SILICON ALPS Cluster

I have extensive experience as a Managing Director, most recently at the build! Startup Center in Klagenfurt. Before that, I served as the Managing Director of Ortner Reinraumtechnik GmbH and spent a decade in a managerial role for a cluster, specifically the Human.technology Styria GmbH. With my background in telematics and a doctorate in electrical engineering, I bring both academic knowledge and practical experience from the business and industrial sectors. Out of 40 applicants, I was chosen as the ideal candidate for the roles at the SILICON ALPS Cluster. My main focus is on initiating cooperative projects and fostering a culture of collaboration in the region. I firmly believe that networks and clusters are pivotal for innovations, economic success, and regional and corporate competitiveness. I’m eager to dive into industry-relevant project developments in the cluster and am particularly excited about collaborating with a strong, cross-state team.

During my studies of business administration with a specialisation in Project Management, I worked as a working student at a semiconductor company in the funding department, where I was part of the Project Office for a major EU-funded project.

After completing my bachelor degree, I continued working in the Project Office, focusing on key areas such as project controlling, implementing a project management tool, and financial management. In December 2024, I joined the SILICON ALPS Cluster team as an Executive Assistant, responsible for controlling, accounting and applying my experience and skills to support the SILICON ALPS Cluster team.

After my studies as a Health Care Engineer – focusing on medical technologies and health informatics – at the University of Applied Sciences Graz, I made my first professional experiences at GS1 in Vienna. In the field of logistics, I have been involved in numerous projects with hospitals, medical technology and pharma companies. After my return to Graz, I was able to shape the field of medical technologies at the Human.technology Cluster as a business developer, pushing important topics such as sensor technologies, microelectronics or production technologies in the life science context on the national and international levels. With the foundation of nubid, I have been able to support numerous companies and start-ups in the field of medical technologies and digitization in expanding their business.

As Business Development and Innovation Manager I can perfectly use my experience and network from science and business to generate added value for our partners at the SILICON ALPS Cluster. Especially in the context of sensor technologies and microelectronics, I will push the topics of start-up ecosystem and project development as well as internationalization.

Quote: “one plus one is more than two”

After finishing my master in business administration at the Karl-Franzens-University at Graz I started my professional career at an international operating automotive supplier where I gained a lot of experience in leading international project teams and working in an industrial area. As a Project & Business Development Manager I had the chance to evolve several projects in the renewable energy sector as well as in the engineering industry before I started my career as a Business Consultant for foreign direct investments.

As a Project Manager for Technology & Innovation within the SILICON ALPS Cluster I use my network and my professional know-how about the business locations to develop projects, represent the eco system on an international level and connecting people for success.

As part of the SILICON ALPS Cluster, I’m responsible for the Area of Excellence Power Electronics connecting industry, research, and start-ups to shape the technologies of tomorrow. My work focuses on strategic project development, technology scouting, and innovation management, including the EFRE-funded Peak Performer Kärnten program and the FFG flagship project Shared Charging.
With a background in Sustainable Management and Industrial Ecology and several years of experience in business development, project management, and innovation strategy, I bring an integrated view on business, technology, and sustainability to every collaboration.

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity – and there’s no bridge that cannot be built.”

With a background in the tourism and leisure industry as well as software development, and a degree in Innovation Management from CAMPUS 02, I bring a strong interdisciplinary perspective to the table.

Over the past three years, I have gained experience in project management, with a particular focus on open and closed innovation initiatives as well as the EDIH funding programme.

In my role as Project Manager for the “Peak Performer” project in Styria, I am passionate about driving digital and sustainable transformation and supporting companies on their journey towards the twin transition through targeted consulting services.

I am particularly motivated by working at the interface of innovation, collaboration and impact, and by contributing to a forward-looking ecosystem that creates real value for companies and society.

During my internship at the SILICON ALPS Cluster in 2019, I had the opportunity to gain experience in the cluster for the first time. With an academic background in international management and entrepreneurship and several professional excursions into different industries and the start-up world, my journey led me back to the cluster. In my previous position as a project manager for marketing and project concept development, I was able to gain valuable knowledge.

This experience, combined with the insights from my internship and a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem, helps me to join the SILICON ALPS team as Project Manager for Innovation and Technology.

As the Head of Marketing at the SILICON ALPS Cluster, I am shaping marketing and communication strategies to strengthen the visibility of one of Europe’s leading high-tech ecosystems. Working at the intersection of industry, research, and public stakeholders, I focus on translating complex technological topics into clear, impactful communication.

