Published: May 2020. Managing editor: Louise Simonsen. Facts and figures: This report is based on DTU’s Annual Report 2019. Rankings as per 10 June 2020. Photos: Lasse Bech Martinussen, Steen Brogaard, Teknologihistorie DTU, Bax Lindhardt, Michael Rasmussen, Martin
DTU is a vibrant elite technical university, recognized for its high level of international research and its sought-after graduates. Through collaboration, our staff and students reach out to the world and work across disciplines to create value, welfare, and growth by developing technologies that work in a globalized world, transcending social and cultural differences.
We develop value-creating technology for people, exploiting synergies between research, education, innovation, and scientific advice in close collaboration with the outside world.
In 2019, we have developed a new and ambitious strategy for the next six years under the heading Technology for People. In the strategy, we have formulated three strategic objectives to set the course for the University’s development. With these objectives, DTU aims to develop Europe’s best engineering study programmes, to promote technologies for sustainable change, and to take the lead in realizing the potential of digitalization.
“DTU is about technology for people. DTU is about change for a better world.”
Anders O. Bjarklev President
Hans Christian Ørsted was instrumental in establishing DTU. He served as the first president of the University in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value based on the technical and natural sciences to the benefit of society. This mission lives on today.
Back in 1820 Ørsted discovered electromagnetism, which was a major scientific event, a discovery that through technical science and industrial ingenuity enabled the development of modern society. In 2020 DTU and Denmark celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Ørsted’s discovery.
Electromagnetism is the scientific basis for many technologies, such as loud speakers and microphones, electric motors and generators.
Today, electromagnetism continues to play a major role in our daily lives. In the future, electromagnetism will also play an essential role as researchers continue to build on Ørsted’s pioneering discovery and our subsequent understanding of electrical effects. For example, in the extensive electrification of our energy systems allowing for storage and conversion of green energy from wind turbines and solar cells.
“DTU develops and creates value though the technical and natural sciences for the benefit of society.”
Hans Christian Ørsted
The compass that Hans Christian Ørsted used for his experiment where, during a lecture, he let an electric current flow through a platinum wire across the compass.
The current caused the magnetic needle in the compass to move. Ørsted had found a connection between electricity and magnetism.
Research underpins all our work. We create new technology in the interplay between research, education, innovation, and scientific advice and by innovative researchers who work at the cutting edge in global partnerships.
DTU’s research centres on the technical and the natural sciences, and is driven by the needs of society—pushing the boundaries of the possible, discovering and driving change. Focus areas include a vast variety of science and engineering disciplines, including digitalization, energy technologies for at sustainable future, and life science and biotechnology—all highly relevant for society.
A key to addressing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals is collaboration across all fields. Consequently, research at DTU is often cross-disciplinary. We collaborate extensively with leading academic, private, and public partners on new innovations and discoveries – new technology to people.
In 2019 DTU researchers have received eight prestigious ERC Grants from the European Research Council. Professor Jesper Mørk from DTU Fotonik has received the ERC Advanced Grant of
EUR 2.5 million for a project, in which he will investigate the physics and applications of a new class of photonic components. The project will make it possible to transmit data in a more energy efficient way in the future.
Professor Georgios Kontogeorgis from DTU Chemical Engineering has received the ERC Advanced Grant of EUR 2.5 million for a project, in which he will provide a basic understanding of the thermodynamics of electrolytes. This knowledge will have benefits in many industrial sectors.
Two health technology projects have received ERC Synergy Grants. Professor Jørgen Arendt Jensen and Professor Erik Vilain Thomsen, DTU Health Technology have with researchers from Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen received the grant for optimizing 3D ultrasound imaging. Professor Jan Henrik Ardenkjær, DTU Health Technology has with researchers from Universität Ulm received a grant for a project to extend the use of magnetic resonance scanning methods. And Associate Professor Niels Gregersen, DTU Fotonik has received an ERC Consolidator Grant for his project to develop optical quantum computers.
