SDU and the Danish Defence to work more closely together on public safety

The arrival of the first group of conscripts from the armed forces’ new drone platoon on SDU’s campus in Odense on Monday 4 May marks a closer cooperation between SDU and the Danish Defence and underlines the fact that SDU’s research and study programmes in the field of drones contribute to the security of Denmark and Europe – and have the potential to do so even more. 

The drone conscripts are the first cohort at SDU to be educated and trained in engineering and technical skills that can be applied for defence purposes in operational contexts. The course is an important part of the cooperation between the SDU Drone Centre and the Danish Defence Drone Centre, which has recently been established in Odense.

For the benefit of Europe’s security

SDU’s Rector Jens Ringsmose considers it both important and relevant to strengthen cooperation with the Danish Defence.

– Our purpose as a university is to create value for and with society; this also applies to research, education and innovation that can benefit the security of Denmark and Europe – particularly in the current uncertain geopolitical situation, with an escalating threat landscape, he says and elaborates: 

– At SDU, our approach is that the University cooperates with the companies and institutions that need our expertise – and as security, technology and society are becoming increasingly intertwined, it is only natural that we bring our core competences to bear and work more closely with the Danish Defence.

Principles ensure the balances

Jens Ringsmose also emphasises that the cooperation with the Danish Defence is in accordance with SDU’s principles for cooperation with the Danish Defence and the defence industry. They were adopted in 2025 following thorough discussions within the Executive Board, the Central Liaison Committee and the University Council.

– I am very pleased with the discussions we had internally at the University prior to the adoption of our principles for cooperation with the Danish Defence and the defence industry. The principles provide a framework for how researchers and we as a university can find a balance between academic freedom, ethical responsibility and society’s need for security, Jens Ringsmose says and elaborates:

– Researchers are entirely free to cooperate with the armed forces and the defence industry, but at the same time, other researchers’ wishes regarding cooperation must be respected.

Jens Ringsmose also points out that his experience in his daily work at the University is that many employees support cooperation on matters relating to public safety.

– The war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the perceptions of defence and security among researchers at the University and also among the Danish public in general, to the extent that one could almost speak of a ‘turning point’, to quote former German Chancellor Scholz. I sense a great deal of support for the idea that as a university we should also create value through cooperation with the Danish Defence, he says.

The Rector anticipates that the first group of drone conscripts will experience a vibrant university with a wealth of fantastic environments, which are also leading in research, education and responsible technological development in the field of drone technology.

– And the drone conscripts are more than welcome to return to SDU later on – perhaps as engineering students after they’ve completed their conscription programme, says Jens Ringsmose.