Previous annual award recipients

Professor and head of the center at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, Susanne Mandrup, is on a lifelong journey of discovery in adipose tissue, particularly focusing on the development of fat cells. Susanne Mandrup is particularly interested in the mechanisms behind fat cell development, and she studies how individual genes are turned on and off during this process. Her research revolves around the very code of life and the developmental journey that all of the body's stem cells embark on before finding their place in the organism. Her findings have led to new knowledge about how our genes control biological processes of great significance to health and disease. Through her research, Susanne Mandrup has also helped raise awareness of the importance of molecular biological mechanisms in adipose tissue. She has been a driving force in the establishment of two research centers at the University of Southern Denmark: the Center for Functional Genomics and Tissue Plasticity (ATLAS), supported by the Danish National Research Foundation, and the Center for Adipocyte Signaling (ADIPOSIGN), supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Professor Donald Canfield uses chemistry to study the Earth's past, and he has often caused the textbooks on the history of the oceans – and thereby the history of life – to be rewritten.

Donald Canfield is concerned with the big questions: What did the Earth look like billions of years ago, and why does it look different today? Why did life evolve as it did, and what conditions were necessary for it to be possible at all? What are the interactions between chemistry, geology, and biology that make our planet a living and dynamic Earth, continuously circulating vital substances like oxygen and carbon in global cycles?

He finds answers through studies of rocks, sediment samples from the seabed and riverbeds, aquariums with sea sponges, and algae cultures.

• Donald Canfield (b. 1957) is a professor of ecology and research leader at the Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark.
• Author of more than 350 scientific articles, which have been cited nearly 55,000 times.
• Villum Investigator and member of, among others, the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, and the National Academy of Sciences (US).
• Recipient of the Vladimir Vernadsky Prize (2010), the Urey Award (2011), and the Order of the Dannebrog (2021)

Professor Dorte Juul Jensen from DTU Construct researches the internal structures and properties of metals. Her research has led to groundbreaking results - among other things, she has developed new experimental techniques to study metals in two, three, and four dimensions. This has enabled her to characterize the internal appearance of metals and understand some of their behaviors. Her research is used, among other applications, to produce new, stronger, and more formable materials that can save resources and energy.

• Denmark's first female Dr.techn. (Doctor of Technology), DTU, 1997
• 2013-present: Professor in Materials Science and Advanced Characterization, DTU
• Selected grants: ERC Advanced Grant in 2018 and ERC PoC Grant in 2022
• Author of over 450 scientific articles.

Ib Chorkendorff is a professor at the Department of Physics and the head of the Villum Center for the Science of Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals at DTU. Here, research is conducted on catalysts that can help the world achieve a fossil-free energy supply.

Catalysts appear to be the solution to some of the most challenging issues in creating a climate-neutral society. They can be used, for example, to store electrical energy from wind turbines in an artificial fuel, making the energy available when needed. Catalysts can also be used to produce plastic without the use of fossil fuels, and they can be used to produce nitrogen fertilizer more energy-efficiently.

Professor Rasmus Nielsen is known for unraveling the greatest stories from the smallest genetic differences. The Danish-born, American-based top researcher exposes humanity's past and evolution through patterns in genomes.

He has developed the statistical models behind many of the major findings in evolutionary biology. His research enables the exploration of how human genes have changed over time.

Rasmus Nielsen's research contributes to strengthening excellent technical and scientific research and elevating Denmark as a research nation.

• He is the author of approximately 200 scientific articles and is listed by Clarivate Analytics as one of the world's most cited researchers.
• Born in 1970, raised in Humlebæk, and currently residing in California.
• He is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he leads the Nielsen Lab at the Department of Integrative Biology.
• He is also a professor at the GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen.
• Recipient of the EliteForsk Prize in 2007.
• Previously a professor at Cornell from 2000 to 2004.
• He worked as a postdoc at Harvard from 1998 to 2000.
• Completed his Ph.D. studies at Berkeley and Harvard, earning his Ph.D. in 1998.

Professor Sergey I. Bozhevolnyi is a pioneer in the field of plasmonics and nanooptics.

He has established himself as a world-leading researcher specializing in designing and controlling optical fields on a scale smaller than the wavelength of light.

He is the originator of nanooptics on the international research scene and serves as the head of the Center for Nano Optics at the Mads Clausen Institute at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). Originally from Russia, he has been affiliated with Danish universities for over 25 years.

