A significant investment of DKK 320 million is set to create a new campus aimed at fostering close collaboration between DTU and other educational institutions. This campus will allow students to gain practical experience by interacting directly with industry professionals.
Located in the Biotech city of Kalundborg, the initiative brings together industry leaders and educational partners to position the city as a global leader in biomanufacturing and biosolutions. A new building—estimated to be between 11,000 and 12,000 square meters—will host pilot plants, laboratories, and creative spaces, essential for advanced teaching and research.
This development is expected to enhance the educational landscape, allowing students across various fields to collaborate and learn from real-life industry scenarios. The goal is ambitious: to grow the student population from around 500 today to 1,500 by 2030.
Minister of Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, expressed her support, stating this initiative will significantly strengthen the biotech sector. She highlighted the inspiring collaboration between education and business, noting the government’s new life science strategy which aims to attract more international students, further enhancing this local initiative.
AP Ejendomme, part of AP Pension, will construct and own the new campus, which will be dedicated to educational and research purposes. In addition, the Novo Nordisk Foundation will contribute up to DKK 202 million for developing a unique teaching and training environment from 2025 to 2031. This funding will also support new laboratories, makerspaces, and greater collaboration with local industries.
Already, Campus Kalundborg offers a range of degree programs, including an Industrial MSc in Biomanufacturing from DTU, which started in 2023. DTU’s Senior Vice President, Carsten Orth Gaarn-Larsen, welcomed this collaborative effort, emphasizing its potential to fill vacant engineering jobs across Denmark.
Chairperson of the newly formed Campus Kalundborg Association, Daniel Schwartz Bojsen, emphasized the goal of establishing an educational symbiosis with the active involvement of industry. He noted that Kalundborg is ideally situated due to its established industrial cluster and effective collaboration models, which have proven successful in attracting and retaining students.
This initiative is an extension of a collaborative framework that has developed over 50 years. The Kalundborg Model—based on trust and strong partnerships—has been crucial in driving the area’s growth.
Kalundborg’s Mayor, Martin Damm, believes this new initiative will enhance the local community by fostering innovation and learning, thus enriching the urban life, educational offerings, and industries in the area. This will create a thriving community where knowledge and quality of life flourish together.