By David Graff, ENGINEERING Dean Secretariat

At a time when Russia's attack on Ukraine has upended the Danish and European security situation, actors across the Danish research and development sector have made an unprecedented move: all the Danish universities and five GTS institutes have formed the National Defence Technology Centre (NFC), and in parallel have begun dialogues on intensified cooperation with the Danish Armed Forces and the defence industry.

New CEO has the whole package

An agreement has now been made with Lars Bo Larsen to be director of the NFC. Dean Mogens Rysholt Poulsen, Aalborg University, is delighted to have succeeded in hiring an individual with such a strong profile, solid knowledge and good relationships with the Danish Armed Forces, industry and the political level.

Pro-rector Rasmus Larsen of the Technical University of Denmark and chair of the NFC steering committee adds:

Experience from the very highest level

As director of the NFC, Lars Bo Larsen brings extensive experience from several positions with specific strategic management linked to security policy at the very highest national and international level:

Lars Bo Larsen also highlights his time at the Danish Embassy in Beijing:

"There I experienced firsthand the technological competition between the US and China with all that entailed, and that gave rise to the European – and Danish – build-up in the technology area."

Lars Bo Larsen officially starts in the position on 1 April 2023, and based at Aalborg University, he will work closely with NFC stakeholders, the Danish Armed Forces and industrial companies across Denmark and the EU.