Research and innovation from DTU are being converted into an increasing number of new companies. Figures from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s commercialisation statistics show that, with 14 registered spinout companies in 2024, DTU is expanding its position as the university in Denmark that incubates most new companies.
DTU President Anders Bjarklev is very pleased with this development, which is the result of DTU's many years of investment in research and innovation.
"It is very satisfying to see that more and more companies are being founded on the basis of knowledge and inventions, IP, from DTU,” says Anders Bjarklev.
“The 14 spinout companies are the tip of the iceberg of powerful innovation throughout DTU’s ecosystem. This is a very welcome development – and it is needed in a new global world order where universities must strengthen innovation and competitiveness in a stronger Europe,” he says.
In addition to the 14 spinout companies, UFM statistics show that DTU registered 114 inventions and filed 60 patent applications in 2024. Furthermore, DTU entered 36 licence-, sales- and option agreements last year.
Strong year for innovation
The Ministry of Higher Education and Science estimates that 2024 was a strong year overall for Danish universities working to translate research results into business ideas. DTU accounted for 14 of the total 29 unique spinouts from Danish universities.
Nationwide, this represents an increase of 10 spinouts compared to the previous year, and overall, 2024 surpasses the previous record of 27 new spinouts in 2019.
DTU works purposefully to ensure that the technologies developed at the university benefit society. This is achieved through agreements with companies that can exploit the research results commercially.
DTU is currently involved in over 200 commercialisation projects. The projects cover many different areas of technology and are targeted at commercialisation processes involving both spin-offs of technologies with start-ups and commercialisation agreements with established companies based on long-term strategic research collaborations.
