transfer. She is the author or co-author of various scientific articles and monographs published in international academic journals in the fields of entrepreneurship and environmental economics.

After starting his career as researcher at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana Jure Vindišar moved to engineering SME being responsible for R&D funding and projects implementation in the field of efficient energy use and smart girds.
Since 2017 he is working at National Institute of Biology as part of Project Support Office and now acting as Head of Technology Transfer Office.
Jure graduated in mechanical engineering and later received Master degrees at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and at School of Economics and Business at University of Ljubljana.
Jure is passionate with empowering researchers for impact driven research, including innovation licencing, spin-outs and cooperation with industry partners.

Katarina Krapež is an associate professor of law and Vice Dean for Organizational Development at the Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto. She also lectures at the University of Primorska. She has more than fifteen years of experience teaching and researching intellectual property law, labor law, and related legal fields for students of law, management, computer science, and media.

Between 2017 and 2021, she led technology transfer offices at two public higher education institutions. Katarina is a representative for designs and trademarks and an expert for NAKVIS in quality assessment in higher education. She also works as a legal advisor to television content producers and university leadership.

Katja Cergol joined the Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Ljubljana in 2022. She provides legal support in the protection and exploitation of intellectual property and the adoption of innovations. She is a lawyer by education, having passed the national bar exam and the exam for representation in designs and trademarks. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Turin and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The knowledge and experience she has gained throughout her career enable her to provide legal support from the very inception of an innovation through to its commercialization.

Klemen Klemenčič has been employed at the Building and Civil Engineering Institute of Slovenia in the Knowledge Transfer Service since 2024. He works in the field of copyright law, prepares contracts for joint research and development cooperation, and conducts internal training on various aspects of intellectual property.

Kristijan Jean Radikovič is a translator, copywriter, and chemistry student with several years of experience in content marketing. At the National Institute of Chemistry, he is responsible for promoting innovations and inventions as well as managing the patent portfolio of the Theoretical Department and the Department of Analytical Chemistry.

Dr Marijan Leban earned his PhD from the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, where he also worked as a researcher, following earlier experience as a development engineer in industry. He later joined UL, where he contributed to establishing the university’s intellectual property management system and, until 2018, led the R&D and IPR office. Since 2021, he has been a senior technology manager at the Jožef Stefan Institute. He supports researchers in managing and exploiting intellectual property, delivers training, and participates in international networks connecting companies and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

Marjeta Trobec is an economist with 20 years of experience in knowledge transfer from academia to industry. She holds the Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) license. For many years, she has been an active member of the organizing committee of the International Technology Transfer Conference (ITTC), which is the central national professional event in this field. She is also a member of the Enterprise Europe Network and the Slovenian association of technology transfer professionals (SI-TT). Currently, she collaborates primarily with researchers in preparing technology promotion materials and organizing specialized events.

Matej Mrak began his career in private companies, where he worked in everything from logistics to engineering and IT, which he is skilled in. He joined the public sector (JSI) in 2017, where he began providing support to researchers in the field of intellectual property protection. Through company visits, he tried to identify topics of possible cooperation. He was also active in the implementation of several European and national projects. In recent years, he has mainly provided assistance in connecting research organizations with the industry and actively participated in international networks that connect companies and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Mateja Košir has been employed in the Knowledge Transfer Service at the Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute since 2021, where she manages internal intellectual property, coordinates and negotiates licensing agreements, prepares business models, conducts workshops, and leads the process of developing innovation strategies.

Her past research focused on the development and commercialization of projects for converting industrial and mining waste into usable products. As an active member of the EIT RawMaterials RIS HUB Adria node, she collaborates with industry partners and organizes events to support networking and innovation in the raw materials sector—with a special emphasis on overcoming the so-called “valley of death” in the raw materials sector.

