Innovation Fund Denmark brings together strong Danish and international competences within defence, security, research and innovation in a new expert committee to assess applications for new research and innovation centres within defence technology. The committee is chaired by former NATO ambassador and chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michael Zilmer-Johs, with Major General and Chief of the Development and Planning Staff at the Defence Command Jacob Alexa as deputy chair.

Denmark and Europe face a significant need to strengthen defense capabilities, technological robustness and security. Research and innovation play a crucial role in the development of technologies and solutions that will support future defense and societal security.

Therefore, the Innovation Fund Denmark board has established a new defense expert committee to assess applications for the establishment of strategic research and innovation centers within defense technology and security and recommend final investment decisions to the fund's board.

The committee consists of a total of eight international and Danish experts, who together represent significant expertise within defense, security, research, innovation and strategic technology development. The members have extensive experience in assessing research quality, innovation potential and strategic importance in both national and international contexts.

- Denmark needs strong research and innovation environments that can contribute to developing the technologies and solutions that strengthen our security and defense in the coming years. That is why I am very pleased that we have been able to assemble an expert committee with such strong competencies and experience. This provides a solid basis for identifying and supporting the most promising initiatives in the area, says Anders Eldrup, head of Innovation Fund Denmark.

The committee must monitor the development of the centers

The committee will have a more active role than the expert panels that are normally part of the Innovation Fund's application processes. In addition to assessing the applications, the committee will monitor the established centers throughout the grant period.

Each year, the Defence Expert Committee must assess the centres' progress and deliveries in relation to the agreed milestones. The assessments form the basis for subsequent grant disbursements and must help ensure that the investments create the greatest possible value for Denmark.

The strategic research and innovation centers will bring together research environments, companies and public actors in strong national partnerships on the development of future defense and security technologies. Based on Danish positions of strength, the centers will develop, test and implement solutions that support the operational needs of the Armed Forces and contribute to Danish security of supply.

The call for applications for strategic research and innovation centers within defense technology and security has a deadline for applications for phase 1 of June 30.

The committee is expected to recommend the final investment decision to the fund's board of directors in December 2026.

Committee members:

Foreperson:
Michael Zilmer-Johns , former Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador at Denmark's Permanent Representation to NATO

Deputy Chairperson.
Jacob Alexa, Major General and Chief of the Development and Planning Staff in the Danish Defence Command

Eveline Buchatskiy , general partner of the Ukrainian defense fund D3

Jens Hjort , former defense attaché in Ukraine and Danish military representative in Kyiv

Kristi Raik, Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) in Estonia

Mauro Gilli, professor of military strategy and technology at the Hertie School in Berlin

Malene Stidsen , program manager for cybersecurity at the Danish Industry Foundation

Niels Vejrup Carlsen , founder of the venture fund Final Frontier

Read the terms of reference for the Defence Expert Committee