Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen

What Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen does

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (Institut for Plante- og Miljøvidenskab, "PLEN") is an academic research and teaching unit within the Faculty of SCIENCE at the University of Copenhagen. It conducts research and education across plant sciences, environmental sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry, and water systems, with a stated scope from molecules and organisms to ecosystems. The department is headquartered at Thorvaldsensvej 40 in Frederiksberg C and operates additional research facilities in Taastrup, including Højbakkegård Allé and the Pometum orchard. It houses several research centres — the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre (CPSC), Green Solutions Centre, and the ENSAFE research centre (focused on environmental risks of RNA and peptide-based biotechnological pesticides, funded DKK 60M by the Novo Nordisk Foundation) — along with research infrastructure such as greenhouses, laboratories, and the Landbohøjskolens Have botanical garden.

Its core offerings span BSc programmes (Biotechnology, Natural Resources), MSc programmes (Biosolutions, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Water and Environment), PhD training (including the PhD Summer School 2026 on biotechnological advances for crop production), and continuing education. Major current research programmes include the DKK 75M Novo Nordisk Foundation Robotic Intercropping project (autonomous robots for strip cropping, partnered with DTU and Wageningen), the GALADRIEL project (DKK 23.6M from Innovation Fund Denmark, applying AI and chemical fingerprinting to wastewater treatment with Eurofins, DHI, the Danish EPA, and Copenhagen Municipality), and the FIND-IT crop improvement technique co-developed with Carlsberg Laboratory. Proprietary research outputs include the Daisy agrohydrology simulation model, nine patents on triptolide production in yeast held by Johan Andersen-Ranberg (TriptoBIO spinout), and a pending patent on biotechnological Taxol production from Professor Sotirios Kampranis's group.

The department's revenue model is structurally academic: core operating funding from the University of Copenhagen and the Danish government, supplemented by competitive research grants from foundations including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Innovation Fund Denmark, Villum Fonden, and Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, plus fee-based public sector consultancy to Danish authorities (Danish Agriculture Agency, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, Copenhagen Municipality) and continuing education fees. Spinouts such as TriptoBIO and a 2026 drinking water chemical screening company extend the model into commercial IP licensing. The go-to-market combines community-led research collaboration (international and domestic universities, industry, public sector) with targeted sales-led public sector advisory engagements.

Name

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Legal name

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Website

https://plen.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN) at the University of Copenhagen conducts research and education in plant sciences, biotechnology, and environmental science, serving students, Danish government agencies, and international academic and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research and Higher Education

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Propagation & Nursery CEA Equipment (Germination Rooms, Tissue Culture Support) (AFAAAHAJ), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH), Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Utilities (Advanced Treatment & Blending) (EUANAGAC)

Keywords

• Plant science research
• Environmental science education
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Academic degree programs
• Public sector consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederiksberg C

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government university funding: Core operational funding from University of Copenhagen and Danish government for research and education activities
2. Research grants: Funding from foundations including Villum Fonden, Novo Nordisk Fonden, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, and Innovationsfonden for specific research projects
3. Public sector consultancy: Research-based advisory services for public authorities including the Danish Agriculture Agency and Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN) at the University of Copenhagen conducts basic and applied research in plant biology, biotechnology, agronomy, and environmental science. It delivers university degree programs (Bachelor, Master, PhD), continuing education courses, and public sector consultancy services in areas including crop science, bioenergy, urban greening, water environments, and natural resource management.

Product overview

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen is an academic research institution, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of educational programs (MSc in Biosolutions, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Water and Environment; BSc in Biotechnology and Natural Resources), research centres (Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Green Solutions Centre, ENSAFE), research tools (Daisy Model simulation software), consultancy services (public sector consultancy), and research infrastructure (Plant Facilities and Workshops). Key research initiatives include the GALADRIEL AI-powered wastewater optimization project, Robotic Intercropping autonomous agriculture project, and various spinout companies commercializing research breakthroughs in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Copenhagen Plant Science Centre (CPSC): A centre within the department focused on plant science research and facilities.
• Green Solutions Centre
• Landbohøjskolens Have
• Pometet
• Plant Biologicals Network (PBN)