Mojca Piko Šalehar is an expert with experience in research and development collaboration, business idea development, brand planning, and intellectual property protection. She has extensive experience in project management, handling key clients, and strategically guiding companies. Her expertise and knowledge were acquired at IEDC Bled School of Management, The Product Development and Management Association, and Design Leadership. Her experience includes leading teams, optimizing processes, and strategically guiding companies, which has contributed to growth and success across various industries. She actively participates in the transfer of knowledge and technology from public research organizations to the economy, fostering innovation development and sustainable solutions.

Nina Smerdu is responsible for managing the procedures related to the disclosure of employee inventions and other innovation-related results, drafting contracts and agreements concerning the ownership and commercialization of intellectual property rights, providing legal advice on intellectual property protection and the establishment of spin-off companies, and conducting training sessions for researchers and students at the University of Maribor.

Noles Jovanovič Slana advises researchers on matters related to EU financial instruments, provides information on national and international calls related to knowledge and technology transfer, and prepares technology offers for inventions with high commercial potential. She also participates in the processes of invention disclosure and subsequent protection. She supports researchers and students in attending B2B events and connects them with companies.

Peter Alešnik has been involved in knowledge and technology transfer since his student years at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. He gained experience in start-ups, companies, and non-governmental organizations, as well as serving as head of the office at the University of Maribor.

Since 2022, he has been working at the Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Ljubljana, advising researchers on knowledge commercialization and the establishment of spin-off companies. He is a certified advisor and EU IP Helpdesk ambassador, and as a doctoral student, he researches the optimization of innovation approaches.

Dr. Polona Jager is a biochemistry graduate, PhD holder, and former postdoctoral researcher in the field of neurobiology, who was employed at the intellectual property protection firm Mewburn Ellis.

Polona Juvančič joined the Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Ljubljana in 2021. Before that, her career path took her through studies in philosophy and theology (Master of Theology, KU Leuven), hospitality and tourism, and work in a start-up accelerator. She worked daily with start-ups and evaluated business ideas on various committees.

She combines theoretical thinking with practical action—seeking theories in practice and possibilities for implementation in theory. She supports projects in their early stages, from shaping the narrative to finding funding sources.

Robert Blatnik is the Head of the Office for Substantive Project Support, Technology Transfer, and Innovation at the Jožef Stefan Institute. He graduated from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences at the University of Maribor, earned a master’s degree in new media and e-science from the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, and completed executive education in the EDP program at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He holds the Certified Licensing Professional credential. With over 30 years of experience in industrial projects in the fields of ICT, IP protection, and licensing, he has been involved in the establishment of 13 spin-out companies. Since 2024, he has led the coordination of a national consortium uniting knowledge transfer offices from ten Slovenian public research institutions.

Simona Rataj actively connects researchers and companies at the University of Ljubljana and promotes research knowledge and innovations. Her work involves bridging the research and business communities and networking with the aim of creating new development projects. She firmly believes in the power of collaboration, as the exchange of opinions and experiences leads to greater achievements with less effort.

For more than ten years, she has worked within the largest Slovenian business association in the field of innovation promotion and fostering development cooperation. She has a good understanding of Slovenian companies and the support environment for entrepreneurship and innovation both in Slovenia and internationally. She holds a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana).

Dr. Sonja Smiljanić holds a PhD in chemical engineering and is a former postdoctoral researcher with over 15 years of experience in materials chemistry.

Tanja Kovačič works in the field of fostering the societal impact of scientific research and social innovation at the University of Ljubljana. Her focus lies in connecting researchers from the humanities, arts, and social sciences with the broader society, and in supporting the development of research with a strong societal impact.
She contributes to the design of strategies for integrating social impact dimensions into research activities and provides support to researchers in demonstrating and implementing the societal impact of their projects. She is also involved in developing best practices for collaboration with various stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, public institutions, communities, and the cultural sector.
She has experience in planning activities aimed at enhancing the social impact of scientific research and in developing approaches for assessing its impact. She holds a degree in ethnology and cultural anthropology.

