Skip to main content ITU
Logo
  • Programmes
    • BSc Programmes
    • BSc in Global Business Informatics
    • BSc in Digital Design and Interactive Technologies
    • BSc in Software Development
    • BSc in Data Science
    • Applying for a BSc programme
    • MSc Programmes
    • MSc in Digital Innovation & Management
    • MSc in Digital Design and Interactive Technologies
    • MSc in Software Design
    • MSc in Data Science
    • MSc in Computer Science
    • MSc in Games
    • Applying for an MSc programme
    • Student Life
    • Practical information for international students
    • Ask a student
    • Women in tech
    • Student organisations at ITU
    • Study start
    • Labs for students
    • Special Educational Support (SPS)
    • Study and Career Guidance
    • Exchange student
    • Become an exchange student
    • Guest Students
    • Who can be a guest student?
    • ITU Summer University
    • Open House
    • Open House - BSc programmes
    • Open House - MSc programmes
  • Professional Education
    • Master in IT Management
    • Master in IT Management
    • Admission and entry requirements
    • Contact
    • Single Subjects
    • About single subjects
    • Admission and entry requirements
    • Contact
    • Short courses | ITU Professional Courses
    • See all short courses
    • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contact us here
  • Research
    • Sections
    • Data Science
    • Data, Systems, and Robotics
    • Digital Business Innovation
    • Digitalization Democracy and Governance
    • Human-Computer Interaction and Design
    • Play Culture and AI
    • Software Engineering
    • Technologies in Practice
    • Theoretical Computer Science
    • Research Centres
    • Centre for Digital Play
    • Center for Climate IT
    • Center for Computing Education Research
    • Centre for Digital Welfare
    • Centre for Information Security and Trust
    • Research Centre for Government IT
    • Danish Institute for IT Program Management
    • Research entities
    • Research centers
    • Sections
    • Research groups
    • Labs
    • ITU Research Portal
    • Find Researcher
    • Find Research
    • Research Ethics and Integrity
    • Good Scientific Practice
    • Technical Reports
    • Technical Reports
    • PhD Programme
    • About the PhD Programme
    • PhD Courses
    • PhD Defences
    • PhD Positions
    • Types of Enrolment
    • PhD Admission Requirements
    • PhD Handbook
    • PhD Support
  • Collaboration
    • Collaboration with students
    • Project collaboration
    • Project Market
    • Student worker
    • Project postings
    • Job and Project bank
    • Employer Branding
    • IT Match Making
    • Hiring an ITU student or graduate
    • Make a post in the job bank
    • Research collaboration
    • Read more about research collaboration at ITU
    • Industrial PhD
    • Hire an Industrial PhD
    • Maritime Hub
    • Innovation and entrepreneurship
    • ITU Business Development
    • ITU NextGen
  • About ITU
    • About ITU
    • Press
    • Vacancies
    • Contact
  • DK
Young ITU researcher receives EliteForsk travel grant for teaching computers to think strategically
ITU  /  Press  /  News from ITU  /  Young ITU researcher receives EliteForsk travel grant for teaching computers to think strategically

Young ITU researcher receives EliteForsk travel grant for teaching computers to think strategically

Niels Justesen is awarded a travel grant of DKK 200,000, and plans to travel to both New York and France, to work with some of the leading researchers in computer games and robots.

Digital Design DepartmentResearchartificial intelligencecomputer gamesawards

Written 1 March, 2018 09:23 by Louise Eltard-Larsen

Thursday, 1 March, Ph.D. student at the IT University, Niels Justesen, will receive a travel grant of DKK 200,000 from EliteForsk, at an award ceremony in the Copenhagen Opera House. His project investigates how you can develop self-learning algorithms that can learn to play complicated strategic computer games, such as StarCraft.

Naturally, I am extremely pleased that I have been awarded an EliteForsk travel grant. Both because it is a pat on the back for the work I have already done, but also because it adds motivation, moving forward.


“Naturally, I am extremely pleased that I have been awarded an EliteForsk travel grant. Both because it is a pat on the back for the work I have already done, but also because it adds motivation, moving forward,” says Niels Justesen.

Evolutionary algorithms adapt to human actions
Besides ensuring his attendance at a number of international conferences concerning artificial intelligence, Niels Justesen will also use the grant to finance two journeys abroad: a stay in New York, in March, where he will work with a Game Innovation Lab, and a trip to France in the autumn, where he will study how robots that are able to adapt themselves to new environments might combine with the methods used in his own project.

Algorithms already exist, which can learn to master arcade games, by letting the computer play against itself. Part of the self-learning consists of the computer being able to adapt its moves, based on whether previous moves have yielded good or bad results in the game. Yet in complicated games such as StarCraft, a combination of various moves is sometimes needed before an effect is seen – a challenge, which might be solved by making the algorithms less targeted, and more curious to explore the game. Niels Justesen has, for instance, developed evolutionary algorithms, which can plan a combination of moves within the game, and at the same time continuously adapt their strategy based on the moves of the opponent.

