Unique collaboration with AUFF facilitates world-class research

Soon, the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS, can celebrate its 10-year anniversary. The director, Professor Søren Rud Keiding, takes stock of the institute’s excellent collaboration with AUFF, which today more than ever facilitates cross-disciplinary collaboration.

By Jesper Bruun

“Today, we can look back on nearly 10 years of close cooperation with the Aarhus University Research Foundation on funding fellowships for talented researchers from all over the world,” says Professor Søren Rud Keiding, Director of AIAS.

Since AIAS first opened its doors in Building 1632 in Høegh-Guldbergs Gade in the southernmost part of the University Park in spring 2013, the institute’s mission has been to promote top-class research by attracting talented, highly qualified researchers from all over the world and within all fields of research. Right from the start, AIAS’ ambition has been to create a framework that promotes innovation and knowledge exchange across fields. And the institute has been a success, today more than ever promoting collaboration across disciplines.

“Today, we can look back on nearly 10 years of close cooperation with the Aarhus University Research Foundation on funding fellowships for talented researchers from all over the world. AIAS is an incubator of talent; here new fields emerge, researchers strengthen their career and we help promote the university,” says Director of AIAS, Professor Søren Rud Keiding.

He adds:

“The impact our fellows go on to have on the university is substantial, and a lot of Aarhus University’s young top-class researchers are former fellows. We wish to strengthen our academic ties to Aarhus University, and in 2021, we therefore introduced a so-called Associate Fellowship programme. Today, 28 researchers at Aarhus University are affiliated with the programme.”

The aim of the Associate Fellowship programme, is to expand our network among the university’s departments and fields of study, and to extend the interdisciplinary research community at Aarhus University.

“It is important to create a space and framework that allows researchers at all career stages to meet as well as develop and consolidate their research together and not as competitors. This interdisciplinary dialogue is immensely inspiring to our fellows, and it facilitates talent development and career advancement, and when all comes to all, helps solve some of the major issues facing the planet,” Søren Rud Keiding explains.

AIAS currently has 43 international fellows and 28 associate fellows at Aarhus University. The institute can celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2023.