Dronning Marys Center – Københavns Universitet

What Dronning Marys Center – Københavns Universitet does

Dronning Marys Center is a cross-faculty research center at the University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), a public Danish university. Established on February 2, 2022 and renamed in March 2024 from "Crown Princess Mary Center," the center operates under the joint governance of four faculties: Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, and Theology. It functions as a knowledge-brokerage platform, translating humanities and social-science research into applied solutions for public-sector, civil-society, and private-sector actors. The center is closely associated with H.M. Queen Mary of Denmark, who serves on its Advisory Committee. The center employs approximately 30 staff (core team plus student assistants) and is headquartered at Øster Farimagsgade 3 on the University of Copenhagen campus.

Its core offerings span structured collaboration programs (Policy Fellowship, Impact Lab 2.0, Copenhagen Change Academy), research and monitoring platforms (ClimAct climate observatory), content products (annual yearbook, podcast, film productions, edited journal issues, webinars), and a seed-funding mechanism (Startmidler) supporting research-practice projects. Four thematic areas define the work: sustainable decisions / climate and environment; algorithms for all / digitalization and AI; valuing public goods; and combating violence in intimate relationships. The technical backbone is social-science research methodology combined with knowledge-mobilization formats rather than proprietary software; outputs are distributed as open-access publications, events, and participatory programs.

The center has no commercial revenue model. It is funded through University of Copenhagen core funding plus project-based grants from Danish foundations (notably VELUX FONDEN, Realdania, and Carlsbergfondet). All publications, fellowship participation, and most collaborative programs are provided free of charge. Distribution relies on the university's institutional channels (marycenter.ku.dk, newsletter, LinkedIn) and partner networks across public, private, and civil-society stakeholders, primarily in Denmark.

Name

Dronning Marys Center – Københavns Universitet

Legal name

Københavns Universitet

Website

https://marycenter.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dronning Marys Center is a University of Copenhagen research center that brokers humanities and social-science research into applied solutions for Danish public-sector, civil-society, and private-sector actors through fellowship, laboratory, and observatory programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Academic research center
• Social science research
• Policy fellowship programs
• Research-practice collaboration
• Applied humanities research

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. University Core Funding: Core institutional funding from Københavns Universitet to operate the center and employ staff
2. Foundation Grants: Project-based funding from foundations including VELUX FONDEN, Realdania, Carlsbergfondet, and others for specific initiatives like Impact Lab, Copenhagen Change Academy, and research projects
3. Startmidler (Seed Funding): Annual seed funding program supporting research-practice collaboration projects with resources for economics, fundraising knowledge, and collaboration support

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dronning Marys Center is a cross-faculty university research center that translates humanities and social science research into solutions for societal challenges. It brokers knowledge between academic researchers and practitioners through structured programs including the 10-month Policy Fellowship, the Impact Lab laboratory format, the ClimAct climate attitude observatory, and the Copenhagen Change Academy resource platform.

Product overview

Dronning Marys Center is a research center at the University of Copenhagen that acts as a knowledge broker, translating humanities and social science research into solutions for societal challenges. The center operates as a platform with multiple interconnected programs rather than a single product: its core offerings include Policy Fellowship (a 10-month professional development program connecting practitioners with researchers), Impact Lab 2.0 (an experimental laboratory for research-practice collaboration on democratic sustainability), ClimAct (a climate attitude observatory), and Copenhagen Change Academy (a resource platform for collaboration methodology). Additional offerings include CPH Tech Policy Committee, Startmidler seed funding, webinar series, film productions, podcasts, yearbooks, and edited journal publications. The center's mission is to build bridges between university research environments and actors in the public sector, civil society, and business through research-practice partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Fellowship A 10-month professional development program that connects leaders and professionals from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and philanthropy with interdisciplinary research expertise from the university to address concrete organizational challenges.
• Impact Lab 2.0 An experimental laboratory where researchers and practitioners collaborate over one year on shared challenges related to democratic sustainability, currently focused on civil society's role in green transition.
• ClimAct Climate attitude observatory that monitors Danish public opinions on climate change and green transition through surveys and media analysis.
• Copenhagen Change Academy A research and dissemination project that supports collaboration between researchers and practitioners, generating knowledge about effective research-practice cooperation methods and developing a digital resource bank.
• CPH Tech Policy Committee An initiative that brings together Danish and international researchers, decision-makers from businesses, civil society, and political life to strengthen Denmark's voice in global technology development.
• Startmidler (Seed Funding) Annual funding program supporting interdisciplinary research-practice projects that address current policy and societal challenges, including workshops, mentorship, and individual advising.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple policy fellowship cohorts trained with 20+ fellows per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• 15. Juni FondenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Knowledge partner in 'Jagt i balance' (Hunting in Balance) initiative, contributing research-based analyses and attitude surveys about hunting, biodiversity, and public trust. Center helps build interdisciplinary knowledge foundation connecting research, practice, and society.
• KU Innovation og ErhvervssamarbejdecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint partnership on Impact Atlas project (2025-2026) to map and understand how Copenhagen University creates positive societal changes through research, teaching, and collaboration.
• Landsbyggefonden (National Housing Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership on developing a call for democracy and participation in social housing sector. Center supports practice-near research addressing concrete challenges faced by practitioners in the housing sector through collaborative research projects.
• CPH:DOXminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023Collaboration to bring more knowledge into current societal debates through documentary film, combining research insights with documentary storytelling.
• SODAS, Institut for Statskundskab, Danske Tech Startups, Dansk Industri, Industriens FondmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-organizers of Tech Policy Days initiative (2023) bringing together Danish and international researchers, policymakers from businesses, civil society and political life to strengthen Denmark's voice in global technology development.
• Danmarks Statistik (Statistics Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Collaboration on developing a register and collaboration to illuminate the relationship between rural and urban areas, including themes comparing conditions across Denmark.
• H.M. Dronning Mary (Queen Mary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Close collaboration with Queen Mary of Denmark, who also serves on the center's Advisory Committee. Royal patronage provides strategic guidance and elevates the center's societal profile.
• VELUX FONDENcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Major funding partner for Copenhagen Impact Lab (2022-2023) and Impact Lab 2.0 (2025-2027), focusing on democratic sustainability and civil society's role in green transition. Partnership enables collaborative laboratory formats between researchers and practitioners.
• RealdaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Funding partner for Copenhagen Change Academy (2022-2025), a research and dissemination project generating knowledge about effective collaboration between researchers and practitioners for solving complex societal challenges.
• Djøf ForlagminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher partner for special issues of Økonomi og Politik journal, co-edited by the center to explore themes of knowledge and societal change.
• Green Solution CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBROKER project addresses knowledge gaps identified in Green Solution Centers' 'Knowledge Gap Report' to develop holistic, cross-disciplinary government advisory services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ROCKWOOL Foundation: Copenhagen-based philanthropic research foundation funding social science research and policy-relevant studies. Closely comparable as a Danish foundation-funded social science research operation that translates academic findings for public debate.
• DEA: Danish policy think tank funded by foundations and operating programs that convene researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Closely comparable in its knowledge-broker model connecting academic research to policy and practice communities in Denmark.
• Justitia: Danish legal policy think tank producing research and analysis on rule of law, criminal justice, and rights. Directly comparable as a Copenhagen-based independent research organization translating academic legal scholarship into policy impact, intersecting with the center's violence-prevention theme.
• Copenhagen Consensus Center: Denmark-based policy research organization producing prioritized policy analyses on societal challenges. Comparable as a think-tank-style operation that brokers academic expertise into actionable policy recommendations for governments and foundations.
• Cevea: Copenhagen-based progressive think tank producing research and policy analysis across social, economic, and environmental topics. Comparable as a Danish foundation-funded policy research organization with thematic specializations overlapping the center's areas.
• Danish Institute for Human Rights: Denmark's national human rights institution, also based in Copenhagen with government mandate and university-affiliated research. Comparable as a publicly-supported Danish research and policy translation body producing applied social science outputs for public-sector and civil-society use.
• Kraka: Danish economic policy think tank producing research-based analysis for policymakers and the public. Comparable as a Copenhagen-based independent research organization focused on evidence-based policy advice, though narrower in disciplinary focus (economics-only).

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank producing research and convening leaders across policy domains. Comparable in its role as a convening institution that translates scholarly research into policy-relevant analysis, with thematic breadth comparable to the center's four-pillar approach.
• Brookings Institution: Major US-based public policy research organization combining academic rigor with direct engagement of policymakers. Comparable in its model of university-adjacent research translated for policy use, though at much greater scale and with a longer-established brand.

Regional players

• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Stockholm University-based interdisciplinary research center on sustainability and resilience. Comparable as a Nordic university-affiliated research center producing applied social-ecological research and convening researchers with practitioners, though with a stronger natural-science orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dronning-marys-center-koebenhavns-universitet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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