With a background spanning strategic marketing, branding, and large-scale communication projects, I bring together conceptual thinking and hands-on execution. My experience includes leading interdisciplinary teams, managing complex stakeholder environments, and driving initiatives in both private-sector and public-private contexts.

I hold a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and am driven by curiosity, strong networks, and the belief that communication builds bridges – between technology, people, and ideas – to create lasting impact.

In 2019 I moved from my home town in Upper Austria to Graz for the bachelor’s programme “Journalism & PR“. There I learned the main aspects of marketing and public relations, which helped me a lot to focus on communicating towards a target audience. This lead me to my previous job in marketing, where I was mainly responsible for external communication channels.

In December 2023, I joined the SILICON ALPS Cluster team and now the Content Manager to support the marketing team with communication on different channels for our target audiences. Recently I finished my master’s programme “Content Strategy“ at FH JOANNEUM in Graz.

After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management at the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences, I joined the SILICON ALPS Cluster in September 2025. In my role in Event Management, I help plan and organize events that bring partners together, encourage collaboration, and make innovation visible. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Management at the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences, which allows me to further deepen my knowledge in organization, administration, and strategic management. What I enjoy most about my work is the opportunity to connect people and ideas and to actively contribute to a strong and sustainable network.

As a dynamic professional with a strong techno-commercial background, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between business and technology. Holding a degree from the University of Graz, where I cultivated a passion for entrepreneurship, I have since gained valuable experience in leading industrial sectors and finance. My focus lies in leveraging these insights to drive strategic growth and innovation. I bring to the team expertise in finance, business modelling and strong networking skills, ensuring smooth collaboration and impactful results in tech-driven environments. Let’s shape the future together by turning challenges into opportunities!

I bring three decades of experience in various managerial roles, specializing in selling electronic design automation tools and complex electronic design environments in European markets. As the regional sales leader for Hewlett-Packard in Munich, I secured large-scale industrial contracts with Bosch, Philips, and Motorola. I have achieved similar sales and business development success, fostering new and emerging businesses at Matsushita, Cadence Design Systems Inc., and Ricardo Plc. My extensive knowledge covers electronics, semiconductor design, communication systems, and digital platforms. My passion lies in ongoing digital transformation solutions that impact emerging multi-billion-dollar businesses worldwide. I also maintain strong connections with technical universities in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Finland, which help me stay informed about discoveries in deep tech. I am convinced that my strong industry connections and many years of semiconductor business experience can help grow business results in the region while increasing its visibility in the European semiconductor design and manufacturing field.

My European Silicon journey began on May 1st, 2004, when I moved from France to Austria after studying Microelectronics, to join Infineon Technologies as an Analogue Designer.  Over the past 20 years, I’ve grown through various roles—Analogue Designer, Mixed-Signal Verification Leader, and Technical Project Leader—across multiple organizations and industry domains.  In an environment where product complexity is high and the required skills are diverse, silos inevitably form. My natural curiosity and strong desire to understand both my colleagues’ work and our customers’ needs have consistently led me to roles where connecting people became just as vital as technical expertise. 

To continue and intensify this European Silicon journey, I recently joined the SILICON ALPS Cluster as Business Development Manager, focusing specifically on AT-C³ project as Business Development Manager – Design Technology.  The Austrian Chips Competence Center (AT-C³) is a major initiative under the European Chips Act designed to Support Startups and SMEs, Accelerate Innovation in Austria, support Chip Design & Prototyping and bridging the skills gap. It is an exciting endeavour, and I’m convinced that my deep technical know-how, collaborative mindset, and passion for building bridges between people and ideas will be key ingredients for AT-C³ success. 

My professional journey spans the dynamic fields of e-commerce, automotive, and most recently, enabling and managing funding initiatives for digital and sustainable transformation. Over the past two years, I have managed the “Peak Performer” project in Styria, enabling companies to accelerate their digital and sustainable transformation through funded consulting services and hands-on innovation initiatives. This experience has further strengthened my expertise in project management and stakeholder coordination.

I now contribute this expertise as Project Manager for Funding & Skills within the AT-C³ project (Austrian Chips Competence Center), driving initiatives that foster innovation, talent development, and technological advancement.

With a degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and one year of experience in leading a team of 23 different country student ambassadors in Internationalisation department at the University. Also, with two years of embedded software development experience in the automotive industry at Samsung SDI.  I bring a unique blend of technical expertise and project management skills to European innovation Ecosystem.

Currently at the SILICON ALPS Cluster I contribute to EU-funded projects like aCCCess, leveraging my analytical mindset, cross-cultural collaboration skills, and passion for technology driven growth to connect industry and research for impactful results.