NFC

National Defence Technology Centre

All eigth Danish universities and all seven GTS institutes collaborate on defence technology development. The goal is to advance Denmark's defence and security.

NFC

National Defence Technology Centre

All eigth Danish universities and all seven GTS institutes collaborate on defence technology development. The goal is to advance Denmark's defence and security.

Future defence includes advanced technology as well as low-level infrastructure. The entire spectrum must be supported with defence technology research, education, continuing education and further training, testing, qualification and certification at the highest international level.

The National Defence Technology Centre supports this in Denmark through coordinated and direct access for relevant authorities and companies to leading Danish research and development environments.

“

We want to make our knowledge and skills available to defend our society and its fundamental values. We’ve already come a long way, including with research that may initially have been thought of in a civilian context, but which can also be used in defence in today's hybrid warfare with sabotage, influence campaigns, cyberattacks, actual military operations and so on.

Mogens Rysholt Poulsen, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Science

Photos: Rune Dyrholm/Danish Armed Forces

Joint initiative

The National Defence Technology Centre is a joint initiative of all universities and government approved research and development organisations (GTS institutes) in Denmark. The aim of the National Defence Technology Centre is that the universities and GTS institutes can contribute to a critical technological boost of the Danish Armed Forces and the Danish defence industry through interdisciplinary partnerships that combine technological innovation with civil, military, political and economic considerations to make Denmark a significant international knowledge player in defence and security technology. Photos: Rune Dyrholm/Danish Armed Forces

Research areas

1
Basic research on technology that may be relevant to the Danish Armed Forces, but where the specific application remains to be determined. Example: quantum technology
2
Basic research on technology that also has clear defence applications. Example: drone technology
3
Research and development of technology that may be adapted for defence applications. Example: green fuels for heavy transport
4
Research and development of technology used exclusively for defence purposes. Example: military software

Questions and answers about the National Defence Technology Centre

What is the purpose of establishing the National Defence Technology Centre?

The purpose of the National Defence Technology Centre is to make the knowledge and competences of the Danish universities and GTS institutes available to advance the Danish Armed Forces with regard to safeguarding our society and values. The purpose is also to enable the development of the Danish Armed Forces to benefit our degree programmes and society as a whole with an eye toward civilian applications.

What takes place under the auspices of the National Defence Technology Centre?

The National Defence Technology Centre is a formalized partnership between the universities and GTS institutes that can streamline and strengthen cooperation with the Danish Armed Forces and industry on defence technology development. The National Defence Technology Centre will coordinate defence technology projects in collaboration with, for example, the Danish Armed Forces and defence industry actors.

Who finances the National Defence Technology Centre?

What does the National Defence Technology Centre mean for the degree programmes?

Why is the National Defence Technology Centre unique?

Where did the idea for the National Defence Technology Centre originate?

The idea for the National Defence Technology Centre came from the Technical University of Denmark and Aalborg University together as a result of dialogues with the Danish Armed Forces, industry, the sector, various interest groups, and at the political level. As initiators, Aalborg University and the Technical University of Denmark serve as secretariat, chair and deputy chair of the steering committee.

What is the status of the collaboration with the Danish Armed Forces and industry today?

How is the National Defence Technology Centre's contribution and role in defence technology development limited?

Organization of the National Defence Technology Centre

A secretariat located at Aalborg University handles the day-to-day management of the National Defence Technology Centre. The Technical University of Denmark chairs the centre's steering committee, while the Alexandra Institute and Aalborg University are deputy chairs. In addition, the National Defence Technology Centre coordinates with the hubs of the other actors to ensure easy access to researchers and laboratories both nationally and locally.