Sergey I. Bozhevolnyi has significantly shaped the field of nanooptics with a series of groundbreaking publications. When he began his research in the late 1990s, there were only a handful of articles on nanooptics. Today, there are over 5,000 published each year, and a significant portion of them can be traced back to Sergey.

• Born in 1955 in Russia.
• Moved to Denmark in 1991.
• Served as an assistant professor (1992-1994), associate professor (1994-2002), and professor (2003-2010) at Aalborg University.
• Was a lecturer at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in 1998-1999.
• Currently, he is a professor and the head of SDU Nano Optics at the Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, a position he has held since 2008.

Professor of Cryptography Ivan Damgård from the Department of Computer Science at Aarhus University.

Ivan Damgård has established himself as one of the leading and most influential researchers in the world in his field: computer science, cryptography, and data security, according to the VILLUM FONDEN selection committee.

His research is characterized by remarkable breadth and a high degree of originality, and it has significantly impacted cryptographic research worldwide, contributing to the flourishing and rapid growth of cryptography within computer science.

Simultaneously, with a clear vision of the direction in which cryptography should develop in the future, he has established a highly visible and successful research group at Aarhus University.

The committee also highlights that several of Ivan Damgård's articles and his research in areas such as Multiparty Computation have fundamentally changed the field and set the standard for secure data handling and computation.

ABOUT IVAN DAMGÅRD

• Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University.
• Ph.D. from Aarhus University in 1988.
• Visiting researcher at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam.
• Fellow of The International Association for Cryptologic Research (IARC) in 2010.
• Co-founder of companies Cryptomathic, Partisia, and Sepior.
• Recipient of an ERC Advanced Grant in 2015.
• Appointed as a "rigsspillemand" in 2014.
• Received the Danish Music Awards as the Danish Composer of the Year in Folk Music in 2007.
• Has two children and resides in Aarhus.

Jens Hjorth, a professor and the head of the Dark Cosmology Centre at the University of Copenhagen, was awarded the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award on Monday, January 23, 2017.

This award is a recognition of Jens Hjorth's long-standing research contributions in the field of astronomy, particularly his work on gamma-ray bursts, which has significantly contributed to new insights. In some areas, his work has even led to a paradigm shift in the field. Beyond being an exceptional researcher, Jens Hjorth is also a highly skilled research leader who has successfully assembled a research team with diverse expertise. These qualities are increasingly crucial for understanding complex issues.

About Jens Hjorth:

• Jens Hjorth is a professor at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen and serves as the head of the Dark Cosmology Centre.
• He holds a Ph.D. degree from Aarhus University and has previously worked as a postdoc at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge and NORDITA.
• He has received several prestigious awards for his groundbreaking research, including the Elite Research Prize in 2008, the Lundbeck Young Researcher Prize in 2004, and the Descartes Prize in 2002.
• He has a substantial scientific publication record with 278 peer-reviewed articles, including 18 published in Nature and Science journals.

In 2016, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was granted to Professor Jens Stougaard and Professor Lone Gram.

Jens Stougaard received the award as recognition and inspiration for his outstanding research in plant biology, particularly in the formation of nodules resulting from the symbiosis between legume plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The foundation also highlighted the high degree of originality in Jens Stougaard's research. He is a leading researcher in his field and was ranked among the top 1% most cited scientists in "Plant and Animal Science" worldwide by ScienceWatch in 2014.

Since 2007, he has led the Center for Carbohydrate Recognition and Signaling (CARB), which currently involves 40 researchers, with more than half of them being international. The group's research is based on their previous discovery of how legume plants establish symbiosis with soil bacteria, enabling the plant to create its own nitrogen fertilizer. This research has the potential to reduce the use of artificial fertilizers in agriculture, contributing to more sustainable food production.

Lone Gram was honored with the award for her research in bacterial ecology and physiology, focusing on identifying the beneficial properties of bacteria for human use. This can include bacteria's production of antibiotic substances, other medically relevant compounds, enzymes, and other biochemicals. Her research is built on a unique collection of bacteria gathered during the Galathea3 scientific expedition in 2006-07, where over 2,000 different bacterial strains were collected from the sea and later cultivated and analyzed by Lone Gram's research group.

With the advent of genome sequencing, Lone Gram and her research group are exploring the promising bacteria collected during the Galathea expedition to reveal the potential encoded in their DNA. Some of these bacteria appear to have a vast genetic potential for producing bioactive substances, up to four times more than what has been discovered in the laboratory.

