Plant Professor appointed new Head of Carlsberg Laboratory

Professor in Plant Biochemistry, Birger Lindberg Møller, has been appointed new Director and Professor at the Carlsberg Laboratory by Carlsberg A/S, Group R&D as of March 1st 2014. The appointment significantly strengthens basic research within the areas of plants, yeast and ingredients for both the University of Copenhagen and Carlsberg. Professor Birger Lindberg Møller continues his activities and professorship at University of Copenhagen. 

Birger Lindberg Møller, Professor in Plant Biochemistry at Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at University of Copenhagen, says:

“Carlsberg is distinguished from other world leading breweries by having a strong focus on research and innovation – and a Carlsberg Laboratory that carries out world class basic research. I am therefore very proud and honored to be appointed Head of the Laboratory.”

He continues:

“The research is very much in line with our research activities at the University of Copenhagen, including areas of photosynthesis, cell wall biopolymers and bioactive natural products. This match of competences will ensure synergy and mutual benefits for both the University of Copenhagen and the Carlsberg Laboratory.”

Professor Flemming Besenbacher, Chairman of the Board of Carlsberg A/S, Carlsberg Foundation and Carlsberg Laboratory, says of the appointment:

“The recruitment of Birger Lindberg Møller as professor at the Carlsberg Laboratory will give a significant boost to Carlsberg’s long-term research and innovation within the areas of feed stocks (barley, hops etc.) as well as the yeast and ingredient areas which are of crucial importance to Carlsberg. Furthermore, Birger Lindberg Møller will contribute significantly to our “open innovation platform” through a strengthening of the collaboration between Carlsberg on the one side and the academic world on the other side – in this case University of Copenhagen. This close affiliation to leading scientists will enable Carlsberg to reach our goal of becoming the globally most innovative company within the brewery sector.”

At Faculty of Science, both Dean John Renner Hansen and Head of Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences Svend Christensen congratulate Birger Lindberg Møller and welcome the collaboration:
“The appointment is a significant strengthening of the collaboration between the University’s basic research areas of microbiology, plant biochemistry, crop plant breeding and food innovation and the privately financed laboratory at Carlsberg,” says John Renner Hansen.

“Furthermore, there is a considerable potential in collaboration between universities and private companies – especially considering the increasing international competition,” says Svend Christensen.

Towards 2018, University of Copenhagen is making heavy investments in the above mentioned research areas, including the construction of two state-of-the-art research buildings for the new Copenhagen Plant Science Center at the Frederiksberg Campus. The center will be a central collaborator for the Carlsberg Laboratory.

More information:

Professor Birger Lindberg Møller, e-mail: blm@plen.ku.dk

Dean John Renner Hansen, e-mail: dekan@science.ku.dk

Professor and Chairman for Carlsberg A/S and the Carlsberg Foundation Flemming Besenbacher, e-mail: f.besenbacher@carlsbergfoundation.dk.