When Folkemødet takes place in Allinge on Bornholm from 11–13 June 2026, researchers from Tech will be taking part in discussions around some of the major challenges facing society today.

Folkemødet brings together politicians, organisations, businesses and citizens for three days of debate and democratic dialogue. This year, Tech will contribute with research and perspectives on topics including cybersecurity, ultra-processed foods, antibiotic resistance and the future of healthcare.

“Folkemødet offers a unique opportunity to bring research into direct dialogue with society. We work with solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, and here we can test our knowledge, be challenged and further develop it together with decision-makers and the public,” says Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen.

Tech researchers will participate in a wide range of debates and events throughout the festival. Activities will take place aboard the research vessel Aurora together with the rest of Aarhus University, in the Tech Tent alongside DTU, AAU, SDU, IDA and Engineer the Future, and at the BIO stage together with the research centre CORC.

Future solutions and the role of universities

What will healthcare look like when technology becomes an integrated part of diagnosis and treatment? How prepared are we to monitor and manage aspects of our own health while specialists increasingly work remotely? And can we trust the technology that supports these developments?

These are some of the questions explored in a debate on the future healthcare system, where researchers, clinicians and technology developers will discuss how innovation is reshaping welfare and healthcare services.

Another key topic this year is cybersecurity — an issue that already affects governments, businesses and citizens alike. In the debate “Reality Is Testing Our Cybersecurity”, researchers, ethical hackers and public authorities will discuss how society can protect critical digital infrastructure as threats continue to evolve in both scale and complexity.

What unites these discussions is their foundation in research closely connected to real-world societal challenges and developed in collaboration with public authorities and industry partners.

Folkemødet also provides an opportunity to address broader questions about the role of research and universities in society.

In a debate on society’s contract with universities, researchers and stakeholders will examine how research creates value and what society can reasonably expect from higher education institutions. The conversation will focus not only on generating new knowledge, but also on collaboration and societal impact: How do we turn research into practical solutions? And how can universities actively contribute to the green transition, public health and security?

Experience research beyond the debate stage

Folkemødet is about far more than panel discussions. It is also a place where research can be experienced in new and engaging ways.

One of Tech’s returning initiatives is TechSlam, where researchers present their work in short, dynamic performances alongside professional rappers. Complex research topics are transformed into accessible and entertaining experiences that bring audiences closer to the science behind them. Last year, Tech took home the win with rapper Flammen and Professor Lars Ottosen — and this year the question is whether they can do it again.

Visitors will also have the chance to literally taste the research. In an event centred on beer brewing, Tech and researchers from Denmark’s other universities will demonstrate how technology and biotechnology contribute to the development of new food products. Last year, Tech won first prize with a beer created by Associate Professors Bo Spange Sørensen and Henning Sejer Jakobsen, and this year guests are invited to stop by and see whether the success can be repeated.

Another debate will focus on Danish fruit and vegetables and how research can support a more sustainable food production system.

Together, these activities showcase the breadth of research at Tech — from highly technical innovations to solutions that directly influence everyday life.

Read more about Aarhus University’s participation in Folkemødet here (in Danish).