Research and Innovation Attaché to Denmark's Innovation Centres in Munich and Seoul

Do you want to develop and run international research and innovation partnerships for the benefit of Denmark? Then you may be Innovation Centre Denmark’s new attaché in either Munich or Seoul.

Innovation Centre Denmark strengthens Danish innovation

Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Higher Education and the Ministry of Digitalisation run a number of innovation centres that together form Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK). The centres are located in Boston, Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Munich, Seoul, Bangalore, Nairobi and Tel Aviv.

The innovation centres give Danish researchers, entrepreneurs and companies access to new knowledge, partners, technology and funding in the world’s leading innovation hubs and convey knowledge about new technological advancements and trends to Danish stakeholders. ICDK is thus a central actor in the Danish innovation ecosystem.

At the centres in Munich and Seoul we focus, among other things, on bringing knowledge home to Denmark about new technological trends and helping large Danish companies, knowledge institutions, private organisations and startups access knowledge partners, markets and capital in some of the world’s largest innovation ecosystems. We also help facilitate collaborations between leading Danish research institutions and respectively Germany and South Korea, just as we cooperate with Danish, national and regional authorities.

Green transition, life science, deeptech and new digital technologies are among the focus areas at the centres, where we work across technology domains on entrepreneurship, innovation, researcher-to-researcher collaboration and public/private partnerships as cross-cutting efforts in our activities.

You will be the link between Denmark and respectively Germany and South Korea

As a research attaché at ICDK Munich or ICDK Seoul you will have daily contact with a wide range of Danish and respectively German and South Korean research and innovation actors. The primary tasks will be to:

• together with the centre director oversee the daily management of ICDK Munich or ICDK Seoul.
• develop new research and innovation projects between Danish and German or Danish and South Korean institutions and companies.
• support mobility of researchers between Denmark, Germany and South Korea.
• improve bilaterial Danish-German and Danish-South Korean research and innovation cooperation, e.g. through agreements between local and Danish authorities.
• contribute Danish content to relevant European initiatives in Germany and South Korea in cooperation with the rest of the EU delegation for research and innovation.
• further develop and implement ICDK’s strategic priorities, including the centre’s two-year performance contract, in close collaboration with the centre director.
• prepare reports, notes and analyses, etc. for the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation and other Danish stakeholders.
• support and contribute with content to business-oriented activities such as ICDK programmes: Innovation Camps, Innovation Market Sprint and Global Tech Trends.
• highlight opportunities for Danish-German and Danish-South Korean research and innovation cooperation and knowledge repatriation to Denmark, including through research and company visits, events, keynotes, articles, short reports and other communications products.

What we expect from you

You are passionate about promoting international cooperation for the benefit of Danish researchers and companies. You have a strong network at Danish research institutions and in the Danish innovation ecosystem within ICDK’s focus areas: green transition, tech and life science, and your role is expected to have a particular focus on these areas.

You hold a relevant academic degree and at least ten years of relevant experience. Insight into German or South Korean research and innovation affairs as well as experience from a politically governed organisation - or the Danish innovation environment - is a significant advantage. Experience with establishing international partnerships and networks will be an additional plus. You must also possess a political and diplomatic sense.

We also expect that you

• are a strong project manager with solid experience in independently initiating, driving and evaluating projects between companies/research institutions (preferably with a focus on innovation) with measurable results to show.
• are good at creating, developing and maintaining an international network.
• are outgoing and good at collaborating both internally and externally.
• are good at written and spoken communication in both English and Danish.
• for the Munich position, solid knowledge of German would be an advantage
• possess strong analytical skills.
• are inventive and proactive.

You must be prepared that part of the work is practical in nature, such as arranging delegations, workshops and setting up meetings. Finally, the job will involve a substantial amount of travel activity, both in Germany and South Korea and to and from Denmark.

As an innovations attaché you will have professional responsibility for the centre’s activities together with the centre director. Together you form the centre’s leadership team.

ICDK Munich has 4 locally employed staff and an intern, and ICDK Seoul has 4 locally employed staff and an intern. All these employees report to the centre management via the centre director and the attaché.

ICDK Munich is located at the Danish Consulate General in Munich, as part of the overall Danish representation in Germany. There is close cooperation between the innovation centre, the representation’s other departments and the representations in Germany in general. ICDK Seoul is located at the Danish Embassy in Seoul, where there is close cooperation between the innovation centre and the representation’s other departments and is part of the overall Danish representation in South Korea.

In your application please specify which of the two positions you are applying for.

Salary and employment terms

You will be seconded under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ special attaché scheme with employment in the Agency for Science and Higher Education. It is a condition for deployment that you are tax liable in Denmark. During the deployment the salary is also taxed in Denmark. During the deployment you will receive a tax-free hardship allowance as compensation for certain extra costs associated with the deployment. The hardship allowance is calculated based on your personal circumstances, including family composition.

An unfurnished official residence will be provided in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ rules. In addition, expenses related to relocation, health insurance, schooling, etc. are covered in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ rules. It is a condition for appointment that you can at all times obtain security clearance and that you can maintain your security clearance throughout your employment.

The position is expected to be filled on May 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter and is initially for 3 years. The first month you will primarily be at the Agency for Science, Innovation and Higher Education in Copenhagen to receive training before deployment and to hold meetings with Danish stakeholders.

If you have questions about life as an attaché and about the projects currently being worked on by ICDK Munich and ICDK Seoul, you are welcome to contact the current attaché in Munich, Marlis Erichsen at [email protected] or the current attaché in Seoul, Inie Nør Madsen at [email protected] . If you have more general questions regarding Innovation Centre Denmark and the position, you can contact the Special Adviser Anne M. Dahl Nielsen at the Agency for Science, Innovation and Higher Education at telephone number 7231 8259.

Questions regarding deployment conditions can be directed to the Administrative Officer Maryla Poulsen at the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation at 7231 8014.

Apply for the position

Click the button “search for the position” or apply via our website ufsn.dk . We must have your application no later than Wednesday, November 18, 2026

We expect to conduct two rounds of interviews. The first round is expected to take place in weeks 49/50 and the second round in week 51. A case may be used during the interviews. References will be requested prior to the appointment.

Equal opportunity in all its aspects is important. Therefore, all interested persons are encouraged to apply regardless of ethnic origin, religion, gender, age and the like.