DTU Commemoration 2026: Knowledge, values and Europe’s technological future

Highlights from the academic ceremony

DTU President Anders Bjarklev opened the academic part of DTU Commemoration with a speech taking its starting point in a world undergoing rapid change and DTU’s responsibility in a new world order.

“The old world order is gone. It is time for a new one. It is about values. The values we have – and the values we give,” he said, stressing the need for more knowledge, technology and collaboration – not less.

He highlighted that DTU has been ranked as Europe’s best technical university for the third year in a row and described the achievement as a collective effort:

"It is a great compliment to the hard and outstanding work carried out by every single employee and student.”

With reference to DTU’s new strategy, the President focused on sustainable technological transformation and the need for European leadership in critical technologies.

“The sustainable transition is a necessity – not an option,” he stated, continuing:

“Security is not only military. Security is energy, data, supply chains and infrastructure.”

The President concluded by emphasising the importance of community, alliances and international partnerships:


“For no one can lift the task alone. No one. Alliances matter more than ever. Strong, long-term alliances and partnerships worldwide. This year, we celebrate two 20-year anniversaries: Nordic Five Tech in the Nordic region, and the EuroTech Universities Alliance in Europe.”

Two awards for Lecturers of the Year 

Every year, DTU students select two Lecturers of the Year. This year, the honour went to Maria Montanucci, professor at DTU Compute, and Alexander Simon Thrysøe, researcher at DTU Physics. As Lecturers of the Year, they both receive a diploma, 25,000 kr, and a small gift from PF, which was presented by PF’s President, Oliver Badike Hansen.

Maria Montanucci teaches mathematics, and the students attending her courses highlight her teaching as something truly special and a pleasure to attend.

Alexander Simon Thrysøe teaches physics, and according to his students, he is committed, creative, and skilled at explaining complex theory.

Occupational Health and Safety Award of the Year

The award is given to an employee who has made a special effort to promote a safe and healthy work environment while also contributing to strengthening the safety culture across the university.

Head of laboratory Per Munch Jakobsen, DTU Wind, has for more than a decade been a key driving force behind safety in advanced laboratory environments across DTU’s campuses in Risø, Lyngby, and Ballerup.

As an important part of DTU Wind, he has played a crucial role in strengthening safe frameworks in technically complex facilities, particularly in the handling of battery charging systems and Power-to-X technologies, where work with high voltage and hydrogen places stringent safety demands.

The Innovation Award

The Innovation Award is given to a researcher who demonstrates how research can be translated into innovation—and benefit society.

Professor Anne Ladegaard Skov, DTU Chemical Engineering, receives the Innovation Award for her extraordinary research in polymer technology and her work in translating knowledge into practice. In addition to her research, she has built strong industry partnerships and is involved in startups such as Glysious and AleSac, which are developing new solutions for wound treatment.

The Student Startup of the Year

The 2026 Student Startup of the Year was Triton Depth, founded by Carl Borg, Frederik Himmer, and Markus Rytter.

Triton Depth is a solution for underwater monitoring of, for example, cables. They aim to contribute to the security of Denmark and Europe with their device, which includes a hydrophone, which is a type of underwater microphone capable of collecting acoustic data, analyzing it using an AI computer, and thereby monitoring activity in its vicinity.

The prize came with 25,000 Danish kroner for further development of the product.

The prize was presented by Marianne Thellersen, DTU’s Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Senior Vice President.  

The commemorative lecture of the year

This year’s commemorative lecturer was Professor Michael Zwicky Hauschild from DTU, an internationally recognised pioneer in quantitative sustainability assessment.

In his commemorative lecture, he took his point of departure in the concept of absolute sustainability and presented a method for assessing whether technological solutions truly stay within the planet’s boundaries.

Using concrete examples, he showed why making technologies more efficient is not always sufficient—and why solutions are only solutions when they account for climate, biodiversity, resources and pollution as a whole. The lecture highlighted DTU’s role in developing methods that can turn sustainability from ambition into practice, in collaboration with both industry and society.

Julius Thomsen's Gold Medal

The Gold Medal is awarded to a researcher who has made an outstanding contribution to engineering science and had a significant professional and societal impact.

Professor Kim Dam-Johansen, DTU Chemical Engineering, is awarded the gold medal for his groundbreaking research in combustion and materials technology. Over more than four decades, he has made a significant impact on international research, combining fundamental technical chemistry with practical solutions in sustainable energy and environmental technologies as well as advanced materials, contributing to cleaner energy processes and reduced environmental impact.

For 10 years, he was the world’s most cited researcher in the field of combustion.