Products and services

• Bachelor Degree Programs in Plant and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate degree programs including Biotechnology and Natural Resources, offered to individual students seeking foundational education in plant and environmental sciences.
• Master Degree Programs in Plant and Environmental Sciences Master's programs including Biosolutions, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, and Water and Environment, designed for students seeking advanced specialization.
• Public Sector Consultancy Research-based consultancy services provided to government agencies and public organizations on topics such as agronomy, urban greening, water environments, and natural resource management.
• Continuing Education and PhD Summer School Courses Short courses and summer schools targeted at researchers and professionals, with fees ranging from 1,800 DKK to 4,800 DKK depending on the program.
• Plant Facilities and Workshops Specialized research infrastructure, including greenhouse and laboratory facilities, made available to academic and industry partners for research and experimental work.
• Daisy Simulation Model A specialized simulation tool developed within the department, made available for crop, soil, and environmental modeling applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Flower strips with at least two species increase natural enemies of pests by 70%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Plant Biologicals NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2026Organizer of PBN Annual Symposium 2026 on Accelerating the Biologicals Revolution - From Discovery to Farm Adoption.
• AnaEE Technology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2026Co-organizer of AnaEE Science Conference 2026 on ecosystem science. Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences is co-organizer with AnaEE Technology Center at Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management.
• EurofinsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026GALADRIEL project participant - Redefining Wastewater Treatment project led by University of Copenhagen with 23.6 million DKK funding from Innovationsfonden.
• DHImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026GALADRIEL project participant - contributing to development of chemical fingerprints of wastewater and digital AI twin of treatment plants.
• Miljøstyrelsen (Danish Environmental Protection Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026GALADRIEL project participant - helping Denmark meet revised EU directive on urban wastewater treatment to be implemented in 2027.
• Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025International research collaboration on plant root penetration mechanisms and engineering principles in agriculture. Led to publication in Nature journal on how plants use engineering principles to push through hard soil.
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Collaboration on plant root research with researchers Bipin Pandey and others participating in international study on compacted soil penetration mechanisms.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Robotic Intercropping project collaboration - 75 million DKK project led by Professor Svend Christensen exploring autonomous robots in agriculture.
• Wageningen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Robotic Intercropping project collaboration on intercropping cultivation methods with autonomous robots.
• Carlsberg LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2025Collaboration on sorghum research developing FIND-IT technique for ultrafast crop improvement and establishing large seed collection for sorghum research.
• University of QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2025Collaboration on sorghum research providing expertise on cultivation under stressed soil conditions in Queensland, Australia.
• Aalborg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024ENSAFE research center collaboration on environmental risks of biotechnological pesticides with professor Jeppe Lund Nielsen.
• UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024ENSAFE research center collaboration with researchers David Spurgeon and Helen Hesketh on RNA and peptide-based biopesticides.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Technical University of Denmark (DTU): DTU Bioengineering and DTU Sustain collaborate with PLEN on the Robotic Intercropping project and share Danish public sector consultancy work; their biotechnology and environmental engineering research overlaps significantly.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): SLU conducts research and education in plant biology, soil science, and environmental management with public sector consultancy to Swedish authorities—mirroring PLEN's Danish government advisory model.
• ETH Zurich - Department of Environmental Systems Science: ETH's USYS department combines plant, environmental, and agricultural research with public sector engagement and offers degree programmes in similar fields, making it a direct academic peer.
• University of Nottingham - School of Biosciences: Nottingham partnered with PLEN on the Nature publication about plant root penetration in compacted soil and runs comparable plant biotechnology and crop science programmes.
• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen's Plant Sciences and Environmental Sciences groups run closely comparable research on sustainable agriculture, biopesticides, intercropping, and water systems, and are co-collaborators on the Robotic Intercropping project with PLEN.
• Aarhus University - Department of Agroecology: Danish peer institution running comparable research in agronomy, soil-plant-atmosphere systems, and crop science, competing for the same Novo Nordisk Foundation and Innovation Fund Denmark grants.
• Aalborg University - Department of Chemistry and Bioscience: Aalborg is a co-collaborator on the ENSAFE research centre on biotechnological pesticides and runs adjacent biotechnology and environmental research programmes within Denmark.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (France): France's national research institute for agriculture, food, and environment operates on a much larger scale but covers the same plant science, agronomy, and environmental research domains as PLEN.
• CSIRO (Australia): Australia's national science agency runs comparable plant, agricultural, and environmental research with public-good funding models and international collaboration patterns similar to PLEN's.
• UC Davis - Department of Plant Sciences: UC Davis Plant Sciences is a leading global department covering agronomy, plant breeding, and environmental horticulture, comparable in research breadth and education portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/department-of-plant-and-environmental-sciences-university-of-copenhagen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen