Founder
Jelena Erić Nielsen is a professor of entrepreneurship and management exploring innovative solutions and approaches to improving employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults. She has more than twenty years of experience translating scholarly insights into practical frameworks that help educators, students, and organizations turn ideas into real-world impact.
Her academic work increasingly connects entrepreneurship research and corporate innovation with more inclusive employment models. Based on academic experience and practice, she focuses on translating insights from entrepreneurship and innovation into real-world impact and solutions that can address this complex social challenge.
Academic background & education
- Full professor of Entrepreneurship and Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, Serbia (since 2002)
- PhD in Corporate Entrepreneurship (since 2013)
- Designer of the PhD curse Strategic Management of Organizational Transformation
- Developer of the Master’s program Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship
- Lecturer and designer of multiple courses: Entrepreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Green Entrepreneurship & Environment, Introduction to Management
Research areas
- Entrepreneurship and corporate entrepreneurship
- Business planning, development, and project management
- Leadership, employees’ behaviour, and job design
- Sustainable and corporate innovation
- Organizational strategies and transformation
International perspective & publications
- Participation in international collaboration and mobility programs across Europe and the United States
- Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and community building
- Strong focus on aligning innovation initiatives with organizational and societal needs
- Author of numerous academic papers, chapters and two books in Serbian:Entrepreneurship (2024) and Corporate entrepreneurship (2020)
Who We Are
Ino-Ark is a growing international community of enthusiasts exploring ideas and pushing initiatives leading to more independent adult life of people with autism.
We primarily share an interest and focus on improving access to employment and opportunities at the intersection of autism, innovation and organizational behavior.
We refer to the emerging community as Arkonauts, inspired by the Greek mythology group of explorers who set out on a shared journey of exploration and discovery.
Like any meaningful journey, the path toward more inclusive future of work requires curiosity, courage, and cooperation.
Together, the Arkonauts explore new horizons for neurodiverse talent.
Who We Work With
We collaborate with people and organizations ready to rethink the future of work to make it more friendly for all.
The Ino-Ark is bringing together parents, organizations, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators, NGOs, funds, and supporters from business, academia and civil sector.
By connecting knowledge from all disciplines, experience from different sectors, and human creativity, this initiative aims to support thousands of adults struggling to find their way to independency.
CTA
The Ino-Ark Initiative is developing and welcomes collaboration with individuals and organizations interested in contributing ideas, research, and partnerships.