DaNES

- for smarter embedded software

At the end of november 2006, the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation granted a large amount of money for promising Danish advanced technology research. 21 project had been submitted in order to get a part of the funds, but only five applications found their way through the critical eye of the foundation needle. And among these was a national project led by CISS, which was granted DKK 17 million for a project which aims to strenghten the use of intelligent embedded systems in Danish products.

The name of the project is DaNES, short for Danish Network for Intelligent Embedded Systems. Other participants in the project are the companies ICE­power, Prevas, Novo Nordisk, PAJ System­teknik, Skov and Terma – and in addition, the Department of Informatics and Mathematical Modelling at the Technical University of Denmark and the Mads Clausen Institute at the University of Southern Denmark participate. The participating companies co-fund the project with a total amount of DKK 36 million, wherease the knoledge institutions contribute with a further DKK 12 million.

Wants to share knowledge

"The global market for intelligent embedded systems is rapidly growing. It is expected to grow from DKK 279 billion in 2004 to DKK 536 billion in 2009. But so far, the development of intelligent embedded systems has been the responsibility of individual companies. This means that knowledge and development have not been transferred to other lines of business. The objective of our project is exactly this, that we will be able to take knowledge about intelligent embedded software from one line of business - for instance communications satellites - and transfer it to something entirely different - for instance controlling air-conditioning systems in pig stables," Managing Director of CISS, Kim Guldstrand Larsen, explains. He continues:

"It's about being on top of platforms and process methods - developing a kind of shared development tool that goes across trade divisions and fields of work."

Wants to take part in EU research

"The companies who participate in DaNES already have plans to market new advanced-technology products. In this connection, the collaboration in DaNES will be highly significant - and not just to the participating companies. The project will ensure that Danish companies possess the technology that will let them get a share in the rapidly growing global market for intelligent embedded products," Kim Guldstrand Larsen emphasises. He continues:

"With DaNES, Danish research and development hold a strong position in relation to our European co-players. And the timing is perfect: Under the technology programme ARTEMIS under the EU's 7th framework programme, which runs from 2007 to 2010, platform and development methods and tools are two of the three priority areas. In this connection, DaNES hopes to come to play a not insignificant role."

In the longer run, Kim Guldstrand Larsen hopes that DaNES may become the driving force behind the establishment of a Danish consortium for embedded systems in which all companies and knowledge institutions who work with embedded software will be more than welcome.

Read more at www.danes.aau.dk