By Jane Grønning Johansen and David Graff, AAU Kommunikation & Public Affairs

'Knowledge for the world' is the title of Aalborg University's strategy, which is about getting research knowledge from the university to society – e.g. as products that can function under market conditions.

The company DNASense, which provides microbial RNA and DNA sequencing and on Friday 1 March 2024 was acquired by Clinical Microbiomics, is a textbook example of this.

A gazelle from Northern Jutland

The company DNASense took its' first steps in facilities at AAU, rented on an hourly basis by the founders, Mads Albertsen, Per H. Nielsen, Rasmus H. Kirkegaard, and Søren M. Karst. Their ambition was to translate their research into DNA analysis of microbiomes into commercially viable solutions for companies.

The company quickly gained momentum: In 2019, it won a Børsen Gazelle, and major national and international brands continuously appeared on the customer list.

"We are super proud to have created a company that recruits graduates from Aalborg University and creates growth and jobs in Northern Jutland", says Mads Albertsen, who today is a professor at the Department of Chemistry and Bio Science and was recently appointed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science as an international elite researcher in his field.

Mads Albertsen himself was CEO of the company until 2020, after which the day-to-day operations and management were handed over to four talented employees and former AAU PhD students, who became co-owners. One of the four, Mads Søndergaard, took over as CEO.

Sales must lead to growth

Under Mads Søndergaard's leadership, DNASense grew to new heights, and the current sales should be seen as an element in the continued growth strategy.

Anders Grøn, CEO of Clinical Microbiomics, is looking forward to having DNASense join the company.

"We have an ambition to build the world's largest microbiome contract research company, and with DNASense we get access to the latest technologies in DNA sequencing", says Anders Grøn and continues:

"DNASense contributes further with competencies in, for example, monitoring wastewater at hospitals and optimizing fermentation tanks for growing microbiomes. These are important competencies because they are also what our customers are looking for."

After the sale, the partners behind DNASense will remain committed to the company as shareholders. Likewise, the employees of DNASense will continue after the purchase.