Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen

What Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen does

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, IGN) is an academic institute within the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, headquartered at Rolighedsvej 23 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. IGN conducts research and delivers higher education across five undergraduate programs, master's and PhD tracks, and vocational training through its Skovskolen campuses at Nødebo and Djursland. Core research sections cover Geography, Geology, Forest/Nature/Biomass, and Landscape Architecture, with flagship projects including TreeSense (nano-satellite and deep learning for global tree monitoring), the Global Wetland Center (continental wetland mapping and climate research), Grazing4Diversity (year-round grazing impacts on biodiversity across 42 Danish sites), and HYPERLIGNO (lignin-based non-toxic wood protection).

IGN's technology base blends fieldwork, laboratory analysis, remote sensing, satellite imagery, machine learning, and ecosystem modeling. Notable technical assets include a 10-meter resolution European Wetland Types map covering 38 countries, 16 years of continuous greenhouse gas monitoring at Maglemosen, and proprietary hyperlignification processes for wood preservation. The department is co-owner of Scandinavia's largest landscape and garden industry exhibition (Have & Landskab) and delivers expert advisory services to Danish public authorities through Videntjenesten.

The revenue model rests on three streams: government appropriations via the University of Copenhagen, competitive research grants from Danish and international funders (Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, Innovationsfonden, 15. Juni Fonden, Aage V. Jensens Naturfond), and earned income from tuition (largely free for EU/EEA students), vocational training at Skovskolen, and continuing education and advisory services. Recent large grants (59.9M DKK for TreeSense, 15.5M DKK for HYPERLIGNO) and the HYPERLIGNO commercial pathway through partner Frøslev signal an emerging additional revenue stream from research-based technology transfer.

Name

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen

Legal name

Københavns Universitet (University of Copenhagen)

Website

https://ign.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Department of the University of Copenhagen conducting research and education across geosciences, geography, geology, landscape architecture, and natural resource management, with flagship centers on wetland mapping, global tree monitoring, and sustainable wood protection technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Environmental Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMABAI

Earth Science & Geoscience Programs

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/STEM Enrichment & Science Programs

Keywords

• Geosciences research
• Natural resource management
• Higher education
• Forestry education
• Environmental science

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederiksberg C

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Core institutional funding from Danish government through University of Copenhagen's annual budget allocation. Additional competitive research grants from national and international funding bodies.
2. Competitive Research Grants: Major grants from Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (59.9 million DKK for TreeSense), Innovationsfonden (15.5 million DKK for HYPERLIGNO), and private foundations such as 15. Juni Fonden and Aage V. Jensen Naturfond supporting Grazing4Diversity.
3. Continuing Education and Professional Services: Revenue from professional development courses, continuing education programs, and advisory services through Videntjenesten and Skovskolen vocational training programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IGN is an academic department of the University of Copenhagen that delivers higher education (bachelor, master, and PhD programs in geology, geography, landscape architecture, urban landscape engineering, and forest and landscape engineering) and vocational training through Skovskolen (Forest School) at campuses in Nødebo and Djursland. It conducts multi-disciplinary research in geography, geology, forest and landscape ecology, landscape architecture, and natural resource management via research centers including TreeSense and the Global Wetland Center, and provides paid advisory services to public authorities through Videntjenesten.

Product overview

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN) at the University of Copenhagen operates as an academic and research institution offering educational programs and conducting environmental research. The department's offerings include five bachelor's degree programs (Geology/Geoscience, Urban Landscape Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Forest and Landscape Engineering, and Geography and Geoinformatics), the Skovskolen (Forest School) vocational institution with campuses in Nødebo and Djursland, and the Green Solutions initiative providing climate-focused advisory services. Research is organized into groups covering Geography, Geology, Forest/Nature/Biomass, and Landscape Architecture. Notable research products include the Global Wetland Center producing wetland mapping tools, the TreeSense center using deep learning for global tree monitoring, the Grazing4Diversity biodiversity research project, and the Hyperlignificering innovation developing eco-friendly wood protection technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grazing4Diversity: Research project investigating the effects of year-round grazing with cattle and horses on biodiversity in Danish natural areas. Funded by 15. Juni Fonden and Aage V. Jensens Naturfond, running from 2021-2027.
• TreeSense
• HYPERLIGNO
• Have & Landskab

Products and services

• Bachelor Degree Programs (Geology, Geography and Geoinformatics, Landscape Architecture, Urban Landscape Engineering, Forest and Landscape Engineering) Five undergraduate degree programs covering geoscience, geography and geoinformatics, landscape design and planning, urban green infrastructure, and forest/landscape engineering, with emphasis on climate adaptation, sustainability, and field-based learning. Targeted at prospective domestic and international university applicants.
• Master's Degree Programs Master's level degree programs building on IGN's bachelor offerings in geosciences, geography, landscape architecture, forest and landscape engineering, and related environmental sciences. Targeted at graduates seeking advanced specialization.
• PhD Education Program Three-year PhD research training across IGN's research sections (Geography, Geology, Forest/Nature/Biomass, Landscape Architecture), leading to a doctoral dissertation and open public PhD defenses. Targeted at graduate researchers.
• Skovskolen (Danish Forestry College) - Vocational Education Professional education institution offering vocational programs in forestry, urban landscape engineering, nature guidance, arboriculture, and forest/nature technician certifications at two campuses. Targeted at vocational learners and professionals in the Danish green sector.
• Continuing Education and Professional Courses (Efteruddannelse og kurser) Continuing education and professional development courses for practitioners in environmental management, forestry, landscape, and related fields, delivered through Skovskolen and IGN. Targeted at working professionals seeking upskilling.
• Videntjenesten - Advisory Services to Public Authorities Expert advisory services delivering IGN's scientific knowledge to Danish and international public authorities and sector organizations on environmental management, wetland restoration, sustainable forestry, landscape planning, and climate change mitigation. Targeted at public sector organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wetland restoration at 10cm below terrain level provides optimal climate benefit by balancing methane and CO2 emissions
• +3 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

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FrøslevcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Denmark's largest wood supplier to the construction industry is a key industry partner in the HYPERLIGNO project. Collaborates with IGN researchers to bring the hyperlignification wood protection technology from laboratory to commercial production. Project also involves architects and other partners in the Grand Solutions initiative.
• Aarhus Universitet - Institut for EcosciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Aarhus University's Department of Ecoscience on the Grazing4Diversity project studying effects of year-round grazing on biodiversity in Danish nature areas.
• Lunds Universitet - Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in wetland climate research, contributing to the study on optimal water table levels for low-lying soils climate benefits published in Nature journal.
• Have & Landskab Exhibition PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGN is co-owner and organizer of Have & Landskab - Scandinavia's largest trade exhibition for landscape and garden industry. Partners include Danske Anlægsgartnere (Danish Landscape Contractors), Maskinleverandørerne (Machinery Suppliers), and Danske Planteskole (Danish Plant Nurseries). Exhibition moved to Ledreborg Castle in 2025 with over 11,000 visitors.
• University of LeicestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to the European Wetland Types mapping project published in Nature journal. Researcher Susan Page from University of Leicester co-authored the study.
• University of GreifswaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to the European Wetland Types mapping project. Researchers Sebastian van der Linden, Alexandre Barthelmes, and Franziska Tanneberger from University of Greifswald co-authored the Nature publication.
• Det Europæiske Miljøagentur (European Environment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Environment Agency contributed to the European Wetland Types mapping project, providing expertise for harmonized wetland definitions across 38 European countries.
• DIKU (Datalogisk Institut, KU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Computer Science at University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science collaborates with TreeSense center on deep learning algorithms and AI methods for global tree resource monitoring.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch university specializing in life sciences, environmental sciences, and forestry with applied research and advisory functions — closely comparable research portfolio and societal impact focus on sustainability, climate, and natural resources.
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Finnish government research institute focused on forestry, natural resources, and bioeconomy with applied research and advisory functions — comparable public-sector research and advisory model in the Nordic region.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): Norway's life sciences and environmental university with strong forestry, ecology, and landscape architecture programs — comparable Nordic public university with similar research-to-application model.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): Sweden's primary agricultural and forestry university with parallel faculties in forest sciences, landscape architecture, and natural resource management — directly comparable in education, research scope, and Nordic public-sector positioning.
• University of Helsinki - Department of Forest Sciences: Finnish university department combining forest science, geosciences, and environmental research with field stations and applied advisory — comparable Nordic research and education mission.
• ETH Zurich - Department of Environmental Systems Science: Swiss research department focused on environmental systems, climate, and earth sciences with strong quantitative modeling — comparable research excellence profile though operating in a different national system.
• Aarhus University - Department of Ecoscience: Danish counterpart department with overlapping focus on ecology, wildlife, biodiversity, and environmental management — already a research partner on Grazing4Diversity and operates in the same Danish public university system.
• Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): German research center for environmental sciences conducting large-scale interdisciplinary research on ecosystems, climate, and biodiversity — comparable scale and mission as a major public environmental research institution in Europe.
• Lund University - Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science: Swedish department with parallel focus on wetland science, greenhouse gas measurement, and ecosystem research — already a research partner on wetland publications and shares the Maglemosen/Magle wetland science tradition.

Broad incumbents

• Technical University of Denmark (DTU): Danish technical university with overlapping research in environmental engineering, remote sensing, and sustainability — adjacent institution within the same Danish public university system with broader technical focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/InstitutforGeovidenskabogNaturforvaltning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-for-geovidenskab-og-naturforvaltning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen