Meet The Team
Prof. Dr. Zheng Grace Ma
Project Manager
Zheng Grace Ma is a Professor at the Center for Energy Informatics, leading SDU's strategic research in smart energy ecosystems. Her work focuses on big data, AI, and digital twin technologies for energy systems and industrial processes. She has managed research projects worth over 170 million DKK, with personal oversight of more than 35 million DKK. Through active participation in innovation networks and collaborations, she has secured significant funding. Ma has mentored many assistant professors, PhD students, and research assistants. She has contributed to broad professional societies, editorial boards, and program committees. Her academic background includes a PhD in Product Development and Innovation Management, an MSc in Operations Management, and a BSc in Computer Science.
SDU Center for Energy Informatics
University of Southern Denmark
Prof. Dr. Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen
Project owner
Professor, Dr. Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen is the founder and head of the SDU Center for Energy Informatics at the University of Southern Denmark. Center for Energy Informatics is an interdisciplinary research center focusing on digital solutions for facilitating the transition towards a sustainable energy system. The center’s research is conducted in close collaboration with industrial partners, public bodies, and government agencies. Prof. Dr. Jørgensen research focuses on digital solutions for integration of the demand side with the supply side in the energy sector, from the technology and business perspectives. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern Denmark, a M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in Computer System Engineering from Odense University, Denmark.
SDU Center for Energy Informatics
University of Southern Denmark
Prof. Dr. Ivo Martinac
Project partner
Professor Dr. Ivo Martinac, Chair of the Building Services and Energy Systems Group at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, specializes in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) management in enclosed spaces and energy efficiency in built environments. With a background in Mechanical and Building Services Engineering (HVAC), his research focuses on user-centric building performance, smart sustainable buildings, de-carbonization, climate-proofing, and resilient energy systems for remote communities. He has led numerous global collaborative research and educational projects, served as Vice-President of REHVA from 2019 to 2023, and holds a PhD and Docentship in Mechanical Engineering from KTH. He advocates for sustainable development through public-private sector collaboration.
Building Services and Energy Systems
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Prof. Dr. Rúnar Unnþórsson
Project partner
Professor Dr. Rúnar Unnþórsson has over 24 years of experience in energy-related projects, specializing in thermoelectrics, geothermal power plant efficiency, and maintenance analysis. He optimized maritime propulsion systems by retrofitting boats with advanced propellers, significantly reducing fuel consumption. He also pioneered repurposing old EV batteries integrated with diesel generators to reduce fossil fuel reliance and enhance energy sustainability. Collaborating with industrial partners, public bodies, and government agencies, he ensures his work has practical real-world impact. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iceland and is committed to advancing technology and promoting sustainability across various industries.
Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science
University of Iceland
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chiara Bordin
Project partner
Associate Professor Chiara Bordin specializes in teaching and research in energy informatics, focusing on mathematical optimization in computer science applied to smart energy and power systems. She holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Industrial Engineering and a Ph.D. in control system engineering and operational research from the University of Bologna, Italy, where her thesis centered on mathematical optimization for thermal and electrical energy systems. She has worked as a research associate at the University of Durham (UK) with the Durham Energy Institute and Cambridge University's Engineering Department, and as a postdoctoral fellow at NTNU in Norway. She also served as a research scientist at SINTEF Energy, Scandinavia's largest research center. Throughout her career, she has participated in interdisciplinary energy and power systems projects, specializing in predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics, and pedagogy.
Department of Computer Science
Arctic University of Norway