Our Team

Dr. Mihai Paun is the visionary founder of I-ENERGYLINK, bringing over three decades of unparalleled expertise in EU-funded research and energy systems development. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Energy Systems, he has been instrumental in shaping European energy policy and infrastructure modernization. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Paun has successfully led more than 50 EU-funded projects with a combined budget exceeding €200 million. His strategic leadership has positioned I-ENERGYLINK as a trusted partner for energy innovation across Europe, working with major utilities, grid operators, and research institutions. As a recognized thought leader, Dr. Paun has authored over 80 scientific publications and serves on numerous advisory boards for the European Commission. His expertise spans smart grid architecture, renewable energy integration, and large-scale project coordination. He is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world deployment, ensuring that innovative solutions make a tangible impact on Europe's energy transition. Under his leadership, I-ENERGYLINK has grown from a small consultancy to a leading force in European energy innovation, consistently delivering projects that set new standards for excellence in technical execution, stakeholder management, and sustainable impact.

Paul Lacatus serves as Chief Technology Officer, bringing 15+ years of hands-on experience in smart grid technology, IoT systems, and distributed energy resources. With a Master's degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Paul bridges the gap between software development and energy systems engineering. His technical leadership has been instrumental in developing several groundbreaking platforms for energy management and grid optimization. Paul has led the technical implementation of over 30 pilot deployments across Europe, working directly with utilities and municipalities to integrate cutting-edge technology into existing infrastructure. Paul's expertise encompasses the full technology stack - from embedded systems and IoT device programming to cloud-based analytics platforms and machine learning algorithms for energy forecasting. He is particularly skilled at designing scalable, secure architectures that can handle the massive data volumes generated by modern smart grid deployments. A strong advocate for open standards and interoperability, Paul has contributed to several IEC and IEEE working groups focused on smart grid communications protocols. His pragmatic approach ensures that innovative solutions are not just technically excellent but also practical, maintainable, and aligned with industry standards. Beyond his technical contributions, Paul is passionate about mentoring young engineers and regularly speaks at industry conferences about the intersection of software engineering and energy systems. His ability to explain complex technical concepts in accessible terms makes him an invaluable asset in both project execution and stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Dan Preotescu leads I-ENERGYLINK's cybersecurity division with over 20 years of specialized experience in protecting critical infrastructure. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Security and multiple industry certifications (CISSP, CISM, CEH), he is recognized as one of Europe's foremost experts in energy sector cybersecurity. Before joining I-ENERGYLINK, Dr. Preotescu served as Chief Security Architect for a major European transmission system operator, where he designed and implemented comprehensive security frameworks protecting grid operations serving millions of customers. This hands-on operational experience gives him unique insights into the real-world challenges facing energy operators. His research focuses on advanced persistent threats (APTs) targeting industrial control systems, developing AI-powered threat detection algorithms, and creating security architectures that balance robust protection with operational efficiency. Dr. Preotescu has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers on OT/IT security convergence and has been invited to present at prestigious security conferences including Black Hat, RSA, and S4. As project security lead, Dr. Preotescu has successfully guided 15+ EU-funded cybersecurity initiatives, establishing security requirements, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations including NIS2 and the EU Cybersecurity Act. His holistic approach considers not just technical controls but also organizational culture, training, and incident response capabilities. Dr. Preotescu is deeply committed to building Europe's cybersecurity workforce. He has developed training curricula adopted by several universities and regularly mentors students and early-career professionals entering the field. His vision is to create a security-aware culture across the European energy sector, where cybersecurity is seen not as a burden but as an enabler of innovation.

