News

Project to strengthen Denmark's technological resilience

Date

11 May 2023

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11.05.2023 l Latest news

The Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, in collaboration with the Danish universities, is launching an initiative to enhance Denmark's resilience to crises by accelerating the technological transformation. VILLUM FONDEN and four other foundations are supporting the project.

In the “Guide to a Resilient Denmark” project, the Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV) brings together top academics and technology leaders from Danish industry:

“We want to create a template for a new way of working, where we gather the main players in the ecosystem to accelerate the much-needed technological transformation of Denmark,” says Lia Leffland, director of the ATV.

Mission transformation

The project identifies three technological transformation trends as being crucial for the future sustainability of the world: fossil-free, bio-based and digital technologies. The goal is to develop Denmark into a pioneering country for the transformation, thereby strengthening its sustainability and resilience to future crises, as well as hopefully inspire other countries to prepare for these challenges as well.

The focal point of the technological transformation is Denmark’s science and engineering ecosystem. It consists of companies, research and educational institutions, consultants, investors and public authorities that drive Denmark’s technological development, infrastructure and competitiveness. In order to engage other groups (e.g. NGOs, citizens and politicians), ATV will develop mission laboratories designed to mobilise all necessary players to accelerate the sustainable technological transformation of Denmark.

The transformation requires collaboration across sectors, industries and professional boundaries. The project therefore involves a broad group of players who – working in mission-based teams – will address some of the greatest challenges facing society.

“Denmark has some of the world’s foremost knowledge environments when it comes to the green transition and digital solutions. Making the most of this potential calls for close collaboration between universities and industry. We see the project as a really good platform for propelling Denmark into a leading position,” says Lars Hansen, executive director of VILLUM FONDEN.

The project will run for five years and is funded by the eight Danish universities as well as the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Ramboll Foundation, the NIRAS ALECTIA Foundation, the Poul Due Jensen Foundation and VILLUM FONDEN. The project grants total DKK 48.5 million, which includes DKK 6.5 million from VILLUM FONDEN.