Business collaboration and innovation

There are two core tasks

• Cntribution to the society’s development and welfare through research and
• Graduates for the labour market of the future.

The strategy must be implemented within three main areas which are

1. Innovation and entrepreneurship
2. Projects with business and industry, public sector institutions and civil society
3. Stronger foundation

In relation to the first area, at the most recent meeting of the AGRO Business Committee, we had an introduction of The Kitchen (https://thekitchen.io/), which is AU’s new entrepreneurial factory. It is located in the central kitchen of the old municipal hospital, and it is a place that offers networking and sparring for anyone who has a good idea that might turn into a business one day. The focus is especially on younger researchers and students, and the goal is to create new companies and innovation in existing companies. The Kitchen offers a range of events, from actual courses and workshops to networking meetings and meetings with former start-ups, which are now established companies.

It seems like a really exciting offer that we at AGRO should take advantage of and especially be able to spot the students and younger researchers who can benefit from getting acquainted with this environment.

At CBIO Summit 2022 in Silkeborg, we were able to get acquainted with a younger researcher who has started his own company, Pure Algae Denmark. The company was founded in 2018 and now has six employees. The production is, as the name indicates, "algae", and the idea for the company originated from a master thesis at EcoScience in Silkeborg. It was exciting to hear the founder tell how he has managed to get from idea to business, and how specific knowledge in the field has been combined with skills in entrepreneurship. I can only recommend visiting the company's website www.purealgae.dk

Do we have students with a good idea? Typically, it shows towards the end of the master or PhD project, and here "The Kitchen" can help raise funds, e.g. through "InnoExplore", to be affiliated with the university and work on its commercial idea. There are also other financing options that can extend the period during which you test your ideas, but are not necessarily ready to create a CVR number and start a business.

The Kitchen also has the opportunity to spar with researchers around project applications. Espeically applications to GUDP was mentioned, where we often sit and struggle with the section on business plan. As with all other support functions, the staff at The Kitchen must be contacted well in advance, so it is worth considering if you have plans for applications for the coming autumn.