Lone Gram has dedicated her career to the study of bacteria and has worked on bacterial communication and interaction during her international visits, including research at Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

She started her career at the Danish Ministry of Fisheries' Research Laboratory, which was located on DTU's campus. Over the years, reorganizations and mergers led her to be associated with various institutions, including Denmark's Technical University (DTU) and the DTU Food Institute. Currently, Lone Gram serves as the chair of the Independent Research Fund Denmark for Nature and Universe (Det Frie Forskningsråd|Natur og Univers).

In 2015, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was presented to Professor Mikkel Thorup for his groundbreaking research in data structures and efficient algorithms.

Mikkel Thorup has established himself as one of the leading researchers in his field, known for his highly original work. He has devised solutions to problems that were once considered unsolvable.

Mikkel Thorup's research area is central to computer science, and he has made significant contributions to efficient algorithms and data structures, as well as practical improvements in the fields of telecommunications and information technology.

Mikkel Thorup earned his master's degree in engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 1990 and his Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in 1994. From 1993 to 1998, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen, including the last six months as a visiting researcher at MIT. Mikkel Thorup served as a lead researcher at the American telecommunications company AT&T from 1998 to 2013. Since 2013, he has been a professor at the University of Copenhagen. He is a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and has received several prestigious awards, including the MAA Robbins Prize (mathematics), Fellow of ACM (computer science), and Fellow of AT&T (industry).

Upon his return to Denmark, Mikkel Thorup has built a research center that addresses fundamental issues in algorithms and data structures. As an example, he uses a near-magical randomness in algorithms to enable a minimal representation of a vast amount of information, which is crucial in information technology.

Mikkel Thorup's research field combines algorithmics, probability theory, and elementary number theory, all of which are mathematics heavily used in today's information society.

His scientific output is impressive, with nearly 200 publications in top-tier journals and frequent citations. He is also a regular speaker at prestigious conferences in his field.

Through his world-class research and his return to Denmark in 2013, Mikkel Thorup has significantly contributed to making Denmark a European powerhouse in the field of algorithmics.

In 2014, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was presented to Professor Frede Blaabjerg for his outstanding work in the field of power electronics, encompassing energy storage, energy efficiency, and the control of solar and wind energy.

Within his research domain, Frede Blaabjerg stands at a world-class level. His development of a simulation platform for modeling, optimizing, and designing wind turbines and solar cells has led to crucial breakthroughs in the design of sustainable energy sources that can be developed into real solutions for society's energy challenges.

Frede Blaabjerg's research has had significant international impact and has attracted numerous foreign researchers to Aalborg University, thereby making Denmark a leader in the field of power electronics. His contributions to energy efficiency range from small electrical devices to giant turbines in massive offshore wind farms. Blaabjerg's research also encompasses technologies for efficient and intelligent processing and control of electrical energy. He has developed a solar cell unit that allows precise control of the efficiency with which solar cells harness the sun's rays. In modern wind energy research, he is at the forefront with his groundbreaking turbine technologies, including induction generators and efficient energy conversion.

Frede Blaabjerg holds a master's degree in power electronics from Aalborg University, earned in 1987. He worked in industry until 1988 when he returned to Aalborg University and obtained his Ph.D. in 1995 with a thesis on modeling power electronic components and circuits. At Aalborg University, he served as an assistant professor and later as an associate professor. In 1998, he became a full professor. From 2006 to 2010, he also served as the dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science, and Medicine at Aalborg University. He was a program leader at Risø from 2000 to 2002 and a guest professor in Italy, Australia, and China.

Frede Blaabjerg has received numerous national and international awards and honors, including the Statoil Prize, Grundfos Prize, and Director Ib Henriksen's Prize. In 2012, he was awarded a prestigious European Research Council Advanced Grant. In October 2007, he was knighted with the Order of Dannebrog.

In summary, Frede Blaabjerg has had an extensive and significant scientific career and output. The significance of his research results is substantial, and he enjoys great international recognition for his contributions. His articles are widely cited, and he has received ten IEEE paper awards.

In 2013, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was awarded to Carsten Rahbek for his visionary and comprehensive research and teaching in the field of biological diversity, evolution, and ecology.

