TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT

Their core work

Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is Denmark's leading applied research and technology organization, bridging the gap between scientific research and industrial implementation. They specialize in robotics, advanced manufacturing, building materials, and bio-based technologies — helping companies adopt and integrate new technologies through testing, validation, and pilot production. DTI operates as a hands-on technology transfer partner, running shared infrastructure like robot test facilities and nanomaterial pilot lines that SMEs and large companies use to de-risk innovation before full-scale deployment.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), DTI focused heavily on construction materials, energy efficiency, and foundational technology transfer — projects like ECO-Binder (low-CO2 concrete), BrightnESS (research infrastructure), and ROBOTT-NET (robotics technology transfer). From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted decisively toward digital innovation hubs, collaborative robotics safety, and advanced manufacturing — with COVR, DIH-HERO, RIMA, and LEE-BED reflecting a clear pivot to helping industry adopt robotics and digital production technologies. The bio-based processing thread (algae, food side streams) remained steady throughout, but the digital-industrial transformation work clearly accelerated.

DTI is consolidating its position as a European hub for safe industrial robotics deployment and digital manufacturing infrastructure — expect them to seek partners in AI-driven automation, human-robot collaboration, and smart factory pilots.

How they like to work

DTI primarily participates as a strong partner (39 of 51 projects) but takes the coordinator role when the project aligns with their core infrastructure strengths — they coordinated 10 projects including their largest (COVR at EUR 3.4M). With 797 unique consortium partners across 43 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a loyalty-based collaborator, comfortable working in large European consortia. Their coordination track record in robotics and bio-based processing makes them a reliable lead partner for innovation actions and test bed projects.

DTI has collaborated with 797 unique partners across 43 countries, making them one of the most broadly networked RTOs in Northern Europe. Their reach spans the full EU and associated countries, with no narrow geographic bias — a genuine pan-European connector.

What sets them apart

DTI's defining strength is that they operate shared testing and validation infrastructure — robot safety test facilities, nanomaterial pilot lines, additive manufacturing platforms — that companies can use without building their own. Unlike university labs focused on publications, DTI is wired for industrial outcomes: technology readiness, safety compliance, and production scale-up. Their dual expertise in both robotics/digital and bio-based processing is unusual for an RTO and opens cross-sector opportunities that few competitors can match.

Highlights from their portfolio

• COVR
  Their largest project (EUR 3.4M as coordinator), building a domain-independent safety validation system for collaborative robots — directly shaped European robot safety standards.
• LEE-BED
  EUR 2.7M coordination of a nanomaterials test bed for printed and embedded electronics, representing DTI's push into advanced manufacturing infrastructure.
• ROBOTT-NET
  EUR 2.6M coordination of a pan-European robotics technology transfer infrastructure, demonstrating DTI's role as a connector between research and SME adoption.