Innovation Manager for SFI NICE 

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About the job

The Norwegian Center for Intelligent Computers and Electronics (NICE) is seeking an Innovation Manager to plan, execute, and continuously improve its innovation processes as well as to support the day-to-day operation of the center.

The purpose of NICE’s innovation processes is to maximize the commercial potential of its research results. This requires the Innovation Manager to work with the researchers themselves to identify ideas with commercial potential and then support them through the innovation pipeline, e.g., from proof-of-concept funding to license agreements with established companies or investor-backed spin-offs. The Innovation Manager is also responsible for tracking the center’s commercially relevant research results and for reporting on innovation-related key performance indicators.

Additionally, the Innovation Manager will be responsible for building and running the NICE Associated Partner program. The purpose of this program is to ensure that the reach of NICE includes the breadth of the Norwegian microelectronics industry and not only its industry partners.

The innovation manager will be part of the center’s leadership and report to the Center Director. The workplace will be at the Department of Computer Science at NTNU in Trondheim, and your immediate leader will be the Head of the Computing Unit.

About the project

NICE is a center for research-driven innovation (i.e., an SFI) in which NTNU, the University of Oslo, and key industry players work together towards developing the knowledge and technology required to move key Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications from Cloud datacenters to Edge devices. In addition to reducing demand for datacenters, Edge AI also has the potential to improve upon Cloud AI by reducing latency and communication bandwidth, improving privacy and security, reducing compute, bandwidth, and storage costs, and seamlessly supporting offline operation. 

NICE is funded by the Research Council of Norway with co-funding from industry and academic partners. 

Duties of the position

• Lead, plan, and continuously improve the innovation processes within SFI NICE.
• Participate in the center’s core and extended leader groups, as well as prepare strategic analyses for the NICE board.
• Facilitate and drive the commercialization of the center’s research results, including executing the processes required to find solutions for favorably protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
• Support the day-to-day activities of the center.
• Initiate, manage, promote, and grow the NICE Associated Partner Program.

Required selection criteria

• A higher education degree, preferably at the Master’s level within a relevant area.
• Experience from working with innovation leadership within industry, the public sector, or academia.
• Good written and oral English language skills.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience, knowledge, and interest in advanced technology development.
• Familiarity with the Norwegian academic innovation ecosystem, including the role of technology transfer offices and innovation funding schemes.
• Good written and oral Norwegian language skills.

Personal characteristics 

• Goal-oriented and solution-driven with a demonstrated ability to achieve results.
• Strategic, analytical, and works well in a team.
• Ability to communicate ideas in a clear and well-structured manner.
• Ability to drive negotiations to a consensus in complex matters.
• Ability to build, maintain, and grow professional networks.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better worldandour values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of senior advisor (code 1364) is normally remunerated at gross from NOK 650 000 – 830 000 before tax per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. 

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who, by assessment of the application and attachment, are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment, you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above. 

The application must contain:

• A cover letter in which the applicant explains their motivations for applying for the position as well as how they meet the selection criteria. The cover letter can be written in Norwegian or English.
• CV, certificates and diplomas
• Name and address of three references

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, please attach this as well

General information

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Magnus Jahre (professor and Center Director), telephone +47 952 22 309, email magnus.jahre@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact hr@idi.ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 17.05.2026

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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.