All Danish universities join forces for the largest research and tech fair in the Nordic region

Artificial intelligence, quantum computing and machine learning are technologies that are transform-ing our world and will become the next gamechanger for Danish companies. Being a leader in digital technologies is crucial for both the individual company and Denmark's entire competitiveness.

This is why the entire community of Danish universities now join forces with the Danish ICT Industry Association (IT-Branchen) and The Media House of Technology (Teknologiens Mediehus) to create a focal point for showcasing the latest research and the large number of businesses and start-ups driv-ing the digital development in Denmark and the Nordic region.

Together, they will ensure that the strong position of Danish research within digital technologies is transformed into new business mod-els with companies in Denmark, will stimulate growth in small and medium-sized enterprises and unicorns, and promote innovation and startup activities in our society.

"Our vision is to create the leading research-based technology fair in the Nordic countries, where exhibitors and visitors can meet and discuss the latest technological breakthroughs, do matchmaking and find new partners – or just get new good ideas," says Anders Bjarklev, chairman of the Danish Universities' Rector's Office.  

Prominent keynote speakers confirmed

When the DIGITAL TECH SUMMIT 2021 welcomes the visitors on 30 November and 1 December in Øksn¬ehallen/the DGI City in Copenhagen, they can meet and listen to some of the most talented and renowned researchers, business leaders and technology leading companies as well as innovative start-ups, offering a gourmet tech talk buffet at Michelin level.

Our keynote speaker is the Vice-chair of the EUROPEAN Commission, Margrethe Vestager, who will share her visions for a strong European digital leadership through targeted research and technology-based initiatives, focusing in particular on how we develop and use AI.

Another main name is world class researcher Serge Belongie, professor and research director at the renowned Cornell University in New York. As CEO of the upcoming AI Pioneer Centre, a research centre to be located in Copenhagen with DKK 350 million and five Danish universities in the back, with the ambitions of bringing Danish research in artificial intelligence to the very top, Serge Belongie will share some of the latest research areas within the use of computer vision and image recognition, which will strengthen not only the Danish society, but have a global impact in the coming decade. Examples are improving diagnostic methods in the health sector, optimizing the transport sector or to strengthen the green transition.

Natasha Friis Saxberg, CEO of the Danish ICT Industry Association, and DTS partner says: "We see it as a clear advantage that both large and small companies get close to the world of research and derive direct benefit of the many new technologies that are being developed in recent years. It is a societal goal to improve the competitiveness of companies and strengthen their digital opportunities through exchange of knowledge with the universities”.

Meet 90 exhibitors of new technologies

At the fair, around 5,000 visitors can meet 90 exhibiting companies, including Maersk, AMBU and 3Shape, who will be presenting their latest technological solutions and invite job candidates for a talk.

Brand new business ideas are presented in the start-up corner. Among the conference's main spon-sors IDA (The Society of Danish Engineers) and the Otto Mønsted Foundation, who support the con-cept that researchers, companies, and the many visitors get the unique opportunity to meet and come together to create new innovative solutions.

Nina Movin, the CEO of the Otto Mønsted Foundation, adds: "It's fantastic when the universities are working together to elevate us as a digital nation. A focal point for university environments and busi-nesses is something we choose to support. This is in harmony with our overall objective to support Danish trade and industry and the very talented researchers ".

The organizing partners behind the DIGITAL TECH SUMMIT are Copenhagen Business School (CBS), the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), The IT University (ITU), The University of Copenhagen (KU), Roskilde University (RUC), the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Aalborg University (AAU), Aarhus University (AU), as well as Danish ICT Industry Association (IT-Branchen) and The Me-dia House of Technology (Teknologiens Mediehus). The fair is facilitated by the support of i.a. Dansk IT, ATV, DIREC, DigitalLead, the Technology Pact (Teknologipagten) and a large number of sponsors and other partners.

The DIGITAL TECH SUMMIT will take place on 30 November and 1 December 2021

Interested exhibitors can download information about stands and sponsorships on the website: http://www.digital-tech-summit.com/. Interested visitors can also now sign up for a waiting list in order to be invited when the ticket sale opens in August. The event is free of charge for students and start-ups.