Furthermore, three young researchers received ERC Starting Grants to talented young researchers. Senior Researcher Søren Bredmose Simonsen from DTU Energy, Associate Professor Andreas Laustsen from DTU Bioengineering, and Senior Researcher Minhao Pu from DTU Fotonik have each received EUR 1.5 million for research in energy storage, biotechnological production of antivenom and optical precision measuring for eg. GPS devices.
In 2019, the Danish National Research Foundation allocated EUR 148 million to two new Centers of Excellence to DTU: Center for Visualizing Catalytic Processes lead by Professor Stig Helveg, DTU Physics, and Center for Nanophotonics lead by Professor Jesper Mørk, DTU Fotonik. The two centres will help give DTU and Denmark a leading international position in research into catalysis and nanophotonics. With the two new centres, DTU has a total of eight active Centers of Excellence.
The Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded the Elite Research Prize 2019 to Professor Kristian Sommer Thygesen, DTU Physics, for his research into two-dimensional materials.
5,686
publications in 2019
International co-publication
71%
international co-publication countries
• USA
Germany • UK
• China
• Sweden
• The Netherlands • Italy • France
• Spain of publications by DTU researchers are co-published with researchers from abroad
• Switzerland
1.59
normalized citation impact*
18.3%
publications in Top 10%
*Normalized citation impact: Citation impact (citations per publication) normalized for subject (Web of Science Category), year, and document type. A value of one represents performance on par with the world average. DTU’s citation impact is thus 59% above the world average.
Watch videos
Grant for antivenom research
dtu.dk/profile1
Sustainable change research dtu.dk/profile2
Bacteria produce plastic dtu.dk/profile3
Nordic Region**
Leiden Ranking
Citation Impact Indicator (top 10% publications)
All sciences
Leiden Ranking
Collaborative Publications with Industry Indicator
Reuters Top 100
World’s Most Innovative Universities
QS World University Rankings
* As per 10 June 2020
** The Nordic region consists of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland
DTU has a number of world-class research facilities and contributes with instrumentation and data processing to several European facilities. Below is a selection of our facilities:
• The most powerful group of electron microscopes in the world at DTU Nanolab. nanolab.dtu.dk/english
• National centre for micro- and nanofabrication (DTU Nanolab) with 1,350 m2 cleanroom facilities. nanolab.dtu.dk/english
• World-class experimental platform for technology development, testing, demonstration, and training within electric power and energy. dtu.dk/powerlab
• Some of the world’s most sophisticated laboratory facilities within audiovisual research. act.elektro.dtu.dk
• A world-class chemical engineering pilot plant. dtu.dk/pilot-plant
• Cutting-edge NMR research facilities. dtu.dk/NMR-centre
• ESS, the European Spallation Source in Lund, Sweden will be the largest and most advanced neutron scattering facility in the world when it is completed. DTU is responsible for a number of areas, including developing some of the highly specialized instruments that need to be constructed for the neutron source. europeanspallationsource.se
• Large-scale facilities for advanced structural and material testing on DTU Lyngby and DTU Risø campuses. casmat.dtu.dk
• Facilities for wind energy research include one of the biggest and most advanced wind tunnels in the world: the Poul la Cour Wind Tunnel on DTU Risø Campus, as well as two test centres on the west coast of Jutland: Høvsøre and Østerild, where it is possible to test wind turbines up to 330 metres high. dtu.dk/plct, dtu.dk/hovsore, and dtu.dk/osterild
• North Tokamak is a fusion reactor donated by the British company Tokamak Energy. With the tokamak, DTU is able to research plasma physics and to achieve an increased understanding of plasma decay, waves, and turbulence. North
Tokamak weighs half a ton and has an outer radius of 0.25 metres and a magnetic field of 0.1-0.5 tesla. dtu.dk/tokamak
• Computerome is used for biotechnological and personal medicine research. DTU is currently upgrading its supercomputers, and Computerome II will have 49,000 CPU cores and store 20 petabytes of data. computerome.dtu.dk
• Sofia, a high performance computer cluster used for research in wind energy and mechanical engineering.
• Niflheim Linux cluster supercomputer of 16,480 CPU cores specially designed for materials and energy research. dtu.dk/niflheim
Watch videos
Research-infrastructure at DTU dtu.dk/profile4
Test Centre Østerild dtu.dk/profile5
Wind Tunnel
dtu.dk/profile6
DTU Nanolab dtu.dk/profile7
The small fusion reactor, North Tokamak, arrived at DTU Lyngby Campus in autumn 2018. The photo is a peek inside the vacuum chamber where scientists can produce and study plasma. The tokamak is used for research in fusion energy.
DTU’s Study Programmes are cross-disciplinary, centered on the technical and natural sciences. Our students engage in project-based assignments where they can apply their theoretical knowledge with hands-on access to world-class facilities to solve real-life problems. 2019 saw an increase in the enrolment in DTU’s Study Programmes, with female students making up 31 percent. That is the highest proportion to date.
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
BEng programmes at DTU are 3.5-year industry and application-oriented engineering programmes based on the CDIO concept: ‘Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate’. The language of instruction is primarily Danish, but students learn both Danish and English engineering terminology.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc Eng)
BSc Eng programmes at DTU are 3-year researchbased undergraduate engineering programmes that qualify students for further studies at the master’s level. Students work in both Danish and English. DTU also offers an international BSc programme in General Engineering, taught exclusively in English.
Master of Science in Engineering (MSc Eng)
MSc Eng programmes at DTU are 2-year researchbased programmes at the highest technological level. In these programmes, students acquire the qualifications and skills necessary to analyse, synthesize, and evaluate theory and experiments relating to complex engineering systems, problems, and solutions. The language of instruction is English. Honours tracks are available for all MSc Eng programmes.
Continuing education and master’s programmes
DTU offers a wide range of executive and specialized continuing education programmes, ranging from Executive MBA, part-time Diploma and Master’s programmes, to flexible education, open online courses and single course programmes. DTU’s new centre, DTU Learn for Life, coordinates these programmes to meet the growing need for lifelong learning in society.
PhD
PhD students conduct scientific research projects of the highest international standard. DTU also offers industrial PhD programmes where students are employed by a company and simultaneously enrolled at the University.
Watch videos
New MSc Eng programme: Autonomous Systems dtu.dk/profile8
BEng and BSc Eng Programmes (Eng. subtitles) dtu.dk/profile9
BSc Eng in General Engineering dtu.dk/profile10
MSc Eng programmes dtu.dk/profile11
Get your master’s at DTU dtu.dk/profile12
PhD students at DTU dtu.dk/profile13
18
20
32
19
All DTU’s Study Programmes are interdisciplinary and designed to promote sustainability, innovation, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Students get handson access to world-class facilities and engage in project-based assignments with industry partners where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to solving real-life problems.
Based on cutting-edge scientific knowledge, all teaching, supervision, and course development is carried out by educators who are actively involved in research and innovation.
We teach using methods that reflect the way we work, with innovative and critical thinking, collaboration and engagement forming our graduates. Students develop their analytical skills through independent study, group work, active participation in discussions, and close collaboration with fellow students and professors.
The study environment is vibrant and international, and most students stay after lectures to network, work on their own projects, or take part in one of the many extracurricular activities. A recent
survey found that 97 per cent of all DTU students enjoy the atmosphere at the University
Extracurricular activities give students the opportunity to participate in projects such as Denmark’s famous Roskilde music festival (roskilde.dtu.dk), DTU’s annual student conference Green Challenge (groendyst.dtu.dk), or one of our nine Blue Dot Projects* (dtu.dk/bluedot):
• DTU Biobuilders
• DTU DanSTAR
• DTU Ecotrophelia
• DTU Eventure
• DTU Roadrunners
• DTU RoboCup
• DTU SensUs
• DTU Solar Decathlon
• DTU Wind Racers
*) DTU Blue Dot Projects are innovative, student-driven, and often multidisciplinary projects at DTU. The projects act as workshops, where students are given the opportunity to test theoretical knowledge in practice. Participation provides ECTS points and is thus part of the study programme.
97% of all DTU students enjoy the atmosphere at the University
Watch videos
Become an engineer at DTU dtu.dk/profile14
Amazing study environment dtu.dk/profile15
Studying at DTU dtu.dk/profile16
Roskilde Festivalpowered by DTU Students dtu.dk/profile17
In 2019 DTU started teaching selected courses as evening modules in order to use the University’s facilities in a more flexible and efficient way.
