Bringing ideas and inventions into the world

DTU has one of the most well-developed ecosystems for innovation and entrepreneurship among technical universities in Europe. This ecosystem brings new ideas and inventions from classrooms and laboratories into the real world, where they can create jobs and help solve some of the biggest challenges the world is facing.

Student innovation

One of our most significant contributions to society is the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset of our students, which stays with them when they find employment. Innovation and entrepreneurship are integrated into our study programmes, mandatory courses, and electives—for example through our Innovation in Engineering course, which is a mandatory course for all master’s students. Our students also gain experience and establish contacts with the business community through projects, events, internships, and student jobs.

Business collaboration

DTU has in-depth experience working with companies and organizations. This includes strategic research collaborations, continuing education, student projects and conferences. The business community enjoys working with DTU because of our collaborative and innovative approach.

We collaborate across academic disciplines to find innovative solutions. In 2022, DTU was engaged in 1,884 projects with the business community.

Through the DTU Industrial Partnerships programme, DTU researchers and students collaborate with companies through strategic, interdisciplinary partnerships. By the end of 2022, DTU had formed 30 partnerships with companies such as Novo Nordisk, Maersk and Alfa Laval.

Start-ups

Our students and employees continue to create start-ups that translate innovative ideas into solutions that benefit society. In 2022, 71 new start-ups were established. Of these, 57 were established by students and 14 by employees.

Since 2000, staff and students at DTU have founded 844 start-ups of which 60% are still operating. In 2022, the three largest companies provided jobs for 953 people.

Commercialization

At DTU we foster a culture of innovation, where our researchers are encouraged to think about business development from the beginning of a research project, which increases the likelihood that the research is turned into technology for people. Thanks to this approach, a significant number of inventions are brought to market.

In 2022, DTU researchers notified 103 new inventions and 10 software notifications expected to create commercial value. 44 new sales, license, and option agreements were signed for 35 inventions, bringing DTU’s portfolio of active contracts on the utilization of intellectual property rights to 300. The income from these agreements significantly exceeded the expenditures on IPR protection.

DTU Skylab—an innovation hub

DTU Skylab is DTU’s innovation hub—a 5,000 m2 facility where students, start-ups, and researchers collaborate across disciplines with businesses and organizations on innovative ideas. Activities and services include business acceleration and funding for deep tech start-ups, advanced prototyping facilities, inspiring events, sprints, and hackathons.

In 2022, 326 start-ups received coaching through DTU Skylab.

DTU Skylab also runs a workshop where young entrepreneurs with disabilities develop solutions to problems that people with their disabilities experience. At DTU young entrepreneurs are generally encouraged to work with inclusive product design that aims to develop products that anyone can use.

Watch videos

Technology Leaving No One Behind dtu.dk/2023profile4

Student Start-up of the Year 2022 dtu.dk/2023profile5

Just six years after the launch of DTU spinout BioPhero, which produces pheromones that can combat pests in a wide range of crops, the company was sold in 2022 for a staggering EUR 188 million. Pheromones are a more environmentally friendly approach than conventional pesticides. However, so far they have been produced chemically, which is very expensive, limiting their use to the organic sector. By using yeast cells to produce them, BioPhero has reduced costs significantly.