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AAU is initiator of the National Defence Technology Centre
Published online: 20.01.2023
News
AAU is initiator of the National Defence Technology Centre
Published online: 20.01.2023
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AAU is initiator of the National Defence Technology Centre
By David Graff, ENGINEERING secretariat
Future defence includes everything from advanced technology to low-level infrastructure, and the entire spectrum must be supported with defence technology research, education, further training, testing, qualification and certification at the highest international level.
The idea behind the National Defence Technology Centre is that Danish universities and GTS institutes can provide this support.
We want to make our knowledge and skills available to defend our society and its fundamental values. We’ve already come a long way today, including with research that initially may be 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.
The National Defence Technology Centre will be a platform for the universities and GTS institutes to collaborate with the Danish Armed Forces and industry on defence technology. The centre's secretariat is placed at Aalborg University, while the Technical University of Denmark chairs the centre's steering committee.
Two percent of two percent
The National Defence Technology Centre, which was established at a steering committee meeting on 20 December 2022, is asking the Danish Parliament to earmark at least two percent of the two percent of GDP to the NFC for research and development that will benefit the Danish Armed Forces.
It is also the ambition that the National Defence Technology Centre will serve as a single entry point to a unified research and development sector, and make visible, bring together and support specific activities in collaboration with the Danish Armed Forces and industry.
"Through the National Defence Technology Centre, the universities and GTS institutes can contribute to a critical technological boost of the Danish Armed Forces and defence industry through interdisciplinary partnerships that combine technological innovation with civil, military, political and economic considerations, which at the same time have the potential to make Denmark a significant international knowledge player in defence and security technology," says Mogens Rysholt Poulsen. He adds:
"But this requires that the newly elected parliamentary politicians invest the necessary funds in long-term, strategic and knowledge based development in the area. The potential is great, but it requires political support to get started."
Read more on the NFC website (in Danish), including a Q&A regarding the National Defence Technology Centre.
FACTS about the National Defence Technology Centre
The National Defence Technology Centre was established by all eight Danish universities and five government-approved Research and Technology Organizations (GTS institutes):
- Aalborg University
- Technical University of Denmark
- University of Southern Denmark
- Aarhus University
- University of Copenhagen
- Roskilde University
- IT University of Copenhagen
- Copenhagen Business School
- Danish Technological Institute
- Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology
- FORCE Technology
- Alexandra Institute
- Denmark’s National Metrology Institute
The centre was established at a steering committee meeting on 20 December 2022; the secretariat is placed at Aalborg University, while the Technical University of Denmark chairs the centre's steering committee. In addition, an advisory board is set up that includes a wide range of Danish stakeholders in the defence industry.