Broad Innovation – From Biodiversity to Health Robots
For the 11th consecutive year, DTU Science Park welcomes new, innovative hardware companies. The participating startups work with a wide range of exciting technologies and solutions. Among them are underwater cameras monitoring marine biodiversity, robots for transporting empty hospital beds, AI chips to minimize bias, and sustainable food packaging materials made from neither plastic nor paper.
“We always set high expectations for Danish Tech Challenge participants, and this year is no exception,” says Mads Rømer Svendsen, Program Manager of the Danish Tech Challenge. “These companies are developing technologies with the potential to tackle major global challenges. It’s a journey filled with hard work and major moments, and we’re here to support them, no matter where they are in their development. It will be exciting to follow companies working on CO2-neutral biofuels, biodiversity restoration and monitoring, and solutions for our overburdened healthcare system.”
A unique growth program with support from Jyske Bank
This year’s Danish Tech Challenge is proudly sponsored by Jyske Bank, supporting the advancement of future Danish tech companies. Over the next few months, the participating startups will undergo an intensive program where every aspect of their business is evaluated and optimized.
“It’s incredibly exciting. A new season of the Danish Tech Challenge has just started, and this week, we welcomed 15 new companies here at DTU Science Park. These companies work on a broad range of innovative products, many of which are research-based. Personally, I am very much looking forward to following their journey and seeing how they collaborate with our experts to develop their businesses and take the first steps towards a strong product-market fit. It’s essential they refine their value propositions and target audiences – a point we emphasize repeatedly,” explains Mads Rømer Svendsen.
Ready for the finals in March 2025
The Danish Tech Challenge demands dedication and willpower. The 15 companies will go through ten disciplines, each crucial for future success and building a solid foundation for growth. However, only one startup will lift the trophy and be named the Danish Tech Challenge 2024 winner. The winner will be announced at a grand award show in March 2025 – an event that will undoubtedly mark a milestone for both the winner and the many other visionary companies that have taken decisive steps towards achieving their goals.
Read about the 15 technologies here:
Anemo Robotics:
Anemo Robotics is developing an innovative underwater camera to assess and monitor marine biodiversity. Current solutions are often handheld and expensive, but Anemo Robotics offers a two-part solution consisting of both hardware and software. The camera operates at depths of up to 40 meters for three months without recharging. Their AI platform can recognize different species and measure changes in biodiversity over time.
B-test:
B-test has created a calibration tool that should be used before soil sampling in the construction industry. Currently, the calibration process is often error-prone, leading to inaccurate analysis of soil conditions and construction delays. B-test’s solution ensures that the tool is always properly calibrated, allowing for precise soil assessment and solid construction foundations.
Care-DNA:
Pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive and deadly form of cancer. After years of research, Care-DNA has developed an advanced screening process that can diagnose this cancer type much earlier using circular DNA from a blood sample. This process allows for much earlier treatment, significantly reducing mortality. The technology can also assess a given treatment’s effectiveness based on a tumour biopsy.
Essential Robotics:
Essential Robotics has developed an autonomous robot that relieves hospital staff by transporting empty hospital beds. By automating bed transport, personnel can focus on patient care, improving work conditions and optimizing daily hospital operations.
eXistential AI:
eXistential AI is developing a chip that provides insights into intermediate steps between input and output when using AI. The company’s solution is unique, as they are the first to develop this technology at the hardware rather than the software level. The technology enables the use of AI on smaller devices, as the chip is highly energy-efficient, allowing AI algorithms to operate directly on the device rather than in the cloud. It also increases transparency, allowing for greater insight and understanding of AI processes.
HyKin Energy:
Billions need access to clean water, green energy, and sustainable irrigation. HyKin Energy has developed a mechanical pump that uses kinetic energy from natural water flows to effectively provide clean water, green energy, and sustainable irrigation. Their innovative approach addresses some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
InnoTrach:
Epidural procedures can lead to significant complications. InnoTrach has developed a solution that makes these procedures safer, simpler, and faster. Their product simplifies the placement of the epidural catheter with both mechanical and electronic feedback, resulting in a more efficient and safe procedure. The solution integrates seamlessly into existing practices, reduces the need for extensive training, and offers real-time feedback. It also reduces errors and enables less experienced healthcare staff to perform the procedure efficiently.
Kaldi AI:
Kaldi AI has developed a solution that offers objective quality control of the supply chain for soft raw materials, such as coffee beans. Their product can assess the quality of a sample from a shipment of coffee beans in just 20 minutes. Using an advanced camera, it takes 360° images of each bean, and AI technology then classifies the bean as either good or defective. This approach ensures objective quality assurance and improves efficiency across the supply chain.
Luftvejen:
Luftvejen has developed a new drone charging station that enables autonomous charging. This innovative station allows drones to fly 24/7, automatically charging and transferring data while charging. This makes it possible to set up automated drone systems for monitoring critical infrastructure, border crossings, and more.
O-Robotics:
O-robotics has developed a robot to maintain tiled and paved areas by handling weeds, algae, leaves, and trash. This autonomous sweeper operates at night, increasing safety and saving up to 65% of costs. Much like a robotic lawnmower, it eliminates manual maintenance. The solution attracts interest from amusement parks, hotel chains, and other institutions with large outdoor paved areas.
Peak Emulsions:
Peak Emulsions has developed a solution that preserves natural ingredients in emulsions where water and oil mix. Half of our diet consists of ultra-processed foods, and the emulsification process in production often reduces many naturally occurring nutrients. With Peak Emulsions’ innovative approach, food producers can ensure a higher quality food product.
Sensemakers:
Sensemakers provides cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods for maritime monitoring. Their solution, SenseBOAT, is a flexible “sensor-taxi” platform that can carry various sensors and deliver real-time data for continuous route monitoring on water. With a robust stainless-steel design, SenseBOAT is seaworthy and cost-effective. It automatically recharges at a specially designed charging station and can transmit data via LoRaWAN, mobile, and satellite networks.
SPKTRA:
SPKTRA is developing a complete vision system with software that uses a hyperspectral camera to monitor production lines. It can detect product defects and identify different materials on sorting lines by analyzing a 400-1000 nm colour spectrum and using AI. Their solution has, for example, been used to determine which used bricks can be recycled.
Tergy Sagava:
Tergy Sagava is developing a pyrolysis process to produce a carbon-negative biofuel for the marine sector. Their biofuel is compatible with existing engines in the maritime industry without the need for upgrades. During production, 10 tons of CO2 equivalent is captured for each ton of biofuel produced, contributing to a more sustainable future for maritime transport. Besides biofuel, Tergy Sagava also produces biochar and synthetic gas.
Yngvik:
Yngvik has developed a new type of non-plastic stretch film and pulp for paper and cardboard production, which is solely based on waste from food production. Their method combines mechanical and biochemical processes to create a liquid fraction for the film and a fibrous fraction suitable for packaging made from paper, cardboard, or moulded pulp materials not based on wood.
