The first AU Distinguished Senior Innovators have been appointed
Seven researchers have been appointed as the first AU Distinguished Senior Innovators, who will dedicate their time to combining research and entrepreneurship for a period of three years with the possibility of extension. One of them is Jens Vinge Nygaard, who highlights the interdisciplinary network with the other innovators as one of the attractive features of the programme.
The seven AU Distinguished Senior Innovators
Arts:
- Professor Heather Anne Swanson, School of Culture and Society, Department of Anthropology
- Associate Professor Christian Dindler, School of Communication and Culture, Department of Digital Design and Information Studies
Natural Sciences:
- Associate professor Christoffer Karoff, Department of Geoscience and Department of Physics and Astronomy
- Associate professor Ulf Andersson Vang Ørom, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Technical Sciences:
- Associate Professor Jens Vinge Nygaard, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering
Aarhus BSS:
- Professor Helle Neergaard, Department of Management
Health:
- Professor Karin Lykke-Hartmann, Department of Biomedicine
Read more about the Distinguished Innovator programme (on au.dk)
Disclaimer: This text was translated using machine translation / AI and post-edited by Maria Nielsen Pedersen
It has now been confirmed who will be the first researchers to hold the title of AU Distinguished Senior Innovator for the next three years, with the possibility of extension for a further two years. Seven researchers have been appointed by the senior management team at AU following nominations from their respective faculties. From the faculties of Arts and Natural Sciences, two researchers have been appointed from each faculty, while one researcher has been appointed from each of the other three faculties.
During the selection process, the management emphasised choosing talented researchers with well-defined innovation projects, says Aarhus University’s director of Enterprise and Innovation, Lone Ryg Olsen. However, the management also aimed to paint a multi-faceted picture of what it means to be an innovator:
“We have strived to reflect different academic environments and local contexts, and to select innovators who can contribute to the innovation culture within each faculty. They should be ambassadors and inspire others. Therefore, it's important to showcase various aspects of what it means to be an innovator. We have a selection that demonstrates many facets of what it can look like. There's something for everyone at AU, it's not just for a select few. And the individual projects are exciting,” says Lone Ryg Olsen.
When asked how the programme specifically aims to contribute to the innovation culture within each faculty, Lone Ryg Olsen responds:
“It's about increasing awareness of the many opportunities that lie in the interaction with the surrounding society. Collaboration strengthens research, offers researchers more opportunities, and benefits society. For some, this is a given, while others may need these opportunities ‘translated’ – for example, what entrepreneurship might look like in their field.”
Lone Ryg Olsen points out that the programme aims to showcase innovation and entrepreneurship as an additional career path for researchers.
Researcher: Provides opportunities you wouldn't normally get
The seven researchers will focus on research and innovation for up to five years. During this period, they are released from obligations at their faculty and department, such as teaching. Additionally, they have access to support, advice, and networks, including the university’s innovation hub, The Kitchen.
One of the seven innovators is Jens Vinge Nygaard, an associate professor at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, who already has some experience in fostering innovation and creating spinout based on his research.
What motivated you to apply for the Distinguished Senior Innovator position?
“Quite selfishly, it was because I already have a patent and a spinout that I want to see succeed. When the university facilitates my ability to focus more of my time on that, I gladly accept. It provides some extra opportunities you wouldn’t normally get. Being released from my teaching duties gives me time to focus on innovation, although I must emphasise that I really enjoy teaching,” says Jens Vinge Nygaard.
He points to another motivating factor of the programme, which is the sense of community among the seven innovators:
“I have previously been involved in the open science network ODIN, which also collaborated with industry – and it is both fun and rewarding to be part of cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary networks, because innovation with great potential often arises at these intersections, which helps to stimulate your own innovation. Additionally, there's the cultural element – being an ambassador and contributing to creating change that increases the likelihood of success with patents and spinouts.”
Jens Vinge Nygaard points out the paradox that, while innovation often arises at the intersections and within interdisciplinary communities, inventors tend to keep their good ideas close to avoid them being taken – and patented – by others.
“There can be a tendency towards a closed culture when it comes to being innovative, but you need to share your good ideas with others; otherwise, they don’t become great ideas. Once an idea is patented, it becomes public, which is a good opportunity to refine our approach on how to open up at this stage to further develop the idea and incorporate more external knowledge,” he says.
Jens Vinge Nygaard's project focuses on electrically stimulating muscles, which alters the environment around the cells. This enables the activation and stimulation of muscles. The technology can be used to develop new treatments for conditions such as muscle loss.
“We want to develop computer models of biomaterials and tissues that demonstrate how the technology works. These models will help us improve our products and achieve greater clinical impact, so we can build a business around it.”
Jens Vinge Nygaard developed the project in collaboration with a younger research colleague, Youssif Merhi.
“He has helped take the first step towards a patent. So, I would like to continue this journey with him,” he says, while also emphasising the importance of involving younger researchers and students in innovation.
“When working on a complex idea that has the potential to become more than one product and could serve as a foundation for other types of products or services, it’s important to keep a long-term perspective. You need to involve people who are willing to take the long journey, who can see the broader perspective and are eager to advance it.”
Director of Enterprise and Innovation dreams of expanding model to more universities
The Aarhus University Board has initiated the new programme, which is part of the university’s business strategy. The board has initially allocated DKK 30 million to the project from the university's strategic funds over a five-year period. The programme is set to run for five years and will then be evaluated.
When asked what would constitute success for the new programme from the perspective of the director of Enterprise and Innovation, Lone Ryg Olsen responds:
“In practical terms, success means that this approach to innovation proves beneficial for researchers, the academic environment, and individual innovation projects. Furthermore, if it resonates with the surrounding society in terms of wanting to support these types of innovation projects. I dream of this model being adopted by all universities in the future, with AU being first movers.”
What does the university gain from being first movers?
“Prestige, but also – if what we claim is true, that it makes being a researcher more enjoyable – it will become easier to attract and retain talent. Moreover, we can demonstrate the broader potential of a university; that it’s not just an institution to be downsized and regulated, but that the tangible solutions that emerge from the university wouldn’t exist if they weren’t based on excellent research. If we can demonstrate this, we will gain more political support,” says Lone Ryg Olsen.