Bitten & Mads Clausen’s Foundation has invested in the physical framework for the new research and teaching facilities for engineers in Sønderborg. It has also in conjunction with Linak financed an extra building next to Alsion which will house the Centre for Industrial Electronics (CIE).
Watch a time-lapse film of the construction of CIE here.
The Centre and the teaching facilities have resulted from a unique co-operation between public and private businesses in Region Syddanmark (Region of Southern Denmark). The Syddansk Universitet (Southern Danish University) together with Danfos, Linak, Region Syddanmark and Sønderborg Municipality have each invested 35 million DDK, 175 million DDK in total, to establish the new CIE.
The Centre provides research, development of innovation and test facilities of international quality. It creates the basis for totally new engineering qualifications within the field of electronics both at diploma as well as degree level.
An internationally renowned research group is coming together with the CIE. They are collaborating with industry in order to find new solutions within the field of energy efficiency. The activities in the Centre for Industrial Electronics are aimed at developing new products and solutions. Not only will these strengthen existing businesses, they will also provide the grounds for new ones. Through this, the whole region will become more competitive and the lack of qualified workers will be solved locally.
In the Sønderborg area, there will be an employment requirement for just under 1400 graduates by 2020. It is estimated with the situation as is stands, that it is only possible to recruit 600. Therefore, there will be a shortfall of 800 graduates. And this is particularly engineers in electronics, mechatronics and IT.
The Region Syddanmark benefits from having a great deal of industry concentrating on energy-effective technologies. Export of these technologies accounts for up to approximately 34 billion DDK annually and is a key driver among Danish exports. The growth potential within energy-effective technologies is great: 80 per cent of the companies are predicting an increased turnover in the coming years, and 58 per cent will be looking for new employees.
Danfoss and LINAK are some of the country's largest exporters in the field. Through the Centre for Industrial Electronics, the two companies and other local bodies will get direct access to both the talent pool and knowledge that CIE will foster. The whole project is thus "For the benefit of Danfoss", which is the main clause in the Foundation's trust deed.
The Centre for Industrial Electronics has got off to a good start and by October 2019 welcomed its first 50 students. In the first phase of four years, it is expected that 110 people would have either started or completed their education as engineers in the field of electronics.
