Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

What Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen does

The Faculty of Science is one of the principal academic units of the University of Copenhagen, a public Danish research university traceable to 1479. It organizes natural and life-sciences education and research across 12 institutes, supported by roughly 306 staff, and awards bachelor, master, PhD, and continuing-education credentials. The faculty's underlying platform is its research infrastructure — laboratories, field stations, and large-scale datasets spanning astrophysics, molecular biology, environmental science, and computer science — combined with supervisory capacity for graduate research.

Revenue is generated through four main streams: state block funding via the parent university, competitive research grants (notably from Innovationsfonden, Novo Nordisk Fonden, and EU programs), commercial services delivered through spinouts such as PUFIN-ID (which employs 16 staff around its O-KEY anti-counterfeiting optical tag) and NTS Analytica (environmental testing), and technology licensing. Recent grant activity has been substantial, with 2026 awards totaling approximately 176.7M DKK across STRIVE U (95M DKK), the Makerspace (42.3M DKK), GALADRIEL (23.6M DKK), and Hyperligno (15.5M DKK), supplemented by a 300K EUR Evergreen Prize in 2025.

The faculty's go-to-market model mixes public-sector delivery (accredited degrees, open-access publications including in Nature) with B2B partnerships across pharma, design, and construction. It maintains roughly 11 named industry and foundation partners including Novo Nordisk Fonden, Royal Copenhagen, Kay Bojesen, and Frøslev. Strategic priorities visible in 2025-2026 are STEM-education reform, sustainability and AI-driven environmental analytics, and commercialization of faculty IP through spinouts and licensing.

Name

Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

Legal name

Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet

Website

https://science.ku.dk

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen is a public research and teaching unit spanning 12 institutes in the natural and life sciences, educating bachelor, master, and PhD students while securing competitive grants and commercializing spinout IP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education & Scientific Research

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Natural science research
• Higher education programs
• Undergraduate science degrees
• Doctoral research training
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 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. Public Government Funding: As a public Danish university, the Faculty of Science receives substantial government funding for education and research operations.
2. Research Grants and Donations: Competitive research funding from Danish and international sources including Novo Nordisk Fonden, Innovationsfonden, EU research programs, and private donations.
3. Non-Target Screening Services: Commercial analytical services offered by spinout NTS Analytica for environmental water testing using advanced mass spectrometry techniques.
4. Technology Licensing: O-KEY® anti-counterfeiting technology licensed through spinout company PUFIN-ID® with 16 employees in Copenhagen.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Faculty of Science delivers university-level education and scientific research through 12 institutes covering natural and life sciences. Core offerings include bachelor, master, PhD, and continuing education programs, complemented by applied research, technology transfer via spinouts (O-KEY® anti-counterfeiting, NTS Analytica water screening, Hyperligno wood protection), and commissioned analytical and consulting services for industry and government partners.

Product overview

The Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at the University of Copenhagen is a comprehensive university faculty organized into 12 institutes offering a unified academic portfolio spanning bachelor, master's, PhD, and continuing education programs. The faculty provides research and education across natural sciences including biology, food science, mathematics, physics, environmental science, and sports science. The product portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate degree programs, doctoral research training, professional continuing education courses, a research profiles portal for accessing researcher publications, and institute-specific alumni networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor Programs Undergraduate degree programs at the Faculty of Science across 12 institutes covering biology, biochemistry, molecular biomedicine, bioinformatics, food science, environmental science, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, and geoscience. Designed for high-school graduates seeking natural-science degrees. EU/EEA students free of tuition; non-EU/EEA students pay tiered annual fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% improvement in fraction math skills among students using BasketballMath teaching method compared to control groups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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 capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and core.

• All Danish Universities and Færøernes UniversitetflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric collaboration for STRIVE U initiative involving all Danish universities and Faroe Islands University to strengthen interdisciplinary education for green transition. Funded by 95 million DKK from Novo Nordisk Fonden. May expand to include Greenland's University.
• Eurofins, DHI, Miljøstyrelsen, ITG, Københavns KommunemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGALADRIEL project consortium partners working with KU researchers to develop AI-powered wastewater treatment optimization using chemical fingerprints and digital twins of treatment facilities.
• FrøslevmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenmark's largest building materials supplier partnering in Hyperligno project to commercialize lignin-based wood protection technology, bringing research from laboratory to market.
• Royal CopenhagenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish luxury porcelain brand among first in world to implement O-KEY® anti-counterfeiting technology for product authentication and supply chain transparency.
• Kay BojesencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish design company using O-KEY® technology to protect figurines and design products against counterfeiting.
• Region Hovedstaden, Novafos, HOFORmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional government and water utility companies as first customers for NTS Analytica spinout offering non-target screening of drinking water to detect hundreds of chemicals beyond standard testing.
• COPSAC (Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Herlev-Gentofte Hospital studying sleep and metabolic health in adolescents, with COPSAC researchers affiliated with KU.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faculty-of-science-university-of-copenhagen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries12 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 Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen