CBS pro­fess­or to ad­vise the gov­ern­ment on the fu­ture of re­search and in­nov­a­tion

Denmark invests billions in research every year. But it is the frameworks and the priorities behind the investments that determine whether research truly strengthens innovation, growth and solutions to society’s challenges. The frameworks are the focal point for the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy (DFIR), and going forward a CBS professor will have a seat at the table.

Søren Hvidkjær, Professor at the Department of Finance at CBS and former Dean of Research, has just been appointed member of the council that advises the Government and the Danish Parliament on the development of Danish research, technology and innovation.

For Søren Hvidkjær, the task is about strengthening the link between the quality of research and its significance for society.

“Denmark does world-class research, but we can do better at creating the conditions that ensure new knowledge also becomes new companies, products and solutions. It is an agenda I look forward to working on in DFIR,” he says.

Research must create value in society

Søren Hvidkjær brings broad experience from both research leadership and research policy into the council.

As a former head of department and subsequently dean of research at CBS, he has been responsible for research quality, external funding and the strategic development of CBS’ research profile. He has worked to enhance international collaborations, interdisciplinarity and the interaction between research and business, and as a member of CBS’ Senior Management he has helped set the direction for the university’s work on research-based innovation and academic freedom.

In addition, he has taken part in key national committees and contributed to the research policy debate, which has given him in-depth knowledge of the conditions faced by the universities as well as the Danish research and innovation system.

For Søren Hvidkjær, it is crucial that research policy is conceived with a long-term perspective, with an eye to both quality and application.

“It is not just about creating new knowledge, but about ensuring that it makes a difference,” he says, elaborating:

“If we want to boost innovation in Denmark, it requires strong basic research and frameworks that make it possible to turn new ideas into solutions in practice.”

A business university’s voice in research policy

With the appointment, CBS contributes knowledge from the intersection of economics, business and society, which is in line with the university’s ambition to develop business-oriented and societally relevant research that addresses complex challenges.

“As a business university, CBS has a special position in the interplay between universities, companies and decision-makers. Insights into capital markets, investments and incentives are crucial for how new knowledge is translated into innovation and growth,” says Søren Hvidkjær.

The appointment therefore underscores CBS’ role in the national conversation about a research and innovation system that is internationally competitive and socially responsible.