Mirna Karzen
I am an expert in international, regional and local development with over 25 years of experience and a Master’s degree at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs. I have worked for 13 years in the United States, and than in Croatia where I am from and the broader South-East ;
In 2011, I have established Social Innovation Laboratory, a nonprofit organization based in Croatia, among the first such organizations in the region. The goal of SIL was to promote, map and support the development of social innovation. We have implemented and are implementing several important projects focusing on social innovation, from the FP7 SI-Drive to the Horizon 2020 Social Innovation Community and INTERREG Danube Excellence in ;
I also run a consulting firm Karzen and Karzen providing technical assistance to local and regional governments, NGOS, private sector and academic community in developing strategic and business planning, feasibility studies and management plans. The firm is in operation since 2007. and is among other areas focusing on place-branding and urban revitalization through integration of cultural and natural resources but also on strategic planning, developing studies and management plans, and projects for EU funds. In our work we apply participatory methodology trying to involve all key stakeholders, as well as innovative practices in business and management ( placemaking, design thinking). We provide technical assistance and expertise to local and regional governments, NGOs, private and academic ;
I am a native Croatian speaker with fluency in English and other Eastern European languages with a working knowledge of Italian. I am following the following calls: H2020, Erasmus +, INTERREG, Structural funds in Croatia and a broader region. I have a large network of organisations, universities and research institutes in EU and ;