AU Engineering

Aarhus Universitets segl
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Collaborations, relations and partnerships

Collaborate with AU Engineering

The engineering departments at Aarhus University cooperate with a wide range of organisations and companies on research and development projects. As the numerous examples on this page illustrates, we help large and small businesses to join the Industry 4.0 wave, we establish innovative partnerships for exploring technological challenges and we cooperate internationally to create insight into international trends. We work with the latest technologies to help companies build or develop new products or components and to process-optimise production chains.

Are you interested in working with the region’s leading knowledge institution?

We offer various cooperation models:

Collaborative R&D projects and programmes

Our researchers are involved in a large number of national and international research, development and innovation projects in collaboration with companies and universities throughout the world. This extensive knowledge base offers our collaboration partners enormous potential for new knowledge, growth and market opportunities.

Working with us, your company can tap into the latest technological knowledge within the engineering sciences to gain valuable insight into technologies that are most relevant for you and your industry. If your company has an idea or a need you want help with, you can collaborate with our researchers on developing your company’s technology.

If you would like to explore the opportunities of working with us, contact Business Relations and Partnerships for further information about how we can connect relevant researchers and your interests.

Scientific and innovation networks and clusters

Aarhus University is active in almost every innovation cluster in Denmark, and in many other scientific, technical and business-related networks. It may be advantageous for your company to learn more about these networks and what they can offer.

You can solve your business problems in collaboration with others, and this is an excellent way to profile your company. You can also develop long-term strategic collaborations with other companies or knowledge institutions.

If you would like to explore the opportunities of working with us, contact Business Relations and Partnerships for further information about how we can connect relevant researchers and your interests.

Innovation collaborations

The engineering departments at Aarhus University have launched a number of initiatives to help companies, especially SMEs in Denmark. For example, our “Smart Industry” programme targeting SMEs with the potential to develop new smart products, services or processes. This is a specific initiative to strengthen growth and innovation for SMEs through more teamwork between companies and knowledge institutions.

We also offer cross-disciplinary cooperation combining engineering expertise with researchers from other departments in Aarhus University’s strategic research centres. Combined with a strong and proven approach in applied innovation, we lead and facilitate processes to create new possibilities and solve new challenges. We transform the latest research findings into useful knowledge, products, services and methods for a huge variety of different companies in different branches and of different sizes, ranging from entrepreneurs to SMEs, and from medium sized companies to large organisations.

If you would like to explore the opportunities of working with us, contact Business Relations and Partnerships for further information about how we can connect relevant researchers and your interests.

AU Engineering at social media

BE INSPIRED

AU Engineering collaborate with a wide range of organisations and companies on research and development projects. Check out the cases below.

Celine’s Bachelor’s project was the cornerstone in a new waste-separation technology

It is important to remember the energy and wild ideas of the young engineering students, says the plastic separation company Plastix, who speak warmly about Celine Ballegaard Karlsen and her Bachelor’s project which was part of the Re-Plast research project.

Energy renovation and building culture

Buildings gobble up energy, and primarily the older building stock is very energy-inefficient. However, renovation is not just about economics and energy, says Associate Professor Steffen Petersen from Aarhus University.

University City Living Lab: Developing new decision-making tools for renovation

A major new international research project aims to develop new decision-making tools for renovation featuring sustainability certification. The tools will be developed and tested directly in the design and construction of Aarhus University’s new campus, the University City, which is to be built on the old municipal hospital site.

The Aarhus Space Centre

The Aarhus Space Centre, SpaCe, is the university’s centre for inter-disciplinary space activities and a facilitator for collaboration between space research and innovation and the Danish space industry. The center officially started operations on 1 January 2022. Read about the centre.

“It’s vital that we work together to keep Denmark competitive.”

More Danish companies and knowledge institutions have to collaborate if we are to maintain momentum for Danish competitiveness. This is the message from the DAMRC and others who are calling out for more research and development.

