Villads Keiding 

Associate Professor, DTU Engineering Technology

Email: vkei@dtu.dk

Villads Keiding is an Associate Professor at DTU Engineering Technology, specializing in innovation processes, strategic design, and the facilitation of interdisciplinary collaboration. With a background in design research and cultural development, he explores how innovation evolves within ecosystems, particularly in healthcare and technology-driven domains. A key focus of his work is enabling student learning activities as an active resource in hospital innovation, leveraging competencies and fresh perspectives to drive change. He is a strong advocate for bottom-up and employee-driven innovation, emphasizing co-creation and sense-making as tools for sustainable transformation. Keiding has extensive experience in leading design-driven innovation projects, developing knowledge-sharing methodologies such as Mapping Innovation Ecology (MIE), and working with public and private stakeholders to translate complex challenges into actionable solutions. As a former designer, entrepreneur, and innovation consultant, he combines strategic foresight with hands-on facilitation to foster creative and inclusive change processes in healthcare and to enable university-hospital collaboration.

DTU Engineering Technology

DTU Engineering Technology conducts applied research in technology implementation and engineering education, with a strong focus on integrating digitalization and sustainable solutions across various industries and sectors, with the healthcare sector being particularly prominent. Key research areas include value co-creation in collaborations between universities and public and private partners, as well as digital transformation. Projects like TransportTech support the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in freight transport, while InnoTech develops digital solutions to accelerate climate innovation. In sustainable energy, the IEA DHC Annex TS6 project focuses on optimizing district heating networks through AI-driven predictive models, while PowerBio explores efficient biomass utilization for green energy. The department also pioneers research in AI and IoT applications, such as the Machine Learning for Beehives Monitoring project, which develops AI-based monitoring systems to help beekeepers improve colony health and biodiversity. In human-centered technology, projects like Leadership without Leaders in Agile Organizations investigate the impact of agile work environments on mental health, while a suite of hybrid-work-centered projects explores collaboration and leadership in remote work settings.