Carsten Rahbek is known both in Denmark and internationally as one of the world's most significant and influential researchers in the study of the distribution patterns of plants and animals, their variations over time and place, and their dependence on ecological and climatic factors. His research has particularly focused on the distribution of birds and their migration routes. Carsten Rahbek has contributed to the development of environmental strategies for biodiversity preservation and conservation in a time of climate change and increasing human pressure on nature. In recent years, he has been a driving force behind the establishment of research areas in macroecology. Notably, he has applied modern scientific methods in molecular genetics to study evolutionary relationships among animal species and has used modern GPS and satellite monitoring to uncover the distribution and dispersal patterns of animals. His recent research efforts have also contributed to the application of biological principles in conservation, considering socio-economic factors.

Carsten Rahbek's research career is marked by several large-scale international collaborations with some of the world's leading researchers in macroecology and biodiversity. Additionally, he has been highly active in working with both Danish and international environmental organizations. Moreover, Carsten Rahbek has made significant contributions to the education of future biologists and has demonstrated exceptional abilities to popularize and communicate research findings in the fields of biodiversity and environmental management at all levels.

Carsten Rahbek holds a degree in biogeography from the University of Copenhagen, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1995. He was employed as an associate professor at the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, in the same year. In 2001, he was appointed as a professor (mso), and in 2005, he became a full professor at the same institution. He currently serves as the director of the Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.

Carsten Rahbek is highly respected among his international research peers. He serves as the chief editor of the journal Ecography and as an area editor for the Journal of Ornithology. Over the years, he has received several Danish and international honors, including the Danish Council for Independent Research Elite Research Award in 2010.

In 2012, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was granted to Klaus Mølmer for his groundbreaking research in theoretical quantum optics and atomic physics, with a particular focus on the interaction of atomic systems with light.

Klaus Mølmer has developed theories for the decay and damping of microscopic quantum mechanical systems, laser cooling of atoms, dynamics of ultracold gases, quantum computers, and the special significance and potential applications of measurement processes in quantum physics. His research has contributed to applications in precision measurements using atomic clocks, as well as applications in data communication and data processing, including the utilization of quantum computers.

Klaus Mølmer is an internationally renowned researcher in theoretical quantum optics. He has been a driving force in establishing the field of quantum optics in Denmark and has built a strong and visible research group with close ties to other research communities in Denmark and abroad, particularly in experimental quantum physics. Klaus Mølmer has made significant contributions to the education of future physicists, mentoring numerous master's and Ph.D. students affiliated with his research group. He has also been an active advocate for popularizing and disseminating research in theoretical physics at all levels, which is highly commendable given the complexity of the research area.

Klaus Mølmer holds a degree in physics from Aarhus University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1990. He was appointed as a lecturer at the university as early as 1991 and has been a professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Aarhus University since 2000. In 2003, Klaus Mølmer was appointed as an adjunct professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.

Klaus Mølmer's research career is characterized by extensive international collaborations, including research stays at foreign universities and research institutions, such as the Ecole Normale Superieure and Institut d’Optique in Paris, Max-Planck Institute in Garching, Germany, and the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Over the years, he has held various positions of trust, including membership in the editorial board of the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters. He is a member of European and American research networks in the field of quantum optics and quantum information. Klaus Mølmer is also a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and has received numerous Danish research awards.

In 2011, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was presented to Christian Søndergaard Jensen for his outstanding and innovative research in computer science, specifically in the field of database management and data-intensive systems. Christian Søndergaard Jensen is a world leader in efficient storage and retrieval of temporal and spatio-temporal data, which involves data that incorporates time, and in some cases, both time and location. Handling such data is crucial in a variety of administrative systems, as well as in location-based services, intelligent transportation systems, and road pricing.

Christian Søndergaard Jensen's research extends to the advancement of programming languages used for database search. He has also made significant contributions to the development of new methods for data indexing, enabling a wide range of advanced searches to be performed efficiently. Much of Christian Søndergaard Jensen's research can be characterized as use-inspired, as it is often motivated by practical issues and aims to benefit businesses and international collaborations in Denmark, usually with a broader applicability beyond specific development projects. He has made a substantial effort in educating future computer scientists and researchers, serving as a mentor to numerous master's and Ph.D. students affiliated with his research group and as the leader of a research school.

Christian Søndergaard Jensen holds a degree in computer science from Aalborg University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1990 after 2.5 years of study at the University of Maryland. He was then employed at the university as an assistant professor and later as an associate professor, interrupted by several research stays at the University of Arizona. In 1998, he was appointed as a research professor and later as a professor in 2000. In 2000, he obtained his doctoral degree, Dr. Scient., also from Aalborg University, with a thesis titled "Temporal Database Management." Since August 2011, he has been a professor at Aarhus University specializing in Data-Intensive Systems.

