DTU’s new head of department has strong competences within innovation and business collaboration.
Claus Hélix-Nielsen has been appointed new head of department at DTU Environment from 1 February 2019. He comes from a position as head of the Water Technology Section at the same department.
Claus Hélix-Nielsen holds a MSc in Engineering after graduating from DTU in 1990, where he also did his PhD degree in 1993.
After a number of years conducting research at several large universities in Denmark and abroad, he was employed at DTU in 2003. From 2006 to March 2018, he has also headed the research activities in the water technology company Aquaporin A/S, which today has more than 100 employees in Denmark, Singapore, and China engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the membranes which are the product of, for example, Claus Hélix-Nielsen’s research.
“Leveraging his extensive experience in research, education, and innovation, Claus Hélix-Nielsen will be able to take DTU Environment into the future. In particular, his solid knowledge about innovation and business collaboration is a big plus, which will undoubtedly benefit DTU in future,” says DTU President Anders Bjarklev.
Claus Hélix-Nielsen is greatly looking forward to his new role:
“I would like to consolidate the high scientific level at DTU Environment, and strengthen the department’s efforts in translating science into practice. This will provide a solid foundation for the role that we, as a department, will come to play in future in terms of helping to realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. I’m very much looking forward to heading these efforts.”
Claus Hélix-Nielsen is a member of the Danish Academy of Natural Sciences, and has, among other things, received the academy’s Industry Award as well as the European Innovator Award from the European Patent Organization for his ground-breaking work within the development of biometric membrane technology.