After obtaining her degree as a university graduate engineer in Materials and Metallurgy (NTF), Terezija began her career in the automotive industry. Over the course of ten years, she gained experience in project management, technology industrialization, and leading an R&D team. During this time, she also earned a PhD. At the beginning of 2023, she joined the Jožef Stefan Institute as a researcher in the Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry, where she worked in the fields of electrochemistry, corrosion protection of metals, corrosion of magnetic materials, and new materials for medical implants. She is currently combining her industry and research experience to support researchers in managing and exploiting intellectual property. As part of the technology transfer office, she is actively involved in internal technology transfer processes and in international networks that connect companies and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

Tina Petek is responsible for promoting and encouraging collaboration between researchers and the business sector. She actively participates in the implementation of projects related to the transfer of digital technologies. She serves as a liaison between the research environment and the business sector in the field of digitalization and contributes to the development of a supportive environment for innovation.

Tomaž Justin graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana and completed an MBA program at Clemson University, South Carolina, USA. In the global pharmaceutical industry, he was responsible for the sales and marketing of original medicines in Central and Eastern Europe. He continued his career in the field of company valuation and competition law. At the Jožef Stefan Institute, Tomaž encourages and develops cooperation between researchers and the economy in solving technological and development challenges of companies. He actively participates in the implementation of projects in the field of digital technology transfer. He acts as a link between the research environment and the business sector.

Tomaž Lutman has been a technology manager at the Jožef Stefan Institute since 2016. He provides support to researchers in the field of materials and biotechnology in the management and exploitation of intellectual property, prepares contracts related to intellectual property, connects the institute with companies, and actively participates in obtaining R&D projects under the Horizon Europe scheme and others. In 2024, he obtained the designation Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) and also holds other certificates in the field of intellectual property and project management.

Urban Šegedin holds a BSc degree in chemical engineering. He has been working in the field of knowledge transfer for 6 years. Since 2024, he has been employed in the Office for Project Management and Technology Transfer at IMT, where he covers all areas of knowledge transfer. Before that, he worked for 3 years in the Knowledge Transfer Office at the National Institute of Chemistry, where he was also the head of the office for 1 year. He also worked in the field of knowledge transfer at the Jožef Stefan Institute, where he worked in the field of IP protection and marketing. He also has R&D experience in the fields of microbiology, rheology, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, coatings, cosmetics and extractions, as a researcher at faculties, in small and large Slovenian companies, and as a freelancer.

Urša Jerše leads the Knowledge Transfer Office at the University of Ljubljana. In addition to strategic guidance, she provides support to researchers in negotiating and concluding research and development contracts with industry. She also participates in the commercialization of intellectual property, particularly in drafting and concluding licensing agreements and intellectual property rights transfer contracts.

She has extensive experience in knowledge transfer processes from the research environment to industry. Her work has included managing service inventions, their protection, and leading negotiations related to research and development and licensing agreements.

She is a lawyer by education and has passed the national judicial exam.

Urška Florjančič advices and supports researchers in managing and exploiting intellectual property. She consults researchers in innovation development process, prepares and coordinates intellectual property-related agreements, designs and delivers educational programs on intellectual property and knowledge transfer, and is actively involved in international networks that connect businesses and other stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem. She successfully and efficiently implement her practical experiences from industry and research in the field of polymer technologies.

Dr. Urška Fric is an associate professor in the field of information studies at the Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto (FIŠ), Vice Dean for Education, and head of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office (TTO FIŠ). Within the TTO FIŠ, she provides support to researchers and students in developing new ideas that can lead to innovations, which can be offered to industry and facilitate collaboration between both spheres.

Urška Mrgole holds a BSc in Economics and has been employed at Jožef Stefan Institute since 2017. She has 20 years of experience in the preparation, implementation and management of national and EU projects, especially in the field of promoting STEM among youth, promoting cooperation of researchers, companies and students, and knowledge transfer. Urška is currently involved in coordination of EU projects, communication and dissemination of project results and organisation of various events. She is a co-author of several articles and published contributions at conferences.