Engineering with Society in Mind

Representation and Societal Impact in Research

Technologies play a fundamental role in shaping society and people’s lives, creating both opportunities and barriers for wellbeing. At DTU, developing research outcomes and solutions that are relevant and responsive to societal and human needs is integral to research excellence. 

The intensification of the global technology race and increasing geopolitical pressures on Europe reinforce the need to develop technologies both rapidly and responsibly, with society and people at the core. Against this backdrop, DTU’s foundational commitment to benefiting society remains a relevant and important guiding principle for developing research and technologies that are innovative and responsible toward society and humans.

This initiative directly supports DTU’s strategic focus area on democratic responsibility by strengthening human-centered approaches and consideration on representation, inclusion, and societal relevance across DTU’s research activities. Through learning materials, tools and facilitated workshops and counselling, it supports DTU’s researchers in integrating societal, democratic and ethical considerations into the research process, from the early stages of idea development to dissemination and implementation. 

Considering societal, democratic, and ethical aspects from the outset and ensuring that research questions, methods, and outcomes are grounded in real-world needs and contexts is also a matter of research quality, robustness and capacity for impact. In doing so, it contributes to the development of research and technologies that are scientifically excellent as well as accessible, applicable, and trustworthy for the people and societies in which they are ultimately used.

Part of implementing CoARA at DTU  

The initiative is part of the programme ‘Impact in many ways’, which establishes a framework for implementing CoARA at DTU—paving the way for a more inclusive and impact-oriented research culture by recognising multiple ways of contributing to DTU’s core areas: research, innovation, education, and teaching.  

What can you get support with?

Many Danish funding foundations, as well as EU funding programmes such as Horizon Europe, require research proposals to address gender and diversity considerations in both the composition of research teams and the research content and design itself. We can help you integrate gender and diversity dimensions into your research design, methods, content, and expected outcomes, strengthening both the quality and relevance of your proposal.
We support DTU researchers and research groups in integrating human-centred and societal perspectives throughout the research process, from the initial project idea and funding application to implementation, impact, and outcomes. Support is available through facilitated workshops, tailored counselling, and sparring sessions.
On this website, you will find a range of learning materials, guides, and practical tools to help you incorporate societal, human-centred, and diversity perspectives into your research activities.
A collection of external resources, frameworks, literature and examples is available here to support your work on integrating human-centered perspectives and dimensions of diversity, inclusion, and societal impact.

If you would like support, advice, or information about any of the above, please get in touch with Sif Lehman Jensen, PhD and project lead. We are happy to discuss how these perspectives can be meaningfully integrated into your research or funding application.

Contact

Sif Lehman Jensen

Sif Lehman Jensen Office for Research, Advice and Innovation Mobile: +45 93511140

Updated 15 juli 2026