Olga Rataj

Olga Rataj

PhD fellow

Institute
UNU-MERIT
Contacts
rataj@merit.unu.edu

Olga is part of the Economics of Innovation and Technology research group at UNU-MERIT. Her research interests lie in the field of circular economy transitions with focus on finance and entrepreneurship in emerging markets and developing economies.

She studied at WU Vienna (Vienna University of Economics and Business); University of London - SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies); and UCL (University College London) - The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources. Olga obtained two Master's degrees - in economics as well as in environmental & development studies.

Currently, Olga works at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) where she manages the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) which covers 15+ developing countries and has a grant value of ~USD 30 million. GCIP supports start-ups and SMEs with innovative solutions to climate change in the fields of energy, waste, materials, and others by providing business acceleration and investment facilitation services as well as by building capacity of the national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem actors.

Prior to her employment at UNIDO, Olga worked in both private and public sector and gained extensive international experience in the areas of: