How to get started

Collaboration projects in Odense Robotics can be an important step for companies towards realising larger research and development projects.  

Collaboration projects aim to strengthen companies’ innovation and growth potential by enabling companies and knowledge institutions to work together and exchange insights.   

Together, companies and knowledge institutions explore companies’ specific challenges, testing concepts and gaining new insights. 

The projects must not in any way develop a product for an individual company or conduct R&D for an individual company. 

The project results must be of interest and relevance to a wider audience than just participating companies. Results must be published or disseminated to a wider audience.  

Projects typically last between 6-18 months and are always led by one of Odense Robotics' seven knowledge institutions: Aalborg University, Aarhus University, Kolding Design School, Danmark’s Technical University, FORCE Technology, the University of Southern Denmark and the Danish Technological Institute.

Because collaboration projects are funded by public funds, there are certain guidelines that need to be followed. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the guidelines and the small amount of paperwork required.  

Read the overall guidelines for collaboration projects in paragraph 5.4 here (in Danish).

You will be asked to sign a collaboration agreement and appendix at the start of the project. It outlines key legal and financial aspects such as IPR, budget and confidentiality. See the collaboration agreement template here and appendix here (in Danish).

You will also be asked to sign a co-financing form at project start – see here (in Danish).  

Collaboration projects are funded by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Odense Robotics channels these funds to knowledge institutions, whose funding depends on documenting companies’ participation.  

Companies do not receive or invest funds in projects – the only requirement is dedicating your time in the projects. You will be asked to sign a co-financing form at the start and end of the project, where you document the hours spent in the project. See the document here.    

Projects always involve several private companies and at least one knowledge institutions. In other words, you will be working together with many companies and researchers.  

At least two SME’s operating in the field of robotics, automation and drones participate in each project. Participating companies often include end users.  

Companies work with some of the following knowledge institutions: Aalborg University, Aarhus University, Design School Kolding, Danish Technological Institute, University of Southern Denmark, FORCE Technology and DTU.  

Companies must be members of Odense Robotics unless they are end-users or a public organisation. To learn more about membership visit this page.

Projects enable companies to explore early-stage innovation concepts so that they can be taken to the next step in development. Think of it as a kind of feasibility study to establish whether an idea is worth developing further.  

As a company, you might have an idea for how your technology can be applied in new markets or environments. Collaboration projects can be a good way of exploring this potential and gaining key insights.  

Lastly, you also gain exposure through Odense Robotics communications and events, where your company can contribute by demonstrating the project results and how it has benefited your company.