University of Copenhagen is one of Europe’s leading universities when it comes to research. It is also a founding partner of the innovation district Copenhagen Science City. Now the university wants to see more of its good ideas developed and implemented in practice for the greater benefit of society. The first step towards that goal is a new strategy for innovation published by the university on April 26th 2023. By Jes Andersen.

Making the most of a wide intellectual scope

With six faculties, 36 institutes and more than 200 research centres, University of Copenhagen has a reach that is broad and deep. From theology to quantum science and from molecular biomedicine to political science. With the new strategy, the university is particularly committed to exploiting this academic span. The university aims to develop new ideas based on deep expertise and at the same time take advantage of the fact that new thinking can be done across the many disciplines at the university.

We have some of the world’s strongest research environments within science and health and medical science. They already translate their knowledge into new technologies and solutions though we can become even better at that. The University of Copenhagen also has leading research into what makes people act and change behaviour. That knowledge becomes crucial to help the population accept new technologies and solutions. If we utilize the entire scope of the university, we can deliver even more innovation. Even better solutions to benefit society”: David Dreyer Lassen, vice-chancellor for research, University of Copenhagen.

Prosperity for corporates, for SME’s and for Denmark

The central strategic goal is to increase the benefit to society of the university’s knowledge. Consequently, the university needs to improve its availability to external innovators. It is time to make more of a difference for commercial actors, the public sector and civil society. One way to achieve this is by creating more innovation collaborations with businesses and by creating more new companies.

Close cooperation between commercial actors and universities strengthens Denmark’s prosperity. This applies when the research is transferred to new companies as well as when established Danish companies discover how easy it is to establish a collaboration with researchers to solve problems that require new knowledge. It is highly positive that innovation and business collaboration has risen on the universities’ agenda. The University of Copenhagen continuously produces ground-breaking research that Danish companies can translate into jobs and exports”: Emil Fannikke Kiær, Political Director, Confederation of Danish Industry.

Partnerships crucial for life science

Another important goal is to establish more partnerships with relevant partners in the ecosystem for innovation. This applies, among other things, to actors within life science, where the capital region has a strong international position.

The University of Copenhagen plays an important role for the life science ecosystem in Denmark. We feel that there is great potential in strengthening innovation at the University of Copenhagen. It is a very positive step that the university has now adopted an actual innovation strategy, which might create a basis for creating more spin-outs and collaborations with industry in the coming years”: Mikkel Skovborg, Senior Vice President responsible for innovation, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Companies see value in co-creating with academic partners

University of Copenhagen participates in several collaborative fora to develop Denmark’s innovation ecosystems. An important one is Copenhagen Science City, an innovation district shared with a university hospital, a university college and several incubator, accelerators and office hotels for start-ups.

We attract growing numbers of deep-tech start-ups to our innovation district, because they see the value of co-creating new products and services with our academic partners and clinics. University of Copenhagen has always been a hothouse for research. With its new commitment to innovation, we hope to see even more spin-out companies, and ever more start-ups joining our district to benefit from the deep and wide knowledge of researchers and students”: Kristoffer Klebak, Head of Secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.

New demands require new skills

The university sees innovation as an extension of its research. It is, however, a discipline with a different set of demands. The university plans to focus on providing researchers and students with innovation and entrepreneurial skills, on improving physical and financial frameworks for it, and on making innovation an attractive career opportunity for both groups. One highly visible result is the new University of Copenhagen innovation centre, Lighthouse, where students and employees can find support, knowledge and an (office) community.

During my time as a student, I learned to put theory into practice. With this knowledge I created a healthy business that I can make a living from. Hopefully my business will help the elderly and people with disabilities live a healthier life by exploiting the possibilities of virtual reality. I think it’s hugely important that the University of Copenhagen invests in strengthening education in entrepreneurship”: Simon Bruntse Andersen, CEO & Co-founder of Syncsence, a former student-entrepreneur who has become a full-time entrepreneur with offices in UCPH Lighthouse .

Research making a difference to society

Ultimately, the purpose of the strategy is to strengthen research so that it makes an even greater difference in society.

University researchers are often motivated by being useful. That’s why it’s important for us to support innovation that can make people healthier, wealthier and happier. For us, it’s basically about strengthening research and ensuring that research contributes to a better society”: David Dreyer Lassen, vice-chancellor for research, University of Copenhagen.

The strategy is available here.