Young materials engineer selected for Talent 100

A range of new green technologies are on the verge of transforming our energy systems, fuel consumption and emissions. The transition towards areas such as Power-to-X, carbon capture and hydrogen is attracting some of the brightest talents, all eager to contribute at the forefront of technological development. One of those talents is Nicole Ciacotich, who has recently been selected for Berlingske’s Talent 100 in the Leadership category.

Nicole leads two departments at Force Technology that focus on materials and the testing of emerging green technologies. She has played a key role in establishing some of Denmark’s most advanced hydrogen test facilities (Groundbreaking hydrogen test facilities open) and has led the formation of a major strategic partnership delivering advanced testing services for carbon capture (Strategic partnership focuses on enhancing CCUS and PtX testing).

Director of two departments

Nicole is Director of a department with 29 employees and serves as Interim Director of a further department comprising 25 employees, primarily engineers, technicians, and other specialists.

Leading highly specialised teams, many with decades of experience, requires a particular approach. Nicole combines strong people skills with deep technical insight and considers it a privilege to work alongside experts of such a high calibre. Her ambition is to ensure that their collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities are used to their fullest potential.

Italian roots with a Danish perspective

Nicole was born and raised in the northern Italian port city of Trieste – a coastal city with a long history as a centre for trade and culture – but has lived in Denmark since 2016.

She began learning Danish during her PhD studies and has since become fluent through everyday life and work. She sees language as an essential prerequisite for understanding her colleagues’ daily work, professional expertise, challenges, and personalities.

An engineer at heart

Nicole describes herself as “an engineer through and through”. She has always been driven by problem-solving, and when she began her engineering studies at the University of Trieste, she quickly discovered a particular passion for materials science – understanding the properties of materials and how they can be applied.

She completed her MSc in Materials Science and Engineering with distinction (cum laude). When the opportunity arose to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), she decided to move to Denmark.

As part of her doctoral research, Nicole developed an antimicrobial coating based on electroplating technology that reduces the risk of infection. Disease-causing microorganisms readily adhere to surfaces and play a significant role in hospital-acquired infections. As a result, increasing attention is being given to surfaces that either prevent microorganisms from attaching or actively eliminate them.

Nicole’s coating reduced bacterial levels by more than 99.9 %, and she holds a patent for the technology together with the company Elplatek. She has also published a number of scientific papers.