Af Lea Laursen Pasgaard and David Graff, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Lars Horn, Baghuset

Robots, AI and advanced production technology are playing an increasingly important role in competitiveness and green transition in Danish businesses. So, Aalborg University and the Confederation of Danish Industry are bringing together researchers, the business community and politicians at Christiansborg on 8 September for the conference Fra forskning til fabriksgulv [From research to factory floor].

The aim is to discuss how new knowledge on advanced production, robots and AI can be translated more quickly into solutions for factories and create value for companies and workplaces throughout Denmark.

AAU as bridge builder

With the conference, AAU enters the national debate on how research, business and policy frameworks can work together more effectively to shape the future of production.

AAU has for many years worked closely with companies and public sector actors to develop technology based on specific needs. This applies to robotics, AI, digital production methods and flexible production, where researchers and companies work together and test solutions in both the laboratory and in practice.

According to Jesper Wengel, Pro-rector for Research, AAU the link between research and specific needs in companies is crucial if new technology is to create value in practice.

"At AAU, we have a strong tradition of working closely with companies and public sector actors on research based on specific needs. The conference is an opportunity to focus on how we can ensure that new knowledge on robots, AI and production technology is more quickly translated into solutions that create value in companies and drive the development of a more sustainable and competitive Denmark," he says.

The conference will put this approach into a broader national context: What will it take for Denmark to better translate research into technologies that can be effectively used on the factory floor?

Technology with significance for all of Denmark

Robotics and production technology are often associated with high-tech companies and specialized research environments. But the conference also focuses on how the technologies can impact production, competitiveness and jobs across the country.

This is about how companies can use new technologies, how research environments and the business community can collaborate more closely, and how policy frameworks can ensure that promising ideas do not fall by the wayside on the path from research to application.

Among the speakers are Jesper Wengel, Pro-rector for Research AAU and Ann-Louise Andersen, Associate Professor, AAU. The roster also includes representatives from the Confederation of Danish Industry, the Danish Technological Institute, Force Technology and SDU Robotics, among others.

Member of parliament Simon Kollerup (Social Democrats) is the conference host and journalist Nynne Bjerre Christensen serves as moderator.

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.