Who are we
FULL SPEED ON RESEARCH!
In our 2008 annual report, we will be looking back on a year in which the Danish Technological Institute continued its efforts to bolster research and development activities, investing in, e.g., laboratory facilities and sophisticated equipment totalling EUR 4.8 million. We are also pleased to have attained a steadily increasing number of research and development projects in 2008 particularly since this has been our intention for the past five years. We are looking forward to meeting the challenges of 2009, culminating with the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.
The Institute’s latest addition, the ‘Energy-FlexHouse’ – a unique platform for innovating and developing energy efficient technologies for construction – will help propel Denmark into a strong, international position in the energy sector and underpin the special status Denmark has enjoyed for a number of years in the area. We want to help Denmark reduce its CO2 emissions by 21% between 2008 and 2012. At the same time, we will be working to ensure that renewable energy covers 30% of Denmark’s energy consumption in the coming 12 years.
We will approach this task by taking new avenues and planning ahead for our customers, especially in areas like energy. We believe that Denmark can win the battle for tomorrow’s energy technology if we commit ourselves to innovative ideas, different philosophies and sophisticated, world-class laboratories. Denmark must be at the technological vanguard to create a Danish trade and industry framework that will foster global success.
The Institute’s international activities and focus areas also continue to gather momentum. We are selling more and more knowledge abroad. At the beginning of 2008, we bought the controlling interest in the Polish course and consultancy company FIRMA 2000 Sp. z o.o. In addition, the Institute is increasingly forging more international contacts to leading partners and customers in Europe and other parts of the world.
Since Gunnar Gregersen founded the Danish Technological Institute in 1906, we have maintained a broad technological competence that is reflected in the various types of tasks weperform. In keeping with tradition, we will use the 2008 annual report to recount the Institute’s activities during the past year, describing a number of completed tasks and ongoing research and development projects.
This year, we will focus on five major themes concerning key societal challenges. These are:
- Energy, environment and climate
- Innovation and development
- Health and well-being
- Production and business development
- Knowledge, education and competencies
We look forward to continuing constructive research and development work in 2009 in close cooperation with our customers and partners in Denmark and abroad.
We must keep our eyes open to the opportunities at hand – even in turbulent times – and have the courage to lead the way and act with an eye to the future.
Enjoy our annual report.
Hans Kirk
Chairman
Søren Sternqvist
President
