Building on DTU's long-standing presence in Greenland, DTU is with a new arctic strategy setting an ambitious course to strengthen its contribution to the sustainable development of the Arctic amid increased international attention and security challenges.
"DTU's Arctic strategy is based on DTU's overall strategy and sets out very specific benchmarks for what the university's activities should contribute to," explains Senior Vice President, Carsten Orth Gaarn-Larsen, who is responsible for DTU's involvement in public-private partnerships with partners in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. He continues:
"Our ambition is to strengthen DTU's position as a leading technical university in Arctic research, education and innovation, and to be a strong and relevant partner. We aim to help develop solutions to challenges that are both crucial to Arctic communities and of global relevance, through the development of strong international networks and partnerships".
From strategy to societal value
The strategy sets the direction for how DTU, through research, education and technology, will contribute to sustainable development in the Arctic. "That is why long-term, equal partnerships – in which local needs, priorities and knowledge form the basis for the development of new solutions – are absolutely central," explains Mie Hylstofte Sichlau Winding, Chief Arctic Officer, Arctic DTU.
"It is crucial that the strategy is translated into concrete results that create value for Arctic communities. This requires us to develop our activities in close collaboration with the Government of Greenland, educational and research institutions, businesses and other partners in the Arctic," she says.
The strategic focus areas specifically address challenges spanning land, sea and space. These focus areas range from sustainable construction, energy, and land-based transport to research into marine resources, the marine environment, and maritime solutions, as well as advanced satellite and space technologies that support monitoring, navigation, and communication in the Arctic.
Among other things, DTU's research vessel Dana V, which is planned to enter service in the beginning of 2028, is a key piece of research infrastructure, and the ambition is for the vessel to also serve as a platform for research, education, and innovation across marine, maritime, and geological disciplines.
Arctic DTU is set to turn Arctic ambitions into reality
DTU's Arctic activities span a wide range of subject areas and require collaboration across departments, disciplines and research infrastructures.
Arctic DTU plays a central role in translating the strategy's ambitions into concrete initiatives by bringing together and strengthening the university's Arctic activities and developing collaborations with partners in Greenland and across the rest of the Arctic. DTU's campus in Sisimiut provides an important local presence, where education, research and collaboration with Greenlandic institutions and businesses go hand in hand.
