Karl Klingsheim

Karl Klingsheim is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Energy and Process Engineering. His research focuses on circular economy for plastic waste and marine plastics pollution at the intersection of NTNU Sustainability and NTNU Oceans. He serves as a senior advisor with NTNU Energy and holds a PhD (Dr.).

Work Experience:

• Science & Technology Counsellor at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa (2016–2019).
• CEO of NTNU Technology Transfer AS (2003–2016), a for-profit entity commercializing NTNU research.
• Adjunct Professor at NTNU’s Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (2013–2016).
• Board roles at NTNU Accel AS, MazeMap AS, Moonwalk Tomorrow AS, and others, focusing on innovation and startups.

Research & Impact: Dr. Klingsheim bridges academia and industry, emphasizing applied research, technology transfer, and global innovation. His work spans environmental sustainability, marine plastic solutions, and entrepreneurial ventures. He has led multinational initiatives to translate research into societal and economic benefits.

Leadership & Networks: Member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA), board member of ASTP-Proton (Europe’s leading knowledge transfer association), and former executive in university spin-offs. Active in fostering international collaborations between Norway and South Africa.