By Heidi S. Nissen, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication. Photo: Lars Horn and AAU Communication

AAU INNOVATE was buzzing with life, creativity and innovation on Monday, 3 October at the official opening where special guests inaugurated the new architectural standout on the campus in Aalborg East. Among those invited were Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Simon Kollerup (Social Democrat), representatives from the A.P. Møller Foundation, Cobe, the Danish Building and Property Agency, and MT Højgaard, who helped make the dream of AAU INNOVATE a reality.

The sun shone from a cloudless sky over Aalborg, and the building was bedecked with flags and red carpets, lounge music filled the air and tall glasses bubbled with champagne.

- Aalborg University is a leader when it comes to collaboration with the wider world. We embrace all disciplines and readily bring them all into play across scientific boundaries. This is the foundation of this building, and it is this strong foundation that we must continue to build on, said Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University, in his opening remarks.

The Rector further stated that AAU INNOVATE may be an architectural standout on campus, but it is a building that is there to be used.

- For here we must plane, glue, hammer. And here we need to think big thoughts. Here ideas are welcome to fall flat. And I promise you that the floor is big enough for all failed attempts, he said.

Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs praised AAU

In his speech, the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, who himself hails from North Jutland, emphasized the importance of having a place like AAU INNOVATE where there is the opportunity to think about the big ideas that can lead to solutions to society's challenges.

In addition, he also praised Aalborg University for being the university in Denmark that is best at collaborating with the wider world. And it is precisely the latter that is important for finding solutions.

- Innovation is not something that suddenly appears in our notebook. Innovation is something created by smart minds and wise hands. And solving challenges is exactly what you can do in this building, said the Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.

The minister was followed by remarks from Mads Lebech, Director of the A.P. Møller Foundation; Rasmus Brandt Lassen, Director of the Danish Building and Property Agency; and Dan Stubbergaard, architect and founder of Cobe, all of whom offered their congratulations on the stunning building.

Once the speeches were completed and the ribbon cut, marking AAU INNOVATE as officially open, guests had the opportunity to tour the building, visit the eight garages and hear pitches from various students and researchers.

Open house for staff

AAU staff were treated to an open house event starting at 12.00 where they could tour the beautiful building, visit the roof terraces, sneak a peek in the various garages and hear a talk on 'The mission-oriented university' with Annemarie Munk Riis, Acting Director of Innovation Fund Denmark, and Thomas Bak, newly appointed Tech Dean.

In addition, there were tastings from the new cozy café in AAU INNOVATE foodhub and in the Faculty Club on the third floor.

A total of 800 guests visited AAU INNOVATE this day, and students in the startup programmes got the chance to talk about their business ideas many times throughout the day.

The festivities associated with the opening of INNOVATE are not over. On Wednesday, 5 October, the café foodhub opens to the public and the building provides the setting for AAU's first job fair for students. On Friday, 7 October, there will be a Friday bar and a tour for students. Read more on AAU INNOVATE's own page here (in Danish).

AAU INNOVATE receives award

On the same day, AAU INNOVATE was honoured with an award by Aalborg Municipality along with three other buildings in Aalborg. The award ceremony took place at KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg where Aalborg University's campus director Mogens Juul Møller took part along with Cobe architect Dan Stubbergaard.

- I see the award as recognition that AAU has created a unique building that the committee for architectural awards in Aalborg Municipality has noticed and found worthy; the building is being recognized as an open and inspiring building that connects the campus, said Campus Director Mogens Juul Møller.

About AAU INNOVATE 

AAU INNOVATE became a reality with a donation of DKK 105 million from the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation (A.P. Møller Foundation). This made possible a building that is both inviting and an architectural standout.

With AAU INNOVATE, the university provides students, companies and researchers the framework to create a unique environment for the development of ideas, inventions and solutions for the good of people and society.