From research to business

Research ready to make impact

Innovative research ideas can create societal impact through commercialisation. The business developers at SDU support researchers with ideas or technologies moving towards the market.

Commercialise an innovative idea or technology

Do you have a research idea that offers a new perspective or use? SDU is committed to transforming innovative ideas into societal impact through commercialisation of research.

The business developers in SDU RIO help researchers identify, protect and mature innovative ideas and technologies.

Find information about different aspects of commercialisation:

help to secure funding to develop the idea or technology
inspiration. See what other researchers contribute with
resources, guides and more information
contact a business developer.

An opportunity for researchers across all fields

In Life Sciences and STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - commercialisation often focuses on developing new technologies, medical devices, software, or engineering solutions.

In SHAPE - Social Sciences, Humanities, the Arts for People and the Economy - commercialisation can involve creating educational programs, policy recommendations, or social innovations.

Innovation proposal

Are you a researcher with an idea or a technology that has business potential?

Tell us about your idea

Are you a humanities researcher?

We offer dedicated support to advance your project further

See what we offer

What is the commercialisation process at SDU?

Funding for ideas with commercial potential

Some grants allow researchers to explore research ideas and new technologies with commercial potential.

This is valuable for you if who you want to start a business or create a product or service based on research.

An illustration of a light bulb with a book inside

Innovation funds

Look for other grants

Go to a list of grants for research-based innovation.

Fund your innovative idea

Research on the market - or on its way to the market

Commercialisation of research involves transforming innovative ideas and discoveries from academic research into marketable products, services, or technologies.

This process bridges the gap between research and practical application, ensuring that society benefits from research.

See what other SDU researchers have done and be inspired.

Spin-outs from SDU

Explore a comprehensive list of businesses that originated from SDU.

Access database

Evido Health

Researchers develop AI to identify patients with liver disease

Meet Katrine Prier Lindvig and Taus Holtug, who have launched a business rooted in research. In 2024, three years after founding their company, they began generating revenue. This sets them and their team apart as an extraordinary medtech success story

Read more

News about research and innovation

Discovery

30.06.2025

Cameras and artificial intelligence to map life in playgrounds

PhD student from the University of Southern Denmark aims to analyse playground use through a new AI-based method. SDU funds, Discovery, gave an important boost to the development.

Read article

Medtech

14.06.2025

Researcher aims to prevent infection in patients with CVCs

Medtech postdoc Mahdi Momeni is developing a device that detects infections in patients with a central venous catheter (CVC). The device monitors the tissue around the catheter to keep the patients safe - and ultimately save lives.

Read article

Researcher & Entrepreneur

13.06.2025

Researcher uses light to print everything from organs to prosthetics

Andreas Gejl Madsen is building a holographic 3D printer that uses light to fabricate, for example, a pancreas or a heart valve in under a minute. He has one year to develop a business based on his research.

Read article

Entrepreneurship & Research

22.01.2025

2024: Record in spinouts at SDU

Seven new companies founded by SDU researchers became a reality in 2024. This is the largest number of research-based companies from SDU in a single year to date – and the expectation is that a similar number will be founded in the coming years. One of the new SDU spinouts will develop a new treatment for patients with Huntington's disease. A market projected to be worth more than $2.5 billion by 2035.

Read article

Portrait of Evido Health

15.01.2025

Vision: To ensure that fewer patients around the world die from cirrhosis

Doctors need help detecting liver disease patients in time so they don't die from cirrhosis. This is the goal of the founders of Evido Health, a company based on research from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital.

Read article

Researcher & Entrepreneur

08.11.2024

Researcher investigates the business potential of fictional worlds

Can devising scripts become a business? Postdoc Nathali Herold Solon Pilegaard will find out. She has researched how script developers create the worlds viewers encounter in the Danish TV series Valdes jul and Efterforskningen. Now she is embarking on a new project.

Read article

Entrepreneurship

17.10.2024

Sensors will help detect heart failure in patients

New sensors in waiting room chairs and hospital beds will detect heart problems in patients. A heart attack can be detected several hours before the patient realises that something is wrong. The sensors will be tested at OUH in the Fall.

Read article

Moving an idea from university to market

Information and resources for researchers diving into the commercialisation process.

Find answers to the following questions:

How do I report an invention?
How can I protect my new idea?
How can the SDU business developers support me?
Who can help bringing the idea closer to market?

Support from the business developers

For those interested in commercialising their ideas, our business developers offer information meetings.

These sessions provide valuable guidance on how to approach the commercialisation process, including support with market research and outreach to relevant industry partners.

Meetings can be arranged as one-on-one consultations or tailored for groups or entire departments.

Innovations from SDU

See the portfolio of innovations that SDU has available for licensing or collaborations.

Access database

Patent, copyright and other ways to protect your idea

Read about several options for protecting your idea. The business developers will help you through the process.

Podcast for Life Science Researchers

Are you a life sciences researcher aiming to transform patient care with your groundbreaking discoveries?

In just 10 minutes, this podcast with two seasoned business developers answers the most pressing questions about publications, patents and partnerships.

Contact a business developer

The RIO business developers support researchers in bringing innovative ideas to the market. Get advice and guidance on:

technology transfer and commercialisation
entrepreneurship and industry engagement

If you have made an invention or have any questions regarding IP protection, commercialisation of research results or spinning out a company, please contact one of the business developers.

Report your innovation

Are you a researcher with an idea or a technology that has business potential?

Tell us about your idea

Jørgen Jakob Friis Business Developer Software jjf@sdu.dk 93 50 75 00	Christina Elisabeth Wanscher Business Developer Robots, drones and medtech cewan@sdu.dk 93 50 75 00	Lene Aarenstrup Business Developer Pharma and medtech laan@sdu.dk 24 66 71 21
Lindsay Keller- Madsen Business Developer Pharma and medtech lkmadsen@sdu.dk 93 50 71 51	Liv Thomsen Business Developer Pharma and biotech litho@sdu.dk 65 50 83 49	Mikkel Frost Schjerning Business Developer Energy and mechatronics mifs@sdu.dk 65 50 22 79
Bo Nilsson Business Developer Electronics, medical devices and energy nilsson@sdu.dk 24 98 41 17	Nicoline Guldsing Business Developer Digital and consulting business nigul@sdu.dk 65 50 91 17	Jeyapiravinah Kugan Business Developer Medtech jeku@sdu.dk 65 50 33 13
Kasper Malling Kjer Nørtov Kommunikations- medarbejder kasma@sdu.dk xx xx xx xx