New head of the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering at Aarhus University
The green transition, digitalisation and Industry 4.0 are all keywords for the industry of the future, both in Denmark and abroad. They are also in the spotlight for Aarhus University's new head of the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Anders Brandt, whose focus is on research, development and business collaboration.
![[Translate to English:] Professor Anders Brandt](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/a/csm_anders-brandt-final_c994cb08b0.jpg "[Translate to English:] Professor Anders Brandt")
Mechanics and production are at the heart of engineering science, where deep technical insight, classical science and materials science come together to invent and find new solutions to the many problems facing society. This is where the seeds are planted for the green solutions of the future to the major challenges facing the world today.
With its new Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University will enhance its engineering research and educational activities to benefit all of society. The aim is to be an international leader in the area. The department now has a head, Anders Brandt, who comes from a position as a vice head of section at the University of Southern Denmark.
"Aarhus University is implementing a very exciting engineering initiative that will have a major impact on society, and I'm looking forward to seeing how mechanics and production are in focus. For me, it's important that we researchers and educational institutions do our utmost to contribute to society and the outside world, and that's why I see my work at the university as a strong outset. I look forward to getting started," says Anders Brandt.
Culture is essential
Anders Brandt graduated as an electronics engineer from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg in 1986, where he also took his PhD in medical electronics.
He was previously a professor and vice head of section at SDU Mechanical Engineering, where he had been employed since 2009. First as an associate professor for eleven years, when he established a large research group within structural dynamics, and later as a professor and deputy head of department from 2019.
"It's a great pleasure for me to motivate and stimulate colleagues in their research and project work. A good culture is essential for all employees to work well together, and I look forward to developing the new organisation at Aarhus University," he says.
Even though Anders Brandt was employed as an associate professor and professor at the University of Southern Denmark for more than ten years, he also made his way in industry long before the academic world drew him away. After his PhD, he worked at several different software companies in Sweden for a total of 20 years. He started at LMS Scandinavia in Sweden in 1989 immediately after his PhD and continued to Measurement Systems Scandinavia in 1992.
In 1996, he co-founded the company Axitech, where he served as the managing director until 2008. And in addition to his work in industry and academia, Anders Brandt has sat on a wide range of scientific committees and boards.
Fantastic wealth of ideas
Today, as head of the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, if he had to put his finger on what is important for the university to focus on, the answer is clear:
"The world is undergoing a green change, and industry is struggling to keep up. There are major and unspoken needs for technological breakthroughs in the digital parts of industry and in the green transition, and these are important areas to anchor our research. And just as important is good collaboration with the business community, and here we can contribute with the latest research, while the business community can contribute real-life issues to our degree programmes. Our students are one of the most important contributions we can make, and it is important that they are at the forefront of the technical issues the real world is struggling with," he says.
Furthermore, he wants to strike a blow for entrepreneurs:
"There’s a fantastic wealth of ideas at engineering departments, and I will do all I can to ensure that some of these ideas become reality. We’ve worked on this at SDU, and I hope to continue this culture at Aarhus."
Anders Brandt will take up the position of head of the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering at Aarhus University on 1 March 2021.
ABOUT ANDERS BRANDT
Anders Brandt was born and grew up in Malmö, Sweden.
He has a son who is studying in the Netherlands.
In his spare time, he likes sailing, fishing and hunting. He also has a great interest in classical music.
Contact
Jesper Bruun
Journalist
Mail: bruun@au.dk
Tel.: 42404140