Embassies ‘can play crucial role in bringing researchers together’

Denmark’s foreign ministry and its embassies should lead the way in facilitating research and innovation between Danish academics and international partners, the rector of the Technical University of Denmark has said.

Anders Bjarklev told a group of 86 Danish ambassadors visiting the university on a study trip that they could help drive research to meet the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He said embassies and the government should lead the way, as universities would otherwise struggle to build up partnerships.

“We need to be working in places where there are other Danish organisations at the same time, because it’s our experience that collaboration is an important prerequisite for successful research,” said Bjarklev. “Therefore, our choices for research with regards to the UN’s 2030 global goals will be largely driven by what we hear from the ministry of foreign affairs and the Danish embassies.”