DTU has one of the most well-developed ecosystems for innovation and entrepreneurship among technical universities in Europe. This ecosystem helps bringing new ideas and inventions from the classrooms and research laboratories into the real world, where they can create new jobs and address challenges in society.
Innovation at DTU comprises four pillars, each with its own specific focus: student innovation, business collaboration, start-ups, and commercialization.
At DTU Innovation and entrepreneurship are integrated into our Study Programmes, mandatory courses, and electives. Through projects, events, internships, and student jobs, students gain experience and contacts within the business community, which ensures that students develop entrepreneurial competences and that, in turn, companies benefit from innovative inputs from the students.
DTU has a strong tradition for working with companies and has a wide range of collaborations regarding strategic research collaborations, continuing education, student projects, conferences, etc.
The interaction between the University and the business community enables that theory is put into practice and that research is based on real-world issues.
In 2019 DTU had 1,670 collaborative research projects with companies.
The growth of start-ups at DTU shows that both students and employees increasingly manage to translate ideas into solutions that benefit society. This growth is supported by DTU’s establishment of prototype workshops, funding opportunities, and research environments—together they provide a unique environment centred on entrepreneurship.
In 2019, 76 start-ups were launched; 44 by students and 32 by researchers.
Research at DTU often leads to inventions considered to have commercial value.
In 2019, a total of 54 inventions were commercialized, both for DTU start-ups and for established companies. And 58 sales, licence, and option
agreements were concluded in relation to intellectual property rights. That is a 49% increase and the highest number in University history.
DTU Skylab is a hub for innovation where students and researchers together with external partners experiment with, modify, and test their ideas and products.
In 2019, the facilities were expanded with a new digital development laboratory, DTU Skylab Digital, which will advance digital technology to be exploited in projects and start-ups.
102 events were hosted in 2019. One of them was Next Generation City Action – during the C40 World Mayor’s Summit in Copenhagen – where 200 young people from all over the world came up with solutions to urban climate challenges.
Next Generation City Action dtu.dk/profile18
This year’s student start-up 2019 (Eng. subtitles) dtu.dk/profile19
Synklino, a research-based start-up dtu.dk/profile21
DTU offers scientific advice to public sector authorities, industries, and international institutions. The activities contribute significantly to knowledge transfer and informed decision-making in society.
DTU currently has strategic partnerships with Danish authorities on food safety, chemicals, aquatic resources, diagnostics, waste management, geodetics, traffic infrastructure, and radioactivity. Our advisory services include complex problem solving, risk characterization for informed standard setting, development of surveillance systems for ongoing risk assessments, and diagnostic capacity for contingency planning and crisis resolution. Scientific advice from universities, a unique Danish model, is beneficial to socie ty because it provides synergy between university research and applied research as well as an in-depth understanding of sector-specific challenges, acquired through extensive collaborations with our strategic partners.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic DTU researchers have been part of the mathematical modeling expert group at Statens Serum Institut providing analyses for the Prime Minister’s Office
and the Ministry of Health. Moreover, DTU has established a test laboratory for COVID-19 analysing clinical samples from Danish hospitals.
In addition to DTU’s national advisory activities, the University provides scientific advice to international authorities and organizations.
The UNEP DTU Partnership provides advice on the transition towards more low carbon development paths, and supports integration of climate-resilience in national development through in-depth research, policy analysis, and capacity building activities.
DTU has been designated as a special EU reference laboratory in five different areas—including in the field of fish diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
In 2019, DTU has published a new and more accurate version of the global wind atlas as a result of a partnership agreement with the World Bank in 2019. The global wind atlas is a free web-based application owned by DTU, which helps policy makers, planners, and investors around the world identify global, national, and local high-wind areas for wind power generation.
A wind turbine’s electricity production can be improved dramatically if placed in the optimum location. With DTU’s global wind atlas decision makers can identify the best areas for wind turbines.