A longstanding mystery in manufacturing has been solved

Worn-out industrial milling tools and damaged materials cost the manufacturing industry billions each year. Now, researchers have developed a model that can predict the mechanism for chip formation and its transition for almost every material. The model reveals the existence of a critical cutting depth as a function of material properties, tool geometry and running conditions. The model is ready for industrial use and to design optimal cutting tools.

Bridge pioneer new honorary professor

PORTRAIT: He has helped more than anyone else to adorn the flat, Danish landscape with monumental buildings. Now, he shares his 55 years of experience with AU students.

Danish researchers invent a new way to compress data

A joint collaboration between MIT, Boston University, Terma, Energinet and Aarhus University will make it possible to read data directly from compressed IoT data.

AU centre links brain research and artificial intelligence

Multi-million investment in Next-Gen EVBS

Cheaper, lighter, modular, scalable, more sustainable, maintenance-free. AU is heading an international project to develop a new type of battery for electric vehicles.

Aarhus University to help SMEs get started with 3D metal printing

The Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering has launched an industrial 3D metal printing initiative to help companies unlock the hidden potentials of the technology.

This is how we reduce the e-waste problem

Using materials science and printed electronics we can deal with the ever-increasing problem of electronic waste. AU researcher leads the way.

Building the world's largest test bench for wind turbines

Together with R&D Test Systems, AU engineers develop new, larger and far more advanced test benches for next-gen wind turbines.

Inspiring the next generation

Inspiring the next generation was the theme of the famous architectural engineering symposium IASS in 2021. Master’s student Leo Heinzl won the second placement in the conference’s research competition with his innovative foldable pavilion, showcased here at the AU Deep Tech Experimental Hub.

The Re-Plast project is a breakthrough in separating plastic waste

For the first time, we can now tell the difference between a wide range of plastic types and thereby separate plastics according to their chemical composition. This is absolutely ground-breaking and it will increase the rate of recycling of plastics immensely. The technology has already been tested at pilot scale and it will be implemented at an industrial scale in spring 2022.

An important interplay

Every year, Aarhus University sends more than 700 engineering interns into the business community with knowledge about existing and emerging technologies, sustainability and digitalisation. This is a stable and targeted form of tech transfer, and it is crucial both in the individual company and for productivity development in Denmark.

When the speed of light just isn’t fast enough

With a grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark, a team of researchers and experts from industry and Aarhus University will try to solve the fundamental problem that the speed of light simply is not fast enough for the internet of the future.

New campus in Foulum

The Faculty of Technical Sciences is establishing a new integrated education and research campus in Foulum near Viborg with up to 800-900 students. This new unified campus, AU Viborg, will serve as a centre for the green transition, veterinary medicine and primaryfood production in the western part of Denmark.

How do you recycle composite from wind turbines?

Important discovery for future production of biofuels

Researchers from Aarhus University and MIT have discovered an enzymatic mechanism that enables high-yield industry relevant production of drop-in biofuels.
Our collaborative tech lab, Engineering Lab, at Campus Herning

“It’s kept me awake at night”

PORTRAIT: Working closely with students and climate researchers, Professor (Docent) Claus Melvad has managed to fill in some essential pieces of the jigsaw puzzle of global warming. 

Four new engineering departments for Denmark

At the turn of the year, Aarhus University has implemented an organisational change to open four new departments. This is part of work to enhance research and educational activities within engineering science.

Drone technology + the maritime sector

Danish drone company Upteko is collaborating with AU researchers to develop next-gen autonomous drone tech for offshore operations.

Hasan is 3D printing a tiny-house in Holstebro

Hasan Alsofi graduated as a civil engineer in January 2021. He has now established a building contractor company called 3DCP with his friend Mikkel. Together with the Municipality of Holstebro, they are building the company’s pilot project. Their dream is to become Denmark’s first 3D-print contractor and to completely revolutionise the construction industry.

AU researchers develop solar-powered tech to make “forever chemicals” harmless

Prior to 2011, firefighting foam containing potentially carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals has been used in Denmark. The foam contained fluorinated substances known as ‘forever chemicals’. In 2021, a case came to light in Korsør, where water from a fire school had contaminated a meadow with grazing cows. Subsequently, several other cases have surfaced. A research project at Aarhus University aims to completely neutralize forever chemicals.

