About Us
Companies in and around Sønderborg are internationally recognized leaders across a range of advanced technical fields and continue to experience rapid growth. To remain competitive in a global market, these companies rely on highly skilled engineers with strong competencies in mechanics and mechatronics.
For more than two decades, University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg has delivered cutting-edge research and education in mechatronics. Building on this strong foundation, the university is expanding its activities by strengthening core competencies in industrial mechanics through the Centre for Industrial Mechanics (CIM).
CIM was established with generous support from Bitten & Mads Clausens Foundation, LINAK, the Region of Southern Denmark, and Sønderborg Municipality. The centre serves as a hub for advanced research, education, and close collaboration with industry.
Research Areas
At present, the centre’s research focuses on developing new, sustainable solutions for mechanical design, thermal systems, and the control of electromechanical devices such as robots and drones. This work is anchored in the following research groups:
- Smart Structure and Manufacturing Group
- Energy Systems
- Smart Cooling and Heating Group
- Intelligent Control Group
- Additive Manufacturing Group
- Drone Mechatronics
Across these areas, CIM advances industrial mechanics through innovative approaches to design, simulation, materials, and system performance - supporting the development of efficient, reliable, and intelligent solutions.
Meeting Industry Needs
In recent years, industry demands have evolved significantly. Companies increasingly require stronger integration within complex systems, higher levels of automation, and deeper insight into advanced mechanical behavior. At the same time, there is a growing need for engineers who combine system-level understanding with strong disciplinary expertise in mechanics.
Modern products must be compact, efficient, reliable, and sustainable, while delivering high performance at competitive costs.
Driving Innovation and Sustainability
Through excellence in research, education, and industrial collaboration, CIM supports regional companies in maintaining their global leadership. By educating engineers with highly sought-after competencies, CIM contributes to the development of reliable and advanced mechanical systems.
At the same time, the centre plays an important role in supporting sustainable development and the green transition, helping ensure that innovation aligns with the needs of both industry and society.