The Technical Doctorates

The Academic Council has awarded a technical doctorate to Senior Researcher Christoph Köhn from DTU Space. At the DTU Commemoration 2026, he was celebrated for his research spanning over a decade on thunderstorms and related weather phenomena.

Christoph Köhn’s doctoral thesis provides new insights into the atmospheric processes that create and occur in thunderstorms. Among other things, he uses a new calculation model to investigate high-energy X-ray and gamma-ray emissions from thunderstorms. Such high-energy emissions are interesting because they are among the most energetic phenomena on Earth, even more energetic than radioactive processes.

The technical doctorate is the highest academic title an engineer can attain.

The Academic Council awarded the technical doctorate to Professor Andreas Hougaard Laustsen-Kiel.

Andreas Hougaard Laustsen-Kiel, DTU Bioengineering, is awarded the technical doctorate for his research on the development of new antivenoms for snake bites based on human antibodies.

His work addresses an overlooked global health problem and has the potential to improve treatment, reduce side effects, and save lives in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

The Academic Council has also awarded a technical doctorate to Associate Professor Clara Velte, who is affiliated with DTU Construct.

Her research focuses on turbulence, and she has revolutionized her field of research. Even as a young engineer, she questioned the prevailing basic theory, which says that the vortices that constitute turbulence develop from large to small, and that the small vortices are no longer influenced by the large ones. But according to Clara Velte’s research, all the vortices in the turbulence continue to influence one another.

Last, but not least, the Academic Council awarded Senior Physician Hans Christian Wulf of Bispebjerg Hospital a technical doctorate.

Hans Christian Wulf conducts research in light therapy and the development of new technologies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. His work bridges medicine and engineering and contributes to a more precise and personalized healthcare system focused on better treatments, fewer side effects, and a higher quality of life for patients.

Honorary doctorates of the year

At DTU Commemoration 2026, two honorary doctorates were awarded. The honorary doctorate is awarded to leading international researchers who have made significant contributions to their field and, at the same time, have established a close and valuable collaboration with DTU.

Professor Liselotte Højgaard is a leading expert in medical imaging, particularly PET scanning for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

She has collaborated closely with DTU for many years, contributing to research and education at the intersection of technology and clinical practice, and has been a key driving force behind the Medicine and Technology programme, strengthening collaboration between DTU and the University of Copenhagen and advancing precision medicine through the integration of engineering and health sciences. 

Professor at Wageningen University, Michiel Kleerebezem, is a leading expert in the gut microbiome, microbial physiology, and the role of microorganisms in food and health.

He has collaborated closely with DTU for many years, contributing actively to research projects, advisory boards, and PhD programmes, while translating his deep scientific insight into value-creating solutions in areas such as healthier foods, fermentation, and an evidence-based understanding of probiotics.

Speech by President of Polyteknisk Forening

President of the student organisation Polyteknisk Forening (PF), Oliver Badike Hansen, focused his speech on community, responsibility and well-being as decisive factors for academic excellence, engagement and the university of the future.

He began by emphasising that DTU is more than frameworks, strategies and targets – a university is shaped by people and relationships:

“It is easy to talk about a university in terms of quotas, targets, ambitions and strategies. But a university is carried by people.”

According to the PF President, volunteering and engagement are present throughout campus life and form a vital strength in a time characterised by uncertainty, high expectations and tough priorities.

He also addressed the pressure many students experience today and questioned whether speed alone should define success:


“The question is not how fast we get through. It is what kind of people society wants to send out into the world.”

In his speech, he stressed that academic excellence and community are not opposites but mutually reinforcing, and that an elite university also requires human frameworks in which well-being, responsibility and engagement can grow.

He also reminded the audience that Polyteknisk Forening celebrates its 180th anniversary this year – 180 years of students organising themselves, taking responsibility and contributing to shaping both student life and the university. DTU Commemoration therefore not only celebrates DTU’s history, but also serves as a reminder of the responsibility each generation has to carry the community forward.

He concluded by gathering his key points in a clear ambition for the university:

“DTU must be a place where you grow. A place where you expand. And a community worth choosing.”

Receptions, gala dinner and celebration

Following the academic ceremony, a number of receptions were held. Her Majesty the Queen attended the President’s reception, where she greeted the award winners and signed DTU’s guestbook.

The evening continued with a gala dinner for nearly 3,000 guests. In the canteen, banners with DTU’s mission “For the benefit of society" set the scene for the dinner.

After the dinner, guests were invited to a major celebration attended by around 4,000 participants. With three stages and a lounge, the party spread across campus and offered high energy and musical experiences throughout the evening. Performers included Medina, KATO, Patina, The Orchestra, and The New Big Band with Anna David and Bobo Moreno.