Developing robot technology in a smart industry collaboration

Increasing demand for automation meant that the Danish company, NIZE equipment ApS, was losing customers. Now, in collaboration with engineering students and researchers from AU, the company has started work on developing robots to work with humans in the future.

Digital Transformation Lab

In 2021, Aarhus University inaugurated DTL Ringkøbing-Skjern - the first of several strategically planned laboratories in the Central Denmark Region with- a focus on digital transformation. The purpose of the labs is close collaboration between local business communities, local municipalities and the university, linking the entire value chain for new knowledge in Denmark.
Meet the Integrated Nanoelectronics research team at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Digital Twins: Disrupting the norm

PORTRAIT: Meet Professor Peter Gorm Larsen - the figurehead of the Aarhus University investment in the hyped technology of digital twins.

This is how we boost circularity and sustainability in manufacturing industries

Cobots taking over the production line

This is the story of how an intelligent, self-propelled, collaborative, mobile robotic system can increase production and reduce the strain on employees. 

Partnership to showcase green building sites of tomorrow

Six companies and two knowledge institutions have joined forces to establish a full-scale demonstration building site as it may look in a green future.

New invention measures glacier water in the Arctic Ocean

A new device made by AU engineers enables climate researchers to collect water samples from the Arctic Ocean at depths of 300 metres.

Let's talk about ammonia production

Here's how we can discover new ways to produce one of the most important chemicals ever. Today, it's production is far from sustainable - let's change that. 

Read more about our Deep Tech Experimental Hub in Skejby.

World's first

The Aarhus University-based Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) is the world’s first interdisciplinary research center aimed at developing novel knowledge and technology that can be used to capture and recycle CO2 to replace fossil carbon and fossil fuel intensive processes with sustainable technologies.

New demonstration plant at AU may significantly reduce carbon emissions from methanol production

In collaboration with Haldor Topsøe, Aarhus University has launched a new demonstration plant to produce sustainable methanol from biogas. The plant opens up for significant global potentials to reduce carbon emissions from methanol production.

New researcher wants to develop cancer medicine in Denmark.

“I’m on my own here. No one else has gone this way before. But I believe my idea is worth pursuing. It may prove to give us a new understanding of cancer and cancer treatment at the molecular level, and it may just pave the way for mechanics-inspired design of new medicines,” says Lili Zhang, assistant professor at the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering

When clinicians and engineers team up

Engineers will play an even bigger role in the healthcare system over the next years. At Aarhus University we want to develop technology-based solutions that make life better for people, and we want to do this in collaboration with industry, the health sector, academia, and other stakeholders.

PhD student invents a ring for leaking heart valves

A small ring around the main artery may cure patients with leaking heart valves. Researchers have documented its effect on animals and they hope they will make it possible to use the technology on humans.

Buildings might function as batteries in the green energy transition

Making wind farms more efficient

"The results of the project could have a major impact on both academia and the wind energy industry," says Associate Professor Mahdi Abkar on the new collaboration project. 
How researchers from CBIO replace soy imports with locally grown grass for animal feed, part of project GO-GRASS

Massive grant brings upper secondary school students into the fight against antibiotic resistance

A grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation lets Danish school students join the search for new antibiotics - a discovery that could have a major impact on millions of people.

Ultra-strong terrorism protection

Two MSc in engineering students who are developing a special kind of concrete for terrorism protection have each received a scholarship for a study trip to Switzerland.

Engineering Lab Herning

In 2020, Aarhus University opened its experimental technology laboratory, Engineering Lab, at the campus in Herning.

Is there room left for more nature?

What if we could get a lot more meat out of the cultivated land we use to produce animal feed today? And what if this could initiate a pervasive green transformation of all of society?

Why autonomous drone racing is important for AI

Speed, agility, and performance are paramount in drone racing. A team of AU researchers are trying to develop an AI that can outmatch human pilots. 

Revideret 09.12.2024
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