Margaret Hartnett

Dr Margaret Hartnett is an award-winning, experienced research and innovation specialist with a track record of growing and exiting a hugely successful AI start up.

 A senior researcher, European Patent Attorney, Chartered Patent Attorney and company director, Dr Hartnett has spent almost 20 years developing into an executive-level research, innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) specialist.

As former Director of Legal and Operations of IDscan Biometrics Ltd, Dr Hartnett conceptualised and implemented IDscan’s patent and trade mark portfolios; and took a key role in the sales process to deliver substantial year on year revenue growth and significantly reduced legal fees.  She also managed and drove the end to end process for IDscan’s high-profile sale to GB Group plc.

 As Director of Research for GB Group plc, Dr Hartnett created their first ever 5 year global research and innovation strategy.  Dr Hartnett also led an award-winning, key research project to deliver a deep neural network-based face recognition tool; and subsequently licensed it to leading European banks to support their customer on-boarding processes.  

 With a PhD in AI & Analytical Chemistry; and post-doctoral experience in AI & multivariate statistics, Dr Hartnett brings a rare interdisciplinary expertise and perspective.  She specializes in working with fast-growth high-tech businesses to develop and commercially deploy cutting-edge technologies.  More specifically, as founder of Hartnett Innovations Ltd, Dr Hartnett bridges the gap between the commercial and technology functions of high-tech businesses to harvest and enhance their innovations.