Carina Zidaru brings exceptional organizational skills and deep knowledge of EU funding mechanisms to her role as Senior Project Manager. With a Master's degree in European Studies and over 12 years of experience managing Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects, she ensures that I-ENERGYLINK's initiatives run smoothly from proposal to final report. Carina's expertise covers the entire project lifecycle - from consortium building and proposal writing to budget management, deliverable coordination, and financial reporting. Her meticulous attention to detail and proactive communication style have earned praise from both partners and EU project officers. She has successfully managed projects with budgets ranging from €2M to €8M, coordinating teams of up to 20 partner organizations across multiple countries. What sets Carina apart is her ability to anticipate and resolve issues before they escalate. She maintains excellent relationships with all stakeholders, understanding that successful projects depend not just on meeting technical milestones but also on managing expectations, facilitating collaboration, and maintaining team morale throughout challenging multi-year initiatives. Carina is particularly skilled at navigating the administrative complexities of EU funding, ensuring full compliance with financial regulations while minimizing bureaucratic burden on technical teams. Her clear reporting and transparent communication give partners confidence and allow researchers to focus on innovation rather than paperwork. Beyond project management, Carina is actively involved in proposal development, bringing her understanding of EU priorities and evaluation criteria to help shape winning proposals. She has contributed to over 25 successful project applications and regularly trains partners on EU funding opportunities and best practices. Carina is fluent in English, French, and Romanian, which facilitates her work with diverse European partners. She is passionate about the role that well-managed projects can play in accelerating Europe's energy transition and making research results available to those who can benefit from them.

Daniel Nita is a Research Scientist specializing in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to energy systems. With a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, he brings rigorous analytical skills and innovative thinking to I-ENERGYLINK's most technically challenging projects. Daniel's research focuses on developing novel algorithms for energy forecasting, demand response optimization, and predictive maintenance of grid infrastructure. His work combines deep learning, time series analysis, and optimization theory to create practical solutions that deliver measurable improvements in system efficiency and reliability. Before joining I-ENERGYLINK, Daniel completed his doctoral research on reinforcement learning for autonomous grid management, publishing several papers in top-tier venues including Nature Energy and IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. His dissertation won the prestigious European Energy Research Award for its innovative approach to balancing renewable energy integration with grid stability. At I-ENERGYLINK, Daniel leads the data science team, working on projects that involve analyzing massive datasets from smart meters, weather stations, and grid sensors. He has developed machine learning models that improved load forecasting accuracy by 30% and reduced peak demand by 15% in pilot deployments. These results have attracted significant attention from utilities eager to replicate this success. Daniel is also passionate about open science and reproducible research. He actively contributes to open-source machine learning libraries and publishes datasets and code whenever possible. His tutorials on applying deep learning to energy problems have become valuable resources for researchers worldwide. Despite his deep technical expertise, Daniel has a gift for explaining complex concepts in simple terms. He regularly presents at both academic conferences and industry events, helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical deployment. His collaborative spirit and willingness to mentor junior researchers make him an invaluable member of the I-ENERGYLINK team.

Radu Plamanescu serves as Business Development Manager, responsible for identifying new opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and expanding I-ENERGYLINK's presence in emerging markets. With an MBA focused on Innovation Management and 10+ years of experience in the energy sector, Radu brings a keen business acumen that complements the team's technical expertise. Radu's role is crucial in keeping I-ENERGYLINK at the forefront of industry trends. He continuously monitors developments in EU energy policy, emerging technologies, and funding opportunities to identify where the company can make the greatest impact. His market intelligence helps shape I-ENERGYLINK's strategic direction and ensures that research activities align with real-world needs. Before joining I-ENERGYLINK, Radu worked for a major renewable energy developer, where he led market entry strategies for several European countries. This experience gave him invaluable insights into the commercial realities of energy projects and the challenges faced by utilities, developers, and policymakers attempting to accelerate the energy transition. At I-ENERGYLINK, Radu has been instrumental in forging partnerships with leading European utilities, technology providers, and research institutions. He has a talent for identifying synergies between organizations and crafting collaboration frameworks that create value for all parties. His network of contacts across the energy sector opens doors for I-ENERGYLINK and creates opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint initiatives. Radu is also deeply involved in proposal development, bringing a commercial perspective that strengthens project applications. He ensures that proposed research addresses genuine market needs and includes credible exploitation strategies. His contributions have been key factors in several successful high-value proposals. Beyond his core responsibilities, Radu represents I-ENERGYLINK at industry events, trade shows, and policy forums. His engaging presentation style and deep understanding of both technical and business considerations make him an effective ambassador for the company's work. He is passionate about accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies and believes that successful innovation requires equal measures of technical excellence and business savvy.