INNOVATION

DTU in top three for patent applications in Denmark

Vestas and Novozymes are the only Danish companies applying for more patents than DTU, according to new figures from the European Patent Office. This is the first time ever that a university is in the top three.

DTU has a vibrant innovation ecosystem, which is exemplified by the annual Startup Day, where investors and entrepreneurs meet. Photo: Bax Lindhardt

Thursday 27 March 2025

Simon Koefoed Toft

Last year, DTU submitted 84 applications to the European Patent Office, EPO, to protect a new technology invented by its researchers. The university is only surpassed by Vestas (95) and Novozymes (85) on a top 10 list of the most patent-seeking companies in Denmark compiled by the Danish Patent and Trademark Office.

And that's something to be proud of, says Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU.

‘The high ranking reflects the fact that DTU has both innovative and skilled employees and a culture that emphasises entrepreneurship. The knowledge we create must go out into society and be useful, and one of the ways it does this is through patents, which benefit startups, spinouts and existing companies,’ she says.

The same new figures from the EPO show that DTU is the university in Europe that applies for the fourth most patents. Only Swiss ETH Zurich and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Belgian KU Leuven have applied for more in 2024.

FACTS

See the full top 10 here

The list shows the Danish companies that filed the most patent applications with the European Patent Office, EPO, in 2024.

  1. Vestas 95
  2. Novozymes 85
  3. DTU 84
  4. VKR Holding 79
  5. Oticon 73
  6. Topsoe 71
  7. Danfoss 69
  8. GN Group 64
  9. Novo Nordisk 60
  10. Chr. Hansen 51

Source: Danish Patent and Trademark Office

 

Innovation in a broad perspective

Although patenting is an important tool, applying for or obtaining patents is not a goal in itself, says Marianne Thellersen.

‘The goal is to realise the full potential of the innovation that takes place at DTU - and it's present in everything we do. We educate our students to think innovatively, we collaborate with industry on new solutions, and we support our researchers in commercialising and disseminating the technologies they develop,’ she says.

DTU has a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that aims to take new ideas out of the labs and into industry and society where they can make a difference. The ecosystem ranges from student innovation and startups to concrete business collaborations and commercialisation.

On the annual Startup Day, which this year is 15 May, DTU celebrates innovation by inviting investors, industry and entrepreneurs to meet and make new connections so that even more great ideas can become reality.

Read more about DTU's innovation ecosystem here and DTU Startup Day here.

Contact

Marianne Thellersen

Marianne Thellersen Senior Vice President - Innovation and Entrepreneurship