Strong interest in funding opportunities for collaboration via AU Connect: From cell-based milk to knowledge sharing among engineers
For the first time, Aarhus University has opened applications for funding to support collaboration between researchers and private as well as public enterprises through the AU Connect fund. Launched in the autumn, the fund is financed by the innovation grant from the Research Reserve and aims to support researchers looking to expand existing collaborations or initiate new partnerships with industry.
The so-called Proof of Collaboration grants were awarded to a total of 10 researchers—five men and five women—by the application deadline in November. A total of 21 applications were submitted by researchers across all five faculties. Researchers from TECH submitted the highest number of applications and also received the most grants—five in total. Aarhus BSS received two, the remaining faculties each received one grant. Each grant amounts to approximately DKK 150,000.
One of the successful grant recipients is Professor Lotte Bach Larsen from the Department of Food Science at TECH. She applied for funding for a food innovation project aimed at exploring, cultivating, and expanding collaboration with national and international companies in the production and use of cell-based milk. In the project, Lotte Bach Larsen will establish contact with and explore potential collaboration opportunities with smaller companies, particularly startups, involved in the production of cultured milk and microbial milk protein in both Germany and France.
"The AU Connect funding enables us to spend some time visiting different stakeholders within the field of cell-based milk. This is an area experiencing rapid development, and the grant allows us to explore opportunities for both national and international collaborations with a view to establishing new projects."
Professor Mette Zølner from the Department of Communication and Culture at Arts has also received an AU Connect grant for her project on knowledge sharing and innovation among highly specialised foreign engineers. The project is a pilot study conducted in collaboration with the Danish branch of a major American software company.
"Through this project, we aim to gain insights into how to establish guidelines for optimising knowledge sharing and innovation across culturally diverse professional environments. The knowledge gained can be utilised by companies employing highly skilled international professionals, making it easier to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning to strengthen innovation."
New calls for applications are expected in 2025.
Read more about AU Connect here.