Christian Søndergaard Jensen has been a Fellow of the highly respected professional organization IEEE since 2008. He is a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. He has also been an honorary professor at Cardiff University. His notable accomplishments include receiving both Danish and international research awards, such as the Director Ib Henriksen Research Prize and Telenor's Nordic Research Award, recognizing him as an outstanding and innovative researcher.

In 2010, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was presented to Ole Sigmund for his outstanding and innovative research in the field of topology optimization, particularly in solid mechanics and structural optimization. Topology optimization involves the development of methods to optimize material distribution and usage in a construction or structure while preserving or even enhancing its properties. Ole Sigmund's research has covered both theoretical expansions and practical applications of topology optimization methods in a wide range of areas.

Ole Sigmund has been at the forefront of developing topology optimization methods in new fields, such as the development of microrobots, composite materials, nano-photonics crystals, fluid problems, and wave propagation problems in acoustics, elasticity, antennas, and optics. His research results have led to three patent applications related to optical fibers. His most recent research includes more complex processes that take into account both mass and energy transport, sustainable energy use, and atomic bindings. His significant research contributions in the field of topology optimization have been essential in solving practical problems and benefiting businesses and Danish society.

Furthermore, Ole Sigmund has made a substantial effort in educating future engineers, serving as a mentor for numerous Ph.D. students and postdocs.

Ole Sigmund obtained his M.Sc. in engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 1991 and earned his Ph.D. at the same institution in 1995. In 2001, he was awarded the doctoral degree, Dr.techn., for his thesis titled "Topology Optimization Methods with Application in Mechanisms, MEMS, and Material Design." Since 1995, Ole Sigmund has been employed at the Technical University of Denmark, initially as an assistant professor, then as an associate professor in 1997, and as a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering since 2001. Over the course of his career, he held positions as a research assistant at the University of Essen in Germany and as a postdoc at Princeton University in the United States.

Ole Sigmund has been a member of numerous Danish and international committees, councils, and committees. His research has been nationally and internationally recognized through various awards, including the ISSMO/Springer Prize for Young Scientists in 1999, the Statoil Prize in 2000, the Grundfos Prize in 2002, the European Young Investigators Award from the European Science Foundation in 2004, and the Elite Researcher Prize in 2007. These accolades demonstrate Ole Sigmund's significant research talent and continuous development.

In 2009, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was jointly awarded to Professor Eva Bjørn Vedel Jensen from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Aarhus University and Professor Jan Oskar Jeppesen from the Department of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Southern Denmark.

Eva Bjørn Vedel Jensen was honored with the award in recognition of her outstanding and innovative research in mathematical and statistical methods. Her work contributed significantly to the development of advanced mathematical and statistical methods for the quantitative characterization of structural elements. Notably, her research within stereology, which involves methods for extracting precise information about a three-dimensional object from one- or two-dimensional observations, has had broad applications in medicine, biology, and material research. Eva Bjørn Vedel Jensen successfully bridged the gap between advanced mathematical research and practical applications, making her research valuable for society.

Eva Bjørn Vedel Jensen obtained her Master's degree (cand.scient.) and earned her Ph.D. (dr.scient.) in 1987 with a thesis in stereology. She has been employed at Aarhus University since 1979, initially as an assistant professor and subsequently as an associate professor, research professor, and, since 2003, as a full professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences. She played a pivotal role in the MaPhySto center (Centre for Mathematical Physics and Stochastics) supported by the Danish National Research Foundation from 1998 to 2004. Furthermore, she coordinated the Marie Curie training network "Advanced Medical Imaging and Spatial Statistics" from 2002 to 2006. Eva Bjørn Vedel Jensen is currently the leader of the T.N. Thiele Center for Applied Mathematics in the Natural Sciences. In 1999, she received the "Direktør Ib Henriksens Forskerpris."

Jan Oskar Jeppesen received the award for his innovative and original research in organic chemistry. His contributions in organic synthesis, physical-organic chemistry, and supramolecular chemistry were particularly valued. He was instrumental in producing large and complex organic molecules with unique functional properties. His research showed great potential for practical applications, including molecular electronics and sensor development. Jan Oskar Jeppesen's work produced both original fundamental scientific results and practical applications, such as the development of memories or sensors for explosive detection, making it a valuable contribution to society.

