The IT University wants to create value for Denmark in close collaboration with the industry. Both when we organise our education programmes and when we launch new research projects.

We believe that usability and insight can be combined. Therefore our research takes place in a dynamic collaboration with businesses, organisations and public players.

The collaboration with external lecturers may take many forms. For example internships, research project funding, workshops, seminars and guest lectures. The IT University also hires external lecturers from the industry to teach our students.

This close contact is in the interest of both parties. The continuous input on the experiences, opportunities and needs of the collaboration partners helps to ensure the usability and practical relevance of the research. It is always motivational to see your ideas become reality.  In turn, the research can help further the efficiency and business development of the industry.

The collaboration may consist of one or more partially financed research projects and scholarships. Businesses make employees, material and knowledge available to a research project. The IT University has contracts on research collaboration with more than 25 businesses, and more than 70 per cent of the graduates have worked on external projects during their studies. Collaboration partners include A.P. Møller-Mærsk, Grundfos, many small new businesses DHI, KMD, Danfoss, Bispebjerg Hospital and many others. Also cultural institutions such as Bornholms Museum, The National Film School of Denmark and Hammershus collaborate with researchers at the IT University.

Another way for the industry to gain from the university’s research is to employ graduates from the university. Students receive research-based teaching of a high academic quality, and by hiring graduates from the IT University businesses also profit from the research.

A very large part of the economic growth is created through optimisation of work processes by the use of IT tools. For example, researchers at the IT University are working with businesses developing tools for positioning containers onboard cargo ships. A poor positioning of the containers can mean very big additional costs for repositioning containers in the ports of call of the ship. The interplay between a skilled operator and a powerful IT tool can mean huge savings of both money, energy and time. Research from the IT University has demonstrated how these tools for container positioning can be significantly improved.

Another of the IT University’s core competencies is interaction design: Designing systems, such as welfare technology, in cooperation with users. Instead of thinking up a digital solution behind the walls of the university and then handing over a finished product to the user, the development takes place in continuous dialogue between the researcher, the user and the business partner. The process is called ‘research through design’, and it is a method that yields great results for both the user, the business partner and the researcher. The collaboration with external partners is thus not only a question of finance – it is also a way to ensure applied research of a high quality.

If you are interested in a dialogue with the IT University about research and research collaboration, please contact Jørgen Staunstrup, Provost: (+45) 7218 5307 / jst@itu.dk