Mr. Nikola Neftenov

Nikola Neftenov is a legal and policy expert specializing in AI governance, data protection, intellectual property, and emerging technologies. With extensive experience across Latin America, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Oceania, he has advised leading multilateral institutions, including the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, WIPO, the ITU, UNESCO, UNIDO, the UNDP, ESCAP, and APEC. His work focuses on developing regulatory and policy frameworks that enable responsible innovation while advancing inclusion, sustainability, and economic growth.

His research and publications have shaped policy debates on digital governance and intellectual property worldwide. He has co-authored flagship studies, including UNESCO’s Data Invisible Groups and Data Minimization in the Deployment of AI Solutions, UNIDO’s Propelling LDCs in the Digital Age, and APEC’s Women and Patents: Towards Gender Parity in APEC. His expertise spans 4IR technologies, including AI, blockchain, Big Data, drones, and AR/VR, with a consistent focus on integrating emerging technologies into equitable innovation ecosystems.

Prior to joining TIV, Nikola worked with the World Bank Office in Skopje on the Skills Development and Innovation Support Project and with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative on USAID- and US State Department–funded governance programs. He holds an LL.B. and an LL.M. (summa cum laude) in Intellectual Property Law from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, as well as a Diplôme d’Université in IP Law from the University of Strasbourg. He also serves on the Board of the Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA), where he contributes to advancing global standards in IP and innovation governance. At TIV, Nikola leverages this expertise to support clients in navigating the legal, policy, and regulatory challenges associated with emerging technologies.