Research Collaboration

As a company, you can invite a student to do different types of project collaboration. These projects may take place on a different scale and at times during the study programme. The advantage for the company will be that you get to know one or more students on a non-binding basis, but that the relationship can lead to later employment.

• A project in practice (=virksomhedsprojekt) is part of the curriculum that the student can choose. It combines the student’s wish to work in practice with solving an assignment that the company has, and which also matches a student's desire to work with an academic challenge in practice. The project can be carried out as a full-time project in one block (a quarter of a year) or as a part-time project in two blocks (a half year), where the student earns academic credits (ECTS). Company projects are most common during the 2^nd and 3^rd year of the bachelor programme and can be commenced four times a year, following the quarterly study calendar at Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at the University of Copenhagen. Most popular is the spring semester of the student's third year.
  
  
• A bachelor's project can be written in collaboration with a company as a full-time project in one block or as a part-time project of two blocks.
  
  
• A master's project can be written with a student in the first year of the Master's degree programme. It is not bound to the block structure and is remunerated by ECTS credits.
  
  
• A master's thesis may also be written with a host organisation. It takes six months and gives the student 30 ECTS credits.

We are currently working on developing a system that can support matchmaking between students at DIKU's study programmes, supervisors and companies. In the meantime, we refer to KU Projekt og Job, which is a joint portal for University of Copenhagen, where you can post project proposals for free. Select Companies in the top menu and follow the instructions.

As a student at UCPH, you can apply for projects broadly in KU Projekt og Job on, for example, your field of study, subject or type of project. If you search for the word DIKU, you will see projects that are targeted at DIKU students.

Since 2018, the University of Copenhagen has offered a four-year industrial Master's degree programme in Computer Science. The degree program runs over four years on a part-time basis, so that students are able to work for at least 25 hours per week while studying. In this way, your company will be able to recruit and retain highly educated student employees who have ambitions to get a master's degree, while at the same time allowing the employee to put in a greater effort in the company.

Read more about the industrial master degree.

Erhvervs-ph.d.

With a highly qualified employee who has access to the latest research in a specialised area, you can, as a company, acquire new knowledge that can strengthen both development and operations activities.

An industrial PhD contract typically involves a three-year research project in which an industrial PhD Employed in a company and enrolled at a university in order to: A PhD programme.

As a business host, you receive a monthly subsidy of DKK 14,500 to cover your salary and up to 137,000 to cover the person's travel activities. The company itself covers the remaining payroll costs corresponding to the salary collective agreement for PhD student in the state.

Read more on the Innovation Funds webpage 

Industrial postdoc

With the appointment of an industrial postdoc fellow, you can actively contribute to the development of research talents and benefit from business-oriented research, development and innovation. You will be able to solve specific research tasks and strengthen your relationships with existing and new partners in the university environment. The contract runs for two years.

A collaboration between a private company, a research institution and an industrial postdoc master is entered into.

The company receives a refund of up to DKK 22,000 per month for the industrial postdoc candidate's salary and up to DKK 2,500 a month for the company's expenses for the candidate's travel. Up to DKK 10,000 (including overhead) for each month during the project period to cover the research institution's project-related expenses.

Read more on the Innovation Funds webpage 

Minor projects, such as eg. Feasibility studies, involving collaboration with researchers can be financed by the Danish innovation clusters or other funding sources.

Fourteen business and innovation clusters have been established in Denmark with the purpose of boosting innovation in startups and SMEs in various business sectors. The University of Copenhagen is a member of/collaborates with most of these business clusters, and DIKU is the focal point for the clusters DigitalLead, Energy Cluster Denmark og VisionDenmark. 

The projects can, for example, be used by companies to initiate knowledge collaboration with universities or convert knowledge from universities into an innovation project. At least two companies and a university must team up in the projects, whose budgets are typically ranging between DKK 200,000-800,000.

Innovation initiatives are ranging high on the agenda at the University of Copenhagen.

Innobooster

If you are a small company or entrepreneur who wants to launch an innovative, knowledge-based development project, the Innovation Fund Denmark's Innobooster programme can provide co-financing and boost your project. Collaboration with university researchers can often bring new knowledge and more efficient methods to the project.

For example, it may be possible to apply for funding for knowledge-based development projects that result in a new product, a new service or an improved process. The subsidy can cover salaries for existing and new employees ' hours, as well as expenses for knowledge providers, equipment and materials.

You can apply from DKK 50,000 and up to DKK 5 million. Innoboosters ' contributions may not exceed 33% of the total costs of a project. The remaining part is covered by the company itself. The grant can cover:

• Salaries for both new and existing employees.
• Knowledge and services from knowledge providers, Denmark and abroad (e.g. universities, GTS departments, contract research institutions, private development centres, etc.).
• Materials and equipment needed for the project.

Read more on the Innovation Fund Denmarks webpage

Digitalization boost

Through the Digitalization Boost scheme, SMEs can apply for co-financing to develop competitive new products or services within digitization and industry.

The products or solutions must have a commercial purpose with one or more elements of design in a broad sense, and must be developed in teams with at least two companies and a knowledge institution.

Each team receives up to DKK 600,000 (max. 33% of the payroll costs) in co-financing for the team's companies in connection with product development.

The scheme is administered by the Business houses in DK (run by Danish Municipalities).

Read more at the Digitalization boost website

At DIKU, we conduct research within all areas of computer science – from theoretical basic research within algorithms and programming languages to more application-oriented areas, e.g. artificial intelligence and data science, to solve problems in all conceivable areas of our society where data plays a role.

We would be happy to help you get in touch with relevant researchers in specific areas if you are considering taking part in a major or minor research project.

Read more about how we have organised DIKU's research areas.

Types of projects/programmes

Innovation Fund Denmark

For high-tech development projects, you can apply to innovation fund Denmark for grants of up to DKK 15 million. Innovation Fund Denmark has a number of programmes that can support research collaboration.

• InnoBooster
• Grand Solutions
• Industrial researcher

EU Research programmes

The EU supports a number of different forms of collaboration between the business community and the university. Companies can also apply for funding for the costs associated with drawing up an EU application. Further information about funding opportunities and guidance on EU-funded projects is available from The Office for Research Services..

At the University of Copenhagen's research portal, you can get a full overview of foundations, funding opportunities and types of collaboration..