Jan Oskar Jeppesen holds a Master's degree (cand.scient.) and a Ph.D. in chemistry. He has spent his entire research career affiliated with the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. He was appointed as an assistant professor in 2005, followed by a promotion to a professorship in chemistry in July 2008. His research received substantial funding from both strategic and independent research councils, as well as from private foundations in Denmark. He is also a partner in a Marie Curie training network funded by the European Union. In 2003, he was honored with Familien Hede Nielsens forskerpris for his work in synthetic organic chemistry and molecular electronics.

In 2008, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award was presented to Anja Boisen for her pioneering work in the field of nanotechnology, particularly in the development and characterization of measurement probes for a wide range of practical and scientific purposes.

These measurement probes rely on highly accurate measurements of the bending of micro- and nanocantilevers and find applications in various critical areas, including highly precise mass measurement, the detection of chemical and explosive gases, and the characterization of substances like DNA. Anja Boisen and her research group have demonstrated exceptional skill in developing and characterizing diverse types of sensors, requiring substantial interdisciplinary knowledge and technical expertise. Recent research efforts have been focused on nanomechanics, nanobiotechnology, and the creation of new nanomaterials. Anja Boisen's significant research contributions have played a pivotal role in enhancing Denmark's international position in the field of nanotechnology. She has actively fostered the practical applications of her research through collaborations with businesses and the establishment of her own company. She has also been responsible for several patents and patent applications. Anja Boisen's substantial research achievements in the field of nanotechnology have significantly contributed to solving practical problems and, as such, have benefited society. She has also made noteworthy contributions to educating students, including conducting courses on nanotechnology and mentoring numerous project and Ph.D. students.

Anja Boisen holds a Master's degree in physics from the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University, awarded in 1993. She obtained an industrial Ph.D. degree in 1997 through a collaboration between the Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology (MIC) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Danish Micro Engineering A/S. Anja Boisen has been employed at MIC DTU since 1997, first as an assistant professor, from 1999 as an associate professor and group leader, and since 2005 as a full professor, heading the "Nano Systems Engineering" section. Over the years, Anja Boisen has been a member of various Danish and international committees, boards, and panels. Since 2005, she has been a member of the Research Council for Technology and Production and the program committee for young researchers under the Strategic Research Council. In 2007, she became a member of the Academy of Technical Sciences.

In 1999, Anja Boisen received a FREJA grant from the Danish Council for Independent Research for female research leaders, which enabled her to establish her own research group focused on the development of biochemical sensors. In April 2000, Anja Boisen was awarded the AEG Electronics Prize for exceptional research in the field of electrical engineering.

The grant was awarded in 2007 to Birger Lindberg Møller for his innovative and wide-ranging research in the fields of plant biochemistry, plant physiology, and plant molecular biology.

Birger Lindberg Møller's work has laid a foundational scientific basis for the breeding of future plants. In recent years, his research has focused on plant secondary metabolites (natural substances), with an emphasis on the formation, transport, storage, and breakdown of cyanogenic glucosides and the clarification of their significance in plants' communication with the surrounding environment and their role as a part of plants' defense against attacks from animals, insects, and microorganisms. Research of this kind contributes to creating a foundation for sustainable production of healthy foods for a growing global population. Birger Lindberg Møller has made a significant contribution to building a strong and internationally visible Danish research center in molecular plant physiology and has taken on extensive tasks in research leadership, training of young researchers, patenting, collaboration with businesses, and the establishment of spin-off companies. He has also made an exemplary effort in conveying his research to the general public. A characteristic of Birger Lindberg Møller's work is his rare ability to foresee future research challenges and early recognition of the research goals and to incorporate new methods to achieve long-term objectives. At the same time, he has a clear vision of the perspectives inherent in using the acquired knowledge to address practical issues through vertical research, thereby benefiting society.

Birger Lindberg Møller holds an M.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen (1972). He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Copenhagen in 1975 in the fields of organic chemistry and biochemistry. In 1984, he obtained a doctoral degree (Dr. Scient.) from the University of Copenhagen based on a thesis on plant photosynthesis. From 1972 to 1984, he was a grant-funded employee at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, the University of California, and the Carlsberg Laboratory, the latter as a Niels Bohr Fellow under the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences. In 1984, he was appointed Research Professor at the Institute of Plant Physiology, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, and in 1990, he became a full professor in plant biochemistry at the same institution. Since 1998, he has also been the head of the Center for Molecular Plant Physiology at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. Birger Lindberg Møller is a member of "The International Human Rights Network."

