DTU Skylab

DTU Skylab
Name	DTU Skylab
Formation	2001
Location	Copenhagen
Parent organization	Technical University of Denmark
Type	Fab lab, innovation hub, makerspace

DTU Skylab is a student-driven laboratory and innovation hub associated with the Technical University of Denmark located in Kongens Lyngby. The lab functions as a practical prototyping center supporting students, researchers, and startups from institutions such as Aarhus University, Copenhagen Business School, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University, and international partners like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich. It serves as a node in networks including Fab Foundation, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and regional innovation initiatives tied to Greater Copenhagen and Øresund collaboration.

History

Founded in 2001 as part of an expansion of technical education at the Technical University of Denmark, the lab emerged amid European initiatives for hands-on learning influenced by developments at MIT Media Lab and the Fab Lab Network. Early involvement by faculty from departments such as DTU Elektro, DTU Compute, DTU Mechanical Engineering, and alumni linked to programs like Erasmus and NordPlus shaped its growth. Over the years, the site expanded through partnerships with municipal bodies like Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality and funding from entities such as Innovation Fund Denmark and European Regional Development Fund, while engaging with organizations including Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education and private sponsors like Novo Nordisk and Vestas.

Mission and Activities

DTU Skylab’s mission emphasizes experiential learning, entrepreneurship, and rapid prototyping, aligning with strategies from institutions such as National Instruments, Siemens, and ABB. It runs programs integrating methodologies from Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and approaches exemplified by IDEO and Y Combinator. Activities include maker workshops influenced by Maker Faire, accelerator-style support similar to Techstars, and collaborative research practices seen at Fraunhofer Society, CERN, and European Space Agency. The lab supports student competitions and events such as RoboCup, Formula Student, Shell Eco-marathon, and startup showcases akin to Slush.

Facilities and Resources

The facility houses tools and equipment paralleling resources at leading makerspaces like Fab Lab Barcelona and Fablab Amsterdam, including 3D printers from manufacturers such as Ultimaker and Stratasys, laser cutters comparable to Epilog Laser, CNC machines used in conjunction with software from Autodesk, and electronics benches stocked with components from STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments. Workshops provide access to test instruments from Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, and fabrication platforms inspired by Kickstarter projects. The space hosts collaborative rooms furnished with furniture models from IKEA and digital collaboration tools like GitHub and Slack to support interdisciplinary teams.

Education and Research Programs

Skylab integrates with curricula across programs such as Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Master of Science (MSc), and project courses tied to departments including DTU Civil Engineering, DTU Bioengineering, DTU Space, and DTU Chemical Engineering. It facilitates student projects connected to initiatives like Erasmus Mundus, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and industry-oriented courses in collaboration with corporates such as Siemens Gamesa and Maersk. The lab supports pedagogical models influenced by Project-Based Learning, case studies drawn from institutions like Harvard Business School, and capstone projects analogous to those at Imperial College London and Caltech.

Partnerships and Industry Collaboration

The center maintains collaborations with industrial partners including Novo Nordisk, Vestas, Maersk, Grundfos, LEGO Group, Microsoft Denmark, Google, Siemens, and Arla Foods. It engages with research organizations such as DTU Energy, DTU Nutech, DTU Environment, Technical University of Munich, and networks like EIT RawMaterials and CIC. Skylab works with startup ecosystems exemplified by Founders Factory, Accelerace, and incubators such as Copenhagen Capacity and Symbion, while also cooperating with public innovation actors like Danish Technological Institute and Innovation Centre Denmark.

Notable Projects and Achievements

Projects hosted at the lab have contributed to competitive entries to events like ICPC, Venture Cup, and Imagine Cup, and have supported ventures that reached stages similar to funding rounds seen at Sequoia Capital-backed startups and accelerator graduate companies from Y Combinator. Notable technical achievements include hardware prototypes in robotics related to research at Boston Dynamics-style labs, energy systems tied to European Space Agency technology translational efforts, biomedical devices developed in collaboration with groups like Copenhagen University Hospital and firms such as Coloplast. Alumni and affiliated teams have collaborated with organizations including LEGO Foundation, UNICEF, World Health Organization, and research consortia connected to Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs.

Category:Technical University of Denmark Category:Makerspaces Category:Innovation hubs