Salling Fondene throws millions into the fight for more innovation and more startups in Aarhus

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Entrepreneurship is thriving at Aarhus University, and now the development is being strengthened further. In the search for groundbreaking business ideas, the entrepreneurial environment at Aarhus University is now getting a significant boost that will benefit Aarhus University’s researchers and students.

The Herman Sallings Foundation has donated six million euros to the university’s entrepreneurship center, The Kitchen. The support will not only strengthen the university’s ability to translate scientific solutions into concrete businesses, but also challenge the norm for research efforts with a new entrepreneurship program.

Societal benefit

“The Salling Foundations are pleased to contribute to The Kitchen under the auspices of Aarhus University to inspire and help students and researchers establish startups and thus support entrepreneurship that holds great potential for society,” says Jens Bjerg Sørensen, Chairman of the Board at Købmand Herman Sallings Fond via Ritzau.

Since The Kitchen was established a few years ago, almost 400 startups have found a home here. Founded by dedicated researchers and ambitious students, the companies have raised more than 150 million in investment and many have left the university as successful businesses.

The potential for innovation is great

Business Director Lone Ryg Olsen from Aarhus University emphasizes that despite the good results, there is still plenty of potential at the university. The fund’s support is therefore also expected to accelerate new initiatives.

“Aarhus University has taken the first steps towards helping more researchers and students translate scientific insights into concrete solutions, but this is only the beginning. Thanks to the Salling Foundations, we can now embark on the next stage with new methods at hand,” says the business director.

A study of Aarhus University’s entrepreneurial efforts confirms that the university’s researchers and students are extraordinarily good at creating value through entrepreneurship.
In 2019 alone, companies founded by researchers, students and graduates employed almost 2,800 FTEs and had a total turnover of DKK 3.8 billion.

About The Kitchen

Aarhus University launched The Kitchen in 2020 in the former hospital kitchen at Aarhus Municipal Hospital, which has since become one of the largest startup hubs in Aarhus. Every month, ambitious new academics from Aarhus University sign up to work on scientific business ideas supported by a thriving ecosystem of investors, mentors, companies, foundations and business developers.

Fact: These initiatives are supported by the Herman Sallings Foundation:

• Entrepreneurship workshops where researchers and students are trained in practical entrepreneurship.
• An entrepreneurship program for development-heavy research projects involving students or experienced entrepreneurs without a research background. A unique approach to commercialization, the initiative aims to transform groundbreaking ideas and heavy technology solutions into viable businesses.
• AU Launch – a scholarship program for startups. To support new startups in technological clarification and market adaptation. The grant aims to address the lack of venture funding.