With the appointment of Bo Stjerne Thomsen as Adjunct Professor, DTU strengthens its capacity to support DTU students, PhD candidates, and faculty in developing new solutions at the intersection of education, technology, and innovation.
DTU is pleased to announce the appointment of Bo Stjerne Thomsen as Adjunct Professor. The title of adjunct professor is awarded to persons with qualifications at a high professional level employed in Danish or international industry, research institutions or public authorities. Bo’s ability to bridge research, industry, and policy-making provides a unique perspective that will significantly benefit DTU’s academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“DTU is a place where engineering, innovation, and real-world impact come together in powerful ways,” says Bo Stjerne Thomsen. “I am honoured by this appointment and excited to contribute to new forms of learning and innovation that help students, educators, and the university create solutions to the challenges of a changing world.”
Our new Adjunct Professor brings an outstanding background in education, innovation, and technology-enabled learning. Throughout his career, he has worked across academia, industry, and policy, contributing to the development of new educational practices with global impact.
In his current role as Head of Educational Impact at LEGO Education, he leads global efforts in learning design, curriculum development and impact assessment, for hands-on learning in STEM education. He has held significant leadership roles, including serving as Vice-President and Chair of Learning through Play at the LEGO Foundation, where he led the international research and education agenda. His work has influenced education policies and programmes in more than 25 countries worldwide.
Alongside his industry leadership, Bo has an extensive academic profile. He has collaborated with leading universities and research institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Tufts University, the University of Cambridge, EPFL, DTU, and Tsinghua University. His research and publications focus on innovative pedagogies, learning technologies, and the integration of playful learning into formal and informal education systems.
Strengthening DTU’s academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem
In connection with the appointment, Jes Broeng, Director of DTU Entrepreneurship and DTU Skylab says: “Welcoming Bo in his new role reflects DTU’s ambition to further strengthen the link between research, education, and real-world impact. Through this adjunct professorship, I look forward to deepening Bo’s engagement with DTU. His contributions will enhance our teaching, research collaborations, and industry partnerships - particularly within education technology, learning innovation, and entrepreneurship education”.
Bo Stjerne Thomsen’s experience across academia, industry, and policy is expected to benefit a wide range of stakeholders at DTU.
“His background as a researcher, advisor, and industry leader will support DTU students, PhD candidates, and faculty in developing new solutions at the intersection of education, technology, and innovation,” Jes adds.
More specifically, the aim is that Bo will contribute to competence development for educators and to the design of new teaching formats with an emphasis on active engagement and relevance to future competencies. An example of a concrete focus area is the course “Innovation in Engineering”, mandatory for all DTU students, where he has already initiated dialogue with faculty at DTU Entrepreneurship.
In addition, we will engage in conversation with Bo on how he best sees his contribution to evaluation formats and to research programmes that combine ’learning science’ and technology to benefit students, strengthen life-long learning programmes, and generate broader societal impact.
Inaugural lecture
In connection with his appointment, Bo will give an inaugural lecture with the title “Making space for play: Why the future of innovation depends on the future of learning”.
Bo Stjerne Thomsen’s inaugural lecture will take place on Friday 29 May 2026 – click to see details and sign up.
A strong alignment with DTU’s mission
Bo is known as a collaborative and generous colleague with a personal commitment to transforming education for the better. His vision and leadership align with DTU’s mission to educate engineers and innovators capable of addressing complex societal challenges.
DTU Entrepreneurship looks forward to welcoming Bo Stjerne Thomsen and to the many contributions his adjunct professorship will bring to the university’s academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
2023–now: Head of Educational Impact, LEGO Education
2020–2023: Chair of Learning through Play, LEGO Foundation
2017–2020: Global Head of Research, LEGO Foundation
2013–2017: Head of Centre for Creativity, Play & Learning, LEGO Foundation
2011–2013: Head of LEGO Learning Institute, The LEGO Group
2009–2011: Robot Designer, Danish Technological Institute
2001–2009: Co-Director, Novosion ApS
2009: PhD in Architecture & Design, Aalborg University
2004–2006: Assistant Professor, Aalborg University
2004: MSc in Architecture & Design
Research affiliations with MIT, Tsinghua University, Harvard University, and Tufts University.
The title of adjunct professor is awarded to persons with qualifications at a high professional level employed in Danish or international industry, research institutions or public authorities.