Wolfgang Kniejski

Business 

Development Accelerator

Professional information:

After finishing studying business management and economics at the University of Mannheim, Germany, Wolfgang Kniejski started his business career in 1991 as the Financial Manager of Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1999 he took the position as Business Manager of INI-GraphicsNet Foundation, since 2004 he was appointed as its Treasurer and Business Director. In this capacity he developed and implemented successfully methodologies and processes to support the technology commercialisation for universities and research institutions via licensing and spin-off activities. Mr. Kniejski spun his technology commercialisation knowledge off into his own company and created INI-Novation GmbH as an innovation management and consulting entity. INI-Novation consults clients across the globe in the development of innovation policies and implementation strategies. INI-Novation actively transfers research results to markets by consulting research and innovation oriented institutions in the area of technology evaluation, exploitation and valorisation. INI-Novation also focuses on entrepreneurship qualification and the creation of high-tech start-ups.

 

Other professional qualification:

He is represented as shareholder in the Boards of several high-tech start-up companies and technology transfer organisations all over the world, and he his active member in several professional advisory bodies. Recently, Wolfgang Kniejski was contracted by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT Digital) to establish their Business Development Accelerator in the South West German region. He is also leading the EIT Digital Business Community for Privacy, Security & Trust.

 

In addition, Wolfgang Kniejski is juror and reviewer of the Macedonian Fund for Innovation and Technology Development (FITD) as well as juror in several international business competitions.

 

Research interests:

• Internationalisation of SMEs: Softlanding and co-incubation

• Start-up financing

• Technology transfer