We are an international research organisation collaborating closely with the EdTech sector, investors, and academia. Our extensive network comprises researchers and experts in educational technology across all continents. Currently, we are engaged with EdTech organisations in over 20 countries.

The Centre is organised as a social enterprise. We invest any profits in educational projects. We started as a spin-off from the University of Stavanger, Norway and the university remains a shareholder through its Technology Transfer Office company, Validè AS.

Core Team

  • Prof Natalia I. Kucirkova

    CEO (ICEI)

    Natalia is Professor of Early Childhood Development in Norway and UK. She has conducted foundational and empirical research on EdTech for the past ten years. In addition, she has developed apps and worked directly with EdTech companies, NGOs and investors to support the integration of learning sciences into practice.

  • Dr Anna Lindroos Čermáková

    CEO (WiKIT Services)

    Anna has a doctorate in Corpus Linguistics from Charles University, Prague and extensive research experience from several universities including Cambridge, Birmingham, and Lancaster. Her research interests focus on classroom discourse, language of children’s literature, language and gender, and research mobility. She supports EdTech companies in understanding pedagogical and ethical challenges to contextualise their products within the research landscape.

  • Kari Birgitte M Wiig

    BOARD MEMBER (Centre+WiKIT)

    Kari is member of the Board and provides expertise on business development and management. She has experience in marketing, sales, concept development and technology. Kari works at Valide at the TTO (technology transfer office) team identifying new concepts from researchers; working on protecting technologies through patents and copyrights; forming development and commercialization strategies.

  • Trond Ingebretsen

    CHAIRMAN (Centre+WiKIT)

    Trond co-founded WiKIT and today is the Chairman of the Centre and WiKIT Services. In the past, Trond has founded, managed and worked in a number of tech companies, both within prop tech, software and energy. He is a qualified economist has a master's degree from UiS in economics and management, and from NHH in Bergen in innovation management.

  • Nicola Pitchford

    Prof Nicola Pitchford

    HEAD OF QUALITY ASSURANCE

    Professor Pitchford specializes in developmental psychology and education, focusing on how cognitive processes that underpin learning develop in childhood. Her recent research explores the use of innovative mobile technology to support literacy and numeracy in primary school children in Malawi and the UK.

  • STRATEGIC ADVISOR

    Dr Michael H. Levine

    SENIOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR

    Michael H Levine, PhD is a globally recognized leader in the educational media and digital technology fields. He has led innovative and transformational educational initiatives at Sesame Workshop, Paramount, Asia Society and Carnegie Foundation and is frequently consulted by policy and philanthropic leaders. He is the author of over 50 publications on children's learning and development and serves on several nonprofit and for-profit boards.

  • HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS

    Nora Marketos

    HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS

    Nora is a passionate impact and partnerships professional with work experience in the philanthropy, investing as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation space. She's experienced in setting up and advising evidence-informed education and EdTech initiatives, and has worked in different global contexts (Syria, Mexico, Uganda, NYC/US, Greece). She holds a MA in Anthropology, a MAS in International Development Cooperation and an MBA.

  • HEAD OF LXD

    Lisa K. Radden

    HEAD OF LXD

    Lisa is an education technology consultant and learning designer who specializes in technology strategic planning, professional development and curriculum design for K-12 schools, and UX/UI research and design for education companies. She is a Teaching Fellow at Harvard Graduate School. Lisa holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame and a Master's in Educational Technologies from Harvard University.

  • Danial Ahmad

    RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

    Danial is passionate about social mobility through education and the use of technology. He holds a bachelor's degree from UCL, during which he conducted research on commercial partnerships between EdTech and Digital Media companies in the UK and USA. Danial previously worked as a tuition coordinator for a Norwegian tutoring firm, and has experience from consulting. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainability and Finance at Imperial College Business School.

  • UXD and LXD DESIGNER

    Taleen Alexander

    CHILDREN'S MEDIA UXD/LXD

    Taleen Alexander is a research professional with 12+ years of experience in edtech, social gaming, and mobile applications. She built and refined her research skills at companies such as Game Show Network (acquired by Sony), Crowdstar (acquired by Glu), Zynga, Epic, and Rebel Girls. She has a B.A. from UC Berkeley in English Literature and a J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law.

  • SOCIAL IMPACT SPECIALIST

    Dr Saila Tykkyläinen

    SOCIAL IMPACT SPECIALIST

    Saila is is an expert in economics and social sciences who specializes in impact-driven development and management. She works with clients such as ministries, municipalities, public administrations, and organizations, while also offering mentorship and training in various business accelerators.

  • QUANTITATIVE ANALYST

    Dr Marta Ciesielska

    QUANTITATIVE ANALYST

    Marta is a data-driven researcher with a PhD in Human Communication Sciences from Sheffield University. Dr Ciesielska has profound quantitative expertise and specializes in understanding the behavioral, cognitive, and neurological mechanisms involved in learning.

  • Dr Phil Vahey

    LEAD RESEARCHER

    Phil began his career as a software engineer and manager at FileMaker Inc., an Apple subsidiary, before shifting his focus to the intersection of technology and education, leading him to pursue a PhD in Learning Sciences at UC Berkeley and leadership roles at SRI Education and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Phil leverages his extensive experience to guide organizations in research-based design for education, with a focus on diverse learners, AI integration, and impact measurement.

  • David Patterson

    EVIDENCE SYNTHESIST

    David is a seasoned product, strategy, and operations leader with deep expertise in education, educational technology, and the development of innovative products and services. David has led market strategy and product planning for education-focused AI start-ups, driven product-market fit for online tutoring platforms, and supported investor strategy in education sector acquisitions. His experience extends to non-profit management, where he has played key roles in operations, staff development, and strategic planning.

Two female co-directors

Professor Natalia I. Kucirkova

Natalia is a research professor based in Norway, affiliated with the University of Stavanger, Open University, and University College London. She is a leading EdTech scientist with more than a hundred of research publications and several awards, including the Emerald Impact Prize and Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship. Natalia co-designed the children’s award-winning app “Our Story” as part of her PhD and has worked at the intersection of academia and industry since. She founded the think-tank International Collective of Children’s Digital Books and later co-founded WiKIT, together with Trond Ingebretsen.

Dr Anna Lindroos Cermakova

Anna is a corpus linguist focusing on EdTech evidence, AI & ethics, gender & DEI, literacy, and policy analysis. Anna is affiliated with the Lancaster and Cambridge University, UK. She has extensive background from academia and is specialised in both quantitative and qualitative research. Her latest book is 'Children’s Literature and Childhood Discourses' , co-edited with Michaela Mahlberg and published by Bloomsbury.