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AAU draws profile from defence industry to head AAU Defence
Published online: 08.06.2023
News
AAU draws profile from defence industry to head AAU Defence
Published online: 08.06.2023
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AAU draws profile from defence industry to head AAU Defence
By Lars Raae, AAU Defence. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication
The story of GomSpace is about both a North Jutland business success and a remarkable development in the Danish space and defence technology industry as a whole. Since the company's founding in 2007, a lot has happened in an industry that today is looking at major investments as a result of the ambitious proposed defence agreement that is currently being negotiated.
Niels Buus was involved from GomSpace's inception in 2007 to January 2023, and he has also been active in efforts such as the Confederation of Danish Industry's group for defence and security. As board chair and member, he has also helped get several defence technology start-up companies off the ground, and has handled crisis projects for the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Agency on several occasions in Afghanistan.
I know the defence industry, the Danish Armed Forces and the political system very well, and I have been extensively involved in translating research and knowledge from universities into new, innovative companies. I believe that this experience will prove valuable to AAU, which is particularly strong in and prioritizes building bridges from research to business.
AAU Defence and NFC
The National Defence Technology Centre (NFC) is a joint initiative with the participation of all eight universities in Denmark and five government approved research and development organizations. The NFC secretariat is located at AAU while AAU's contribution to NFC is coordinated under the auspices of AAU Defence. Photos: Rune Dyrholm/Danish Armed Forces
AAU Defence is a response to society's needs
As head of AAU Defence Niels Buus will ensure that the business community, civil service, politicians and the university's other partners will have one clear entry point to research, education and innovation at AAU regarding defence and security.
This is a major task as the university conducts relevant research in areas as diverse as artificial intelligence, drone and cyber technology, green fuels, telemedicine and conflict research.
We have strong research environments at all our faculties that can contribute to this endeavour. So it is natural that AAU adapt so that we can deliver the research appropriate to the new security policy reality. I believe that the cross-cutting collaboration in AAU Defence can play a role.
Internally, AAU Defence is also tasked with ensuring that defence-related research activities, business collaboration, applications to foundations, and the already existing close collaboration with a number of units of the Danish Armed Forces at different levels are coordinated and supported to a completely different degree than before.
- And I also expect that I can help initiate new projects with very special potential. Throughout a long career, I’ve taken part in different research-industry partnerships, and this knowledge can be useful in terms of identifying projects that can be successful, says Niels Buus, who originally graduated as an engineer from AAU.
Must get to know the university
Although Niels Buus knows the university world from many years of collaboration, he looks forward to getting to know "the other side of the fence" better.
I have primarily collaborated with the technically based researchers, but I have no doubt that many relevant activities are ongoing in other parts of the university as well. And since I have always experienced a unique spirit of cooperation and pragmatism at Aalborg University, I have no doubt that we will bring all the relevant actors on board.
Niels Buus’ CV (excerpt)
Career
- 2014-2023: CEO, GomSpace
- 2012-2013: Director, Defense & Fuel, DESMI Pumping Technology A/S
- 2001-2007: CEO, GateHouse A/S
- 1996-2001: VP Radar Systems, Terma A/S
Various positions on boards in innovative start-ups over several decades - e.g. conXus A/S, Northern VO ApS, Level 8 ApS, Chora Group, Necas A/S, Miitors and SystemTeknik A/S.
Education
- 2001: SERA, Armament, Ecole Militaire, Paris
- 2000: SIKU, Security Policy, Royal Danish Defence College
- 1994: Master’s in Management and Strategy, London Business School
- 1985: MSc., Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Aalborg University.