Over the years, Birger Lindberg Møller has received several accolades for his research. In 1994, he received the Carlsberg Research Prize and "Director Ib Henriksen's Research Prize," the Scandinavian SPPS Communication Prize in 2003, and most recently, in 2004, he received the Future Prize from the Academy for Future Research.

The grant was awarded in 2007 to Birger Lindberg Møller for his innovative and wide-ranging research in the fields of plant biochemistry, plant physiology, and plant molecular biology.

Birger Lindberg Møller's work has laid a foundational scientific basis for the breeding of future plants. In recent years, his research has focused on plant secondary metabolites (natural substances), with an emphasis on the formation, transport, storage, and breakdown of cyanogenic glucosides and the clarification of their significance in plants' communication with the surrounding environment and their role as a part of plants' defense against attacks from animals, insects, and microorganisms. Research of this kind contributes to creating a foundation for sustainable production of healthy foods for a growing global population. Birger Lindberg Møller has made a significant contribution to building a strong and internationally visible Danish research center in molecular plant physiology and has taken on extensive tasks in research leadership, training of young researchers, patenting, collaboration with businesses, and the establishment of spin-off companies. He has also made an exemplary effort in conveying his research to the general public. A characteristic of Birger Lindberg Møller's work is his rare ability to foresee future research challenges and early recognition of the research goals and to incorporate new methods to achieve long-term objectives. At the same time, he has a clear vision of the perspectives inherent in using the acquired knowledge to address practical issues through vertical research, thereby benefiting society.

Birger Lindberg Møller holds an M.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen (1972). He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Copenhagen in 1975 in the fields of organic chemistry and biochemistry. In 1984, he obtained a doctoral degree (Dr. Scient.) from the University of Copenhagen based on a thesis on plant photosynthesis. From 1972 to 1984, he was a grant-funded employee at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, the University of California, and the Carlsberg Laboratory, the latter as a Niels Bohr Fellow under the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences. In 1984, he was appointed Research Professor at the Institute of Plant Physiology, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, and in 1990, he became a full professor in plant biochemistry at the same institution. Since 1998, he has also been the head of the Center for Molecular Plant Physiology at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. Birger Lindberg Møller is a member of "The International Human Rights Network."

Over the years, Birger Lindberg Møller has received several accolades for his research. In 1994, he received the Carlsberg Research Prize and "Director Ib Henriksen's Research Prize," the Scandinavian SPPS Communication Prize in 2003, and most recently, in 2004, he received the Future Prize from the Academy for Future Research.

The grant was awarded in 2005 to Jesper Wengel for his remarkable and groundbreaking contributions over the past two decades in the field of nanobiosystems research.

His research has aimed to establish a technological foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by genetic mutations. A central element of Jesper Wengel's research has been the development of a synthetic nucleic acid mimic known as "locked nucleic acid" or LNA. This molecule is highly stable and always ready to bind with high affinity to DNA and RNA. This allows the prevention of the formation of harmful proteins, thereby slowing the development of certain diseases at their source. In other words, LNA inhibits the expression of genes that encode for the harmful proteins associated with diseases. Another interesting aspect of LNA is its use in DNA-based diagnostics for analyzing gene mutations in individuals or bacterial infections. These new biomedical advancements are predicted to have a significant impact on humanity in the future.

Jesper Wengel is a professor of organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark. He earned an M.Sc. in chemistry and biology in 1988 and a Ph.D. in 1991. After a stint at the University of Colorado, USA, he was appointed as a lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark. In 1996, he was appointed as a professor of organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen. In 2000, Jesper Wengel returned to the University of Southern Denmark, where he was appointed as a professor of organic chemistry at the Department of Chemistry.

Jesper Wengel's work has gained significant recognition. In 2001, the Danish National Research Foundation established a research center with Jesper Wengel as its director, focusing on the synthesis and application of modified oligonucleotides (DNA analogs). In 2004, Jesper Wengel was again in a central position with the establishment of a new interdisciplinary research center called NanoBioCentrum, with him as the leader. In 2002, Jesper Wengel received the Lundbeck Foundation's Young Researcher Prize, and in the same year, he was awarded the Industry Prize by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

The grant in 2004 was awarded to Anders Bjarklev for his research contributions in the field of optical communication. His work primarily focuses on modeling the propagation of light in optical fibers and proposing practical designs for these fibers. Early in his career, he worked on optical amplifiers that could extend the range of optical fibers by thousands of kilometers or distribute optical signals to thousands of users. In recent years, Anders Bjarklev has concentrated on a new class of optical fibers called microstructured fibers, which can be customized to have special properties, including their use in fiber lasers. More recently, microstructured fibers have found applications in the field of bio-optics, enabling the development of new sensor types for chemical analysis and diagnostics. Anders Bjarklev's research has been applied in industrial contexts through the establishment of several companies.

