Innovation Team

Dr. Kari Hjelt holds a PhD in Engineering Physics from Helsinki University of Technology, as well as an Executive MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Hjelt has extensive experience in building up corporate research and venture activities. He has been the founder and CEO of several start-up companies, as well as worked as director at Nokia Ventures Organization and at Nokia Research Centre. Currently, Kari works as Head of Innovation at the Graphene Flagship, where he also is a member of the Management Panel and the Executive Board.

Aleksandra spent her early career studying biotechnology until she learned about technology transfer and entrepreneurship areas and fell deeply in love with them deciding to make helping scientists bring their ideas to market her life goal. With experience working with technology transfer in academia and business, Aleksandra manages Graphene Flagship innovation education activities within WP16 Innovation. Outside work, you will find Aleksandra playing video games and board games or cuddling with her cat on the couch.

Sofia is the Outreach manager for the Graphene Flagship and Admin for WP16 Innovation. She is responsible for organising Innovation Workshops that brings industry and academia together. Sofia has over 20 years of experience in applied research with expertise in material and food science and has worked as a research scientist in Australia at Monash University and at CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency). In August 2019 she joined Chalmers Industriteknik (in Göteborg, Sweden) and the Graphene Flagship. When not at work she enjoys being outdoors (hiking, skiing, kayaking, etc.).