DDSA continues to strengthen its communications efforts to ensure that data science, AI, and digitalisation are well represented in the public debate.
“While we already enjoy strong recognition within Denmark’s data science research community, we see clear potential to broaden our visibility among data scientists working in the public and private sectors, as well as among organisations and decision-makers,” says Marie Helene Andersson, Managing Director of DDSA.
As part of this ambition, DDSA contributed to two opinion pieces published this month in leading Danish newspapers, highlighting issues of strategic importance to Denmark’s future.
One contribution focused on a fundamental question: What could become one of Denmark’s greatest strengths in the years ahead? What will Denmark live on in the future?
In an opinion piece published in the largest Danish business newspaper Børsen, the leaders of the Pioneer Centre for AI, DIREC, and DDSA explored this question and put forward a clear answer:
“Our leadership position in AI, digitalisation, and data science.”
The article, co-authored by Serge Belongie, Thomas Riisgaard Hansen, and Marie Helene Andersson, argues that this leadership position cannot be taken for granted. Continued investment is required if Denmark is to maintain the talent, innovation, jobs, economic growth, and societal value created by these fields.
The three leaders wrote:
“One of the most important current and future sources of income for Denmark, a new Danish wind energy or pharmaceutical success story, is AI, digitalisation, and data science. Denmark is far more advanced in these fields than most people realise. In fact, we are among the world’s leading nations and have attracted some of the best international researchers in recent years.”
More Computing Power Is Crucial for Danish Research
DDSA also contributed to a second opinion piece in the national daily newspaper Berlingske, co-authored by Claudio Pica, Head of the SDU eScience Center, and Marie Helene Andersson.
The article highlights a growing challenge for Danish research: insufficient access to advanced computing resources. The authors argue that Denmark risks falling behind if researchers, students, and future generations of students and scientists do not have access to the computational power required for modern research and AI development.
They call for a national effort to strengthen Denmark’s research computing infrastructure while building the necessary competencies across Danish universities and research institutions.
The article referenced Anders Gjølbye Madsen, a young Danish PhD researcher who was conducting research at Stanford University in Silicon Valley as part of his DDSA fellowship. He described the transformative impact of access to powerful computing resources:
“It is extremely fast to test an idea today. In the past, weeks could pass from the moment I had a research idea until I knew whether it worked. With the latest AI tools and the computing power I now have access to here at Stanford, I can often get an answer within a few hours. The tools help write the code based on the instructions I give.”
Continuing to influence the Data Science Debate
DDSA will continue to contribute actively to public discussions on issues that are critical to the future of data science in Denmark.
As Marie Helene Andersson concludes:
“We see great value in increasing awareness and understanding of data science. Data science plays an important role across academia, the public sector, and private industry, and we believe it is vital to Denmark’s development and competitiveness both now and in the future.”