Anders Bjarklev is a professor in optical waveguides at the Center for Communications, Optics, and Materials (COM) at the Technical University of Denmark. He is 42 years old and obtained his master's degree in engineering in 1985, his Ph.D. in 1988, and his doctorate in technology in 1995, all from DTU. He was employed at the Institute for Electromagnetic Systems at DTU from 1988 to 1999, after which he joined COM. In 1999, he was appointed as a professor at COM, and in 2003, he became the area leader for COM's competence area in glass materials and components. Anders Bjarklev received the Danish Optical Society's award in 1993. In 1999, he, along with four colleagues, received "The European Optic Prize" from the European Optical Society, and in 2000, he was awarded the "Dana Lim Prize." In 1999, he became a member of the "Fagligt Forum" under the Danish Council for Independent Research - Technology and Production Sciences.

The grant was awarded in 2003 to Flemming Besenbacher as a recognition and inspiration for the continuation of his research and teaching in the field of materials and surface-related processes.

Flemming Besenbacher's significant contributions and groundbreaking work, particularly in nanotechnology, have played a pivotal role in positioning Danish research at the forefront of international research collaboration in applied surface physics. At the same time, his research has resulted in recommendations for the development and enhancement of catalytic processes, benefiting the Danish industry.

The grant in 2002 was awarded to Jens Nielsen for his research and teaching in biotechnological process research.

Through his significant efforts and groundbreaking work, particularly in "metabolic engineering" as a tool for improving biotechnological processes, he has played a crucial role in positioning Danish research centrally and internationally in the fields of applied biology and biochemistry. Additionally, his research has resulted in recommendations for the utilization of results by Danish industry and patent applications.

Jens Nielsen is a professor at BioCentrum and the head of the Center for Biotechnological Process Research at the Technical University of Denmark. He is a co-founder and later chairman of the Danish Biotechnology Forum, a meeting place for young Danish and foreign researchers in biotechnology. He is a member of STVF's scientific forum and received STVF's anniversary prize in 1996. Jens Nielsen holds a master's degree in chemistry (1986), a Ph.D. in biotechnology (1989), and a doctorate in technology (1995), all from the Technical University of Denmark.

The grant in 2001 was awarded to Dorthe Dahl-Jensen as recognition and inspiration for the continuation of her research and teaching in the field of experimental and theoretical glaciology. Through Dorthe Dahl-Jensen's significant efforts and groundbreaking work, including her research in Greenland, she has played a pivotal role in positioning Danish research centrally in this exciting field.

2000 - Karl Anker Jørgensen, Aarhus Universitet, Eksperimentel og teoretisk kemi

1999 - Birgitte K. Ahring, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Anaerob bioteknologi

1998 - Erik Reitzel, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Minimalkostruktioner

1997 - Martin Philip Bendsøe, Aalborg Universitet, Topologi og materialeoptimering

1996 - Thomas Sinkjær, Aalborg Universitet, Medioteknik og Povl Ole Fanger, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Indeklima

1995 - Jørgen Bach Andersen, Aalborg Universitet, Elektromagnetisk feltteori og radiokommunikation

1994 - Ove Dalager Ditlevsen, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Sikkerhed og belastning i byggekonstruktioner

1993 - Jakob Bohr, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Eksperimentel materialeforskning

1992 - John Villadsen, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Teknisk kemi

1991 - Erik Granum, Aalborg Universitet, Billedanalyse og datamatsyn og Jens Kehlet Nørskov, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Overfladefysik

1990 - Ole G. Mouritsen, Syddansk Universitet, Biofysik, materialefysik og overfladefysik

1989 - Peter Roepstorff, Syddansk Universitet, Proteinkemi og Viggo Tvergaard, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Materialemekanik og brudmekanik

1988 - Palle Jeppesen, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Halvlederfysik og mikrobølgeteknik

1987 - Preben Christensen, PC-Laboratoriet i Fjerritslev, Betons bestandighed