The many possibilities, and the uncertainty surrounding the opponent’s moves, makes it difficult for an algorithm to learn the entirety of a game such as StarCraft by, for example, letting the computer play against itself. Instead, one of Niels Justesen’s approaches has been to make the computer imitate real players’ actions, based on a dataset that shows how other players have played in almost 800,000 different game situations. Afterwards, the computer can recreate overall game strategies.

Significance outside the game world
On the face of it, a Ph.D. project about a specific computer game might seem quite specialised, and without any great significance or interest to anyone who does not play the game. Yet it is not unheard of for algorithms originally developed for playing in games to find a use for something very different – such as lowering the power consumption of Google’s data centres. Both Facebook and the Google-owned company DeepMind are interested in the challenges presented by StarCraft. For instance, Facebook has recently won a big artificial intelligence competition, in which computer programs play against each other in StarCraft.

It is clear, in any event, that a future solution of the StarCraft issue will have significance outside of the game world, and will most likely be a result of a cooperation between the researchers and the large companies, which can combine the different aspects that each of them has explored.

“Solving StarCraft would be a milestone a bit like the moon landing. You may not get that much out of being on the moon, but the technology you have developed in the process can be used in many other areas,” says Niels Justesen.

About Niels Justesen
  • Has a Bachelor’s degree in Software Development and a Master’s in Games Technology from ITU
  • Member of Center for Computer Games Research and Robotics, Evolution, and Art Lab
  • One of this year’s recipients of an EliteForsk travel grant for talented young researchers, awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

News

"The aim is our trust"

"The aim is our trust"

6 May, 2025

As part of the Danish Science Festival, the IT University and the newspaper Dagbladet Information gathered a number of experts to discuss cyber warfare in Denmark and how prepared we are for it. The Minister of Resilience and Preparedness, Thorsten Schack Pedersen, also participated in the talk.

Professor portrait: Nutan Limaye is pushing the boundaries of complexity theory

Professor portrait: Nutan Limaye is pushing the boundaries of complexity theory

1 May, 2025

On 22 May 2025 at 14:30, Professor Nutan Limaye from the section Theoretical Computer Science will present her inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled “My reflections on the last two decades and Complexity Theory”.

Professor portrait Anna Vallgårda challenges the design of care technology

Professor portrait Anna Vallgårda challenges the design of care technology

24 April, 2025

On 9 May 2025 at 14:30, Professor Anna Vallgårda will give her inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled: ”Radical Redesign of Care Technologies”.

Is Denmark prepared for cyberwarfare?

Is Denmark prepared for cyberwarfare?

8 April, 2025

A group of researchers from the IT University of Copenhagen is investigating what Denmark can learn from Ukraine in terms of preparing for cyberwarfare. Cyberwarfare does not just affect governments and companies, but also civilians, and the researchers ask what should be done if we come under attack.

Researchers aim to teach math students critical thinking with data science

Researchers aim to teach math students critical thinking with data science

31 March, 2025

In a new research project at the IT University of Copenhagen and the University of Copenhagen, a group of researchers will investigate how data science can become part of high school mathematics education to provide students with a better foundation for critical thinking and the ability to illuminate and nuance claims they encounter in their daily lives.

ITU researcher secures grant to improve safety of AI systems

ITU researcher secures grant to improve safety of AI systems

19 March, 2025

At Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Japan, Associate Professor Alessandro Bruni from ITU is currently conducting research on the mathematical foundation for developing verifiably correct machine learning frameworks. The project is supported by the Carlsberg Foundation.

Professor portrait: Vasilis Galis found his way in research on the Athens metro

Professor portrait: Vasilis Galis found his way in research on the Athens metro

13 March, 2025

On 28 March 2025 at 14:30, Professor Vasilis Galis from the section Technologies in Practice will present his inaugural lecture in Auditorium 0 at the IT University of Copenhagen. The lecture is entitled “Research against dead time”.

ITU researcher investigates elections in Greenland

ITU researcher investigates elections in Greenland

11 March, 2025

On 11 March 2025, the election for Inatsisartut (Greenland's parliament) will take place. For several years, researchers from ITU, led by Professor Carsten Schürmann and Center for Information Security and Trust, have been investigating election and the possibility of internet elections in Greenland, and the election today is no exception.

IRFD funded ITU project to develop theoretical foundation for probabilistic session types

IRFD funded ITU project to develop theoretical foundation for probabilistic session types

6 March, 2025

The increasing technological complexity makes probabilistic understanding and management of critical computing systems a necessity. A new research project, led by Associate Professor Marco Carbone, aims to develop the foundation for probabilistic session types to that end.

Urban highways are barriers to social connections

Urban highways are barriers to social connections

5 March, 2025

Researchers from IT University of Copenhagen have proved that urban highways limit social connections in the 50 largest cities in the US. It is the first ever quantitative evaluation of the barrier effect of urban highways in reducing social connections across neighborhoods.

New research to find efficient strategies for prevention of epidemics

New research to find efficient strategies for prevention of epidemics

26 February, 2025

Assistant Professor at ITU