Team

Harald Suitner holds university degrees in Philology (University of Salzburg, 1990), Economics (University of Innsbruck, 1995), and a post-graduate diploma of Vienna Diplomatic Academy (1997). He has gained 15 years+ experience in management of RTD projects in European Framework and other programmes. From 1999 to 2007 Harald was responsible for the international relations of SMEs in the geo-economy, and he was General Manager of GIS-Cluster Salzburg 2007-2010. The strategic collaboration of RTD-clusters with industries and public authorities has become his main area of activities. Since 2001, Harald has carried out project development activities in East Africa. He has established networks to public authorities, IFIs and private business entities in Tanzania. In 2007, he founded PROJEKTkompetenz.eu GmbH. Since 2016, he is president of AGENDA AFRIKA, the Austrian Institute for Collaborative Partnership with Africa.

Dr. Marie-Charlotte Hoffmann has completed studies in arts and holds an academic degree in medicine (1996). She has gained experience in fundamental research at Basel University (Neuroanatomy), where she first encountered technology-transfer projects. For PROKO, she has been responsible for development, management and coordination of H2020, FP7, CIP and INTERREG projects with focus on collaboration of industry and research clusters, smart specialisation strategies and roadmap development, as well as large-scale research and innovation projects. Tasks include proposal development, financial and administrative project management, coordination of internal communication and of dissemination activities, setup and management of project websites and e-learning platforms, organisation of project meetings, workshops and conferences,  as well as business plan development. Marie-Charlotte works from Düsseldorf, Germany.

Bernardo Mariani has a 20 year background in international relations and public diplomacy with specialist knowledge of China and with substantial senior management experience in full programme cycles (from strategy and business development to programme design, implementation, evaluation and financial management). He holds a MA degree in political science and has worked as a researcher and project manager in Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia and China (1999-2005). Bernardo was consultant to the United Nations offices in Vienna, and to the European Commission’s EuropeAid cooperation office in Brussels (2007-2008). In his capacity as China Programme Director of Saferworld he implemented over 20 research projects on China’s engagement in Eastern Africa, Central and South Asia, and carried out broad dissemination activities to Chinese authorities, businesses, academia, research and cultural institutes. He organized and launched events and media exposure and managed over 50 successful seminars workshops and conferences, as well as press relations with leading media outlets. Bernardo has managed complex budgets, produced financial reports and developed strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of the programmes for which he was responsible.