Technology is created by innovative researchers who work through global partnerships. At DTU, we identify the best match between researchers, fields, and projects. We collaborate with other elite technical universities throughout the world, and we are active partners in strong, international alliances.
Alliances and strategic partnerships
DTU’s network of alliances and strategic partnerships spans across research, education, scientific advice, and innovation. Together we promote synergy, quality, impact, and visibility. We open up the global job market and attract international resources and talent, and we build on in-depth collaboration and a mutual match in excellence and values.
An international education
Students from approximately 100 countries come to DTU each year, and we also encourage all our students to spend a semester or two abroad. An exchange period helps students grow—both academically and personally—and creates networks that will prove invaluable in a future career. Our students have the chance to work and study with the best research universities in the world. We invite students from all over the world to study
at our University and offer 32 MSc Eng programmes in English. We also offer joint international master’s programmes where students can study at two universities.
120
exchange partners
26
1,084
international
924
École Polytechnique (France), Technion (Israel), EPFL (Switzerland), TU Eindhoven (the Netherlands), TU München (Germany), and DTU (Denmark)
Strategic alliance between six leading technical universities, committed to finding technical solutions to major societal challenges through cutting-edge research, education, and innovation. The alliance engages in EU intelligence and advocacy towards the European Commission through its joint office in Brussels.
A strategic partnership with the leading technical university in Korea, KAIST. Based on strong synergies in research, education, and innovation as well as a shared focus on green growth and sustainable development.
The partnership with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore covers activities within education, research, and innovation with a focus on smart cities. Nanyang Technological University is one of the highest ranked universities in Asia.
Aalto (Finland), NTNU (Norway), Chalmers and KTH (Sweden), and DTU (Denmark)
Strategic alliance of five leading technical universities in the Nordic countries. By utilizing shared and complementary strengths within education, research and innovation, the alliance creates an extended campus for students and staff to conduct research, share knowledge and follow joint educational programmes.
Exchange students
1,084 international exchange students came to DTU in 2019, and 924 DTU students went abroad.
Top ten global exchange partners (in terms of volume):
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
• Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
• Monash University, Australia
The Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research is a partnership between the eight Danish universities, the Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
DTU has a strategic partnership with The University of Queensland which covers the entire value chain from research to education, innovation and student entrepreneurship.
• Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA
• Technische Universität München, Germany
• University of British Columbia, Canada
• University of Queensland, Australia
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
DTU is an independent and self-governed university administered by a Board of Governors and under the leadership of the University President and Executive Board.
The main tasks of the University are situated in departments, in research centres, and in affiliated companies.
Support functions
Campus Service
Communications and Media
Finance and Accounting
Human Resources
IT Service
Policy and Relations
Research, Advice, and Innovation
Study Programmes and Student Affairs
Board
Academic
Employer
Board
Advisory
Education
Bioneer Ltd.
DFM Ltd.
PreSeed Ventures Ltd.
President
Anders O. Bjarklev
Provost, CAO
Executive Vice President Rasmus Larsen
University Director
Executive Vice President
Claus Nielsen
Senior Vice President
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Marianne Thellersen
Dean of Graduate Studies and International Affairs
Senior Vice President
Philip John Binning
Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs
Senior Vice President
Lars D. Christoffersen
million
million
total staff, full-time equivalent (FTE)c
2,219
5,881 38 34 99 58 59 49 11 per cent are women per cent have an international background nationalities
per cent of faculty are below 50 years of age
1,396
2,654
researchers and educators, full-time equivalent (FTE) PhD fellows in support functions, full-time equivalent (FTE)
per cent have an international background per cent have an international background per cent have an international background
DTU has research and test facilities in all parts of Denmark, including four campuses.
DTU’s main campus is located 15 km north of Copenhagen. The campus covers a 106-hectare site, and is landscaped with wooded areas, sports fields, inner courtyards, and gardens.
DTU Ballerup Campus is located approximately 10 km west of Copenhagen, and is home to many of our BEng students.
DTU Risø Campus is located 40 km west of Copenhagen and is the site of much of DTU’s ground-breaking research in wind energy technologies.
DTU’s campus in Greenland is home to both research as well as BEng and MSc Eng students who follow our arctic educational programmes.
