A few decades ago, Danish water research was in the top international league on wastewater treatment solutions and groundwater. The priorities in Danish academia have changed and other countries have taken the lead.
Denmark’s water research ecosystem is currently fragmented across many small and weakly connected environments, limiting critical mass, resilience, and the translation of research into innovation; without deliberate defragmentation and stronger collaboration, the ecosystem risks continued erosion rather than renewal.
At the same time, Danish water research has lost international visibility and leadership, and without a clear global orientation, strong international partnerships, and benchmarking against leading water research hubs, Denmark will struggle to regain influence in shaping future water solutions.
Finally, sustaining long-term leadership in water technology depends on rebuilding curiosity, capacity, and career pathways for future generations—ensuring that water research and education once again attract talent, inspire ambition, and provide a robust pipeline of skills for academia and industry alike.
