Tina Fanø named new chairwoman for Innovation Fund Denmark

One of Denmark’s top business executives will take over the role as chair of Innovation Fund Denmark from 1 April.

- Innovation Fund Denmark is crucial for the translation of knowledge and research into innovation that brings value to Denmark. Tina Fanø has significant experience in exactly that - turning innovation and research into value creation for companies and Denmark. She is the right chairwoman for the Fund in the future so that we may establish even more companies on the background of solid and groundbreaking research. I look forward to our collaboration, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Tommy Ahlers.

Tina Fanø has garnered great experience during her 26 years at Novozymes within research, innovation, and the commercialisation of research results. She also has board member experience from advanced technology companies. Tina Fanø commented on her new post:

- Innovation Fund Denmark’s role as the link between research and innovation and the business community creates enormous value for Danish society. I am really looking forward to contributing as chairwoman for the board where I will work actively to maintain and develop this unique role that the Fund plays when it comes to investing in everything from groundbreaking research projects, to start-ups and extremely young entrepreneurs, to innovative production

• CV

The coming chairwoman Tina Fanø replaces Jens Maaløe, CEO for Terma. Jens Maaløe has been a member of the board for Innovation Fund Denmark since its foundation in 2014, and chairman of the board since 1 January 2015.

- Jens Maaløe has been with Innovation Fund Denmark since the beginning and his drive has helped to support research and innovation in Denmark. Since 2014, the Fund has helped countless researchers bring their ideas to life - in the easiest possible way. Innovation Fund Denmark has made it much easier to turn ideas into reality, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Tommy Ahlers.

Meanwhile the Minister for Higher Education and Science has appointed two new members and reappointed one member to the board of Innovation Fund Denmark. The two new members are Professor Stephen Alstrup, of the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, and Lars Frølund, PhD and Research Director at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While Claus Jensen, President of the Danish Metalworkers Union, has been reappointed for a one-year period.

The appointment of Prof. Stephen Alstrup brings to the board, a member who is an active researcher and has solid experience from the private sector with the start-up and management of his own company. Stephen Alstrup has deep insight into the digital development and transformation, and manages large artificial intelligence and basic research projects daily with his colleagues.

The appointment of research director and visiting fellow Lars Frølund as a new board member brings someone who is a research talent and works with innovation in one of the world’s leading research and innovation environments in Boston. Furthermore, Lars Frølund has deep insight into the prerequisites for successful collaborations between universities, large companies and the Danish research system.

The reappointment of Claus Jensen strengthens Innovation Fund Denmark’s work in relation to the tasks the Fund will take over from the Market Development Fund as Claus Jensen sits on the boards of both funds.

For further information please contact:

Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science Tommy Ahlers: Ministry media hotline, tel: +45 7231 8181.

Ny chairwoman for Innovation Fund Denmark as of 1 April 2019, Tina Fanø: Press and Media Advisor Jens Bomholt, Innovation Fund Denmark, tel: +45 61 90 50 45.