The University of Aarhus provides independent and inspiring knowledge as a basis for the development of society. The university supplies Danish and international authorities, institutions and companies with research-based advice and top-quality knowledge transfer. It is essential for progress in society that the entire knowledge base developed at the university be made available and that the research carried out at the university can function as a gateway to the global knowledge market. The university guarantees the necessary confidentiality regarding the tasks it carries out on behalf of others.

The university makes its research base available when advising authorities and has national obligations within its main areas, particularly regarding the environment, agriculture and the climate, as well as in the field of pedagogy. In addition, the university provides research-based advice to the authorities in other areas, such as forensic medicine. The academic scope at the university makes it possible to intensify and expand the consultancy services to other research areas.

The university encourages knowledge transfer and contributes to business development and advancement of society. Hence, knowledge and technology transfer from research to the business community has high priority. The university is thus one of the driving forces behind the Incuba Science Park, which is currently one of Denmark’s leading entrepreneur and innovation environments, and the Alexandra Institute in the IT City Katrinebjerg, which serves as a model for technology transfer and entrepreneurship.

In 2006, the university’s revenue from research-based advice to the authorities amounted to approximately DKK 450 million. In the same year, the university entered into 276 research collaboration agreements with private and public sector companies. Also in 2006, the University of Aarhus reported 59 inventions with a potential for further development.

The aims and objectives are:

• to provide independent research-based consultancy services and communication, and thus help ensure that decisions in the political/administrative process are taken on the best possible basis
• to develop a user-oriented, holistic and internationally competitive research-based consultancy to authorities
• to work with the business community to develop new businesses and strengthen Denmark’s competitiveness.

The University of Aarhus has decided:

• to use the entire research base at the university in providing advice to the authorities
• to ensure, in collaboration with its partners, that the knowledge necessary for future research-based advice to the authorities is available nationally or in international collaboration
• to expand and strengthen new areas of research-based advice, as well as interdisciplinary research, fundamental for advisory services
• to increase the scope of technology transfer and research-based innovation between the university and the business community.