What Science Ventures does

Science Ventures Denmark A/S is the technology transfer and venture development arm of the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), based at Cortex Park in Odense. Founded in 2005 and wholly owned by SDU, the firm identifies commercially promising patented research outputs from SDU and partner universities (including Aarhus University, DTU, and Fraunhofer), then structures them into deep tech spin-out companies. It operates in close coordination with SDU Research and Innovation Organisation (SDU RIO), which evaluates invention disclosures and holds the underlying intellectual property rights. The firm takes 10-20% co-founder equity stakes in each spin-out, with the scope of services delivered tied to ownership level, and provides ongoing operational support through back-office functions (incorporation, administration, documentation) as well as interim management, business development, and exit preparation.

The firm's service offering spans the full commercialization lifecycle: scouting research, in- and out-licensing of IP, recruiting entrepreneurs (including through the SDU RIO Entrepreneurs in Residence program), matching investors, negotiating deals, and preparing exits. Its investor network comprises Danish and international business angels, venture funds, and industrial investors active from pre-seed to Series A; established corporates such as Ericsson, TDC, and NAVIAIR participate as co-development partners. Revenue mechanics are structurally event-driven: Science Ventures monetizes primarily through the equity stakes it holds in portfolio spin-outs rather than fee-for-service or licensing royalties, with realization contingent on portfolio company exits. Operating budgets are sustained by SDU institutional funding while equity returns accrue sporadically upon liquidity events.

Cumulatively, the firm claims to have supported more than 50 projects from research to product, with its spin-outs creating over 1,500 high-tech jobs and attracting more than DKK 3 billion in third-party investment. The leadership team is led by CEO Jens Kristian Damsgaard; the board is chaired by Søren E. Frandsen (Head of SDU RIO), reflecting the institutional ownership structure, with Lisbeth Chawes and Claus Wårsøe as additional directors. The company operates exclusively within Denmark at the legal entity level, though investor outreach and partner collaborations extend internationally.

Name

Science Ventures

Legal name

Science Ventures Denmark A/S

Website

https://scienceventures.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science Ventures Denmark A/S is a university-owned technology transfer and venture development firm that commercializes patented research from the University of Southern Denmark by founding deep tech spin-outs, taking 10-20% equity stakes, and matching them with investors and industrial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Technology Transfer & Venture Development

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• University spin-out development
• Deep tech commercialization
• Venture development
• IP licensing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Odense

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equity stakes in spin-outs: Science Ventures takes ownership stakes (typically 10 or 20%) in spin-outs founded based on SDU intellectual property. They also provide back office services including incorporation, administration and complete document packages for their portfolio companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Science Ventures develops deep tech spin-outs from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in collaboration with researchers, investors, and industry. The company scouts commercially promising research, in-licenses patents from SDU RIO, recruits entrepreneurs, takes equity stakes (typically 10-20%) in spin-outs, provides interim management and back-office services, and matches spin-outs with investors from pre-seed to Series A.

Product overview

Science Ventures Denmark A/S is a technology transfer and venture development company, not a product company. It does not offer standalone software products or services. Rather, it operates as a commercialization partner for research institutions (primarily University of Southern Denmark/SDU), helping to identify research成果 with commercial potential, establish spin-out companies, and support their development from inception through exit. The company's core offering consists of technology transfer services including IP in-licensing and out-licensing, business development, interim management, investor matchmaking, and back-office administrative support for portfolio companies. The spin-outs mentioned (such as Enabled Robotics ApS, LayersTech ApS, Nordic Microbes A/S, and others) are separate legal entities in Science Ventures's investment portfolio, not products or services offered directly by Science Ventures Denmark A/S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deep tech spin-out development End-to-end development of deep tech spin-out companies based on University of Southern Denmark research, in collaboration with researchers, investors, and industry. The service covers scouting, IP licensing, spin-out formation, investor matching, and ongoing portfolio support.
• IP in-licensing and out-licensing Licensing of patented research results and other intellectual property rights between SDU RIO, spin-outs, and third parties (including global companies) to enable commercialization of research.
• Investor matchmaking and deal negotiation Connecting spin-out companies with Danish and foreign investors (business angels, venture funds, and industrial investors) from pre-seed to Series A, including deal negotiation and investment agreement preparation.
• Entrepreneur recruitment and interim management Recruiting commercial entrepreneurs to spin-out teams (often via the SDU RIO Entrepreneurs in Residence program) and providing interim management to spin-outs during early development.
• Back-office services for portfolio companies Administrative support for spin-out portfolio companies including incorporation, administration, and complete document packages.
• Joint development projects with industrial companies Collaborative development projects between spin-outs and established industrial companies, including in-licensing of technologies and acquisition of spin-outs, to bring research-based solutions to market.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,500 high-tech jobs created by spin-outs in the region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Southern Denmark (SDU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Ventures Denmark A/S is owned by SDU and works in close collaboration with SDU Research and Innovation Organisation (SDU RIO). They take ownership stakes on behalf of SDU in spin-outs built on SDU intellectual property rights.
• SDU RIO (Research and Innovation Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDU RIO handles the internal process leading to establishment of spin-outs and has a dedicated commercialization team. They evaluate commercial and strategic value of inventions and can choose to take over ownership.
• EricssonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Ventures participates as spin-out responsible partner in development projects with Ericsson.
• TDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Ventures participates as spin-out responsible partner in development projects with TDC (Danish telecommunications company).
• NAVIARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Ventures participates as spin-out responsible partner in development projects with NAVIAIR (Danish air navigation service provider).
• Aarhus UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner collaborating with Science Ventures on development projects leading to potential spin-outs.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner collaborating with Science Ventures on development projects leading to potential spin-outs.
• FraunhoferminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner collaborating with Science Ventures on development projects leading to potential spin-outs.
• SDU RIO Entrepreneurs in Residence ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurs in Residence program that provides commercial skills and expertise to spin-out teams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DTU Skylab / DTU Science Park: Technology transfer and venture development arm of the Technical University of Denmark, supporting DTU spin-outs and deep tech founders through incubation, investor matching, and IP licensing in Denmark.
• Univate (Aarhus University): Aarhus University's venture vehicle that commercializes research, supports spin-outs, and connects founders with investors in the Danish deep tech ecosystem.
• SDU RIO: SDU's own Research and Innovation Organisation handles internal invention evaluation and commercialization, working in close collaboration with Science Ventures on the same SDU research pipeline.
• Aalborg University Knowledge Exchange: Danish university TTO responsible for commercializing Aalborg University research and supporting spin-outs, operating in the same national deep tech ecosystem.
• KU Lighthouse (University of Copenhagen): University of Copenhagen's innovation and entrepreneurship arm that supports researcher-founded ventures and IP commercialization in Denmark.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Ventures: Spin-out and venture arm of the Fraunhofer Society, one of Europe's largest applied research organizations, commercializing deep tech IP across many research domains.
• Cambridge Enterprise: University of Cambridge's technology transfer office, with a much larger scale and global investor network but performing the same spin-out creation, licensing, and equity-stake functions.
• Oxford University Innovation: University of Oxford's technology transfer company, spinning out deep tech ventures and licensing IP from one of the world's leading research universities.
• MaRS Discovery District: Large-scale Canadian innovation hub supporting science-based ventures with commercialization services, investor matching, and incubation similar in function to a university venture studio.

Regional players

• VTT Ventures (Finland): Nordic peer focused on commercializing applied research IP from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland into spin-outs and licensing deals, comparable in scope and deep tech orientation but operating in Finland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jens-kristian-damsgaard-47b01a2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments7 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science Ventures