By Peter Witten, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Foto: Colourbox

A new research project aims to ensure that Denmark does not fall behind in the global AI race.

Only about half of Danish software companies have considered using artificial intelligence (AI) for software development, putting them at risk of lagging behind.

Studies show that generative AI has the potential to boost software productivity by over 40 percent.

Now, more Danish software companies will receive support to adopt AI that is not only efficient but also understandable to users and aligned with societal values.

AAU researcher in the lead

The research project “Human-Centered Adoption of Artificial Intelligence for Software Engineering in Denmark” will help make this happen. The project is led by Professor Mikkel Baun Kjærgaard from the University of Southern Denmark and Scientific Director Daniel Russo, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Aalborg University.

The project will run for five years with a total budget of DKK 30.4 million, of which Innovation Fund Denmark has contributed nearly DKK 20 million.

"We are laying the foundation for a paradigm shift in how Denmark adopts advanced AI. It’s not just about technology – it’s about people, trust, and society," says Daniel Russo in a press release from Innovation Fund Denmark.

Ethics at the core

The project is based on Danish business principles such as flat hierarchies, high levels of trust, team cultures focused on collaboration and knowledge sharing, and ideals like equality, transparency, and social responsibility. The goal is to develop solutions where human use and ethics are central to software development processes and tools.

“Denmark should not just adopt AI. We should shape how AI is used responsibly. That’s why we’re building user-centered solutions that enhance productivity while respecting the people working with the technology,” says Professor Mikkel Baun Kjærgaard, University of Southern Denmark

Denmark’s role

One of the goals is to create a model for responsible AI integration that can inspire the rest of the world. The results are expected to impact exports, the labor market, and Denmark’s role in the future digital economy.

“AI will fundamentally change software development, but only if we prepare future developers to use the technology responsibly and effectively. AI must not become a black box in the development process. That requires a solid understanding of ethics, transparency, and the context in which the technology is used,” says Thomas Jesper Hansen, CTO, Systematic A/S

AI Agents

Companies involved in the project include Systematic, Umbraco, Ericsson, DCR Solutions, Software Improvement Group, European Spallation Source (ESS), and Unik System Design A/S.

Together with six Danish knowledge institutions, they will test and develop solutions in concrete use cases – from no-code platforms to AI agents in critical software development.

10,000 software developers

The research project has three main goals:

• Close the AI adoption gap and make AI usable across the entire software sector - including small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Strengthen trust in AI for the development of critical systems.
• Engage 10 percent of the Danish software industry in the project’s outcomes - that’s over 10,000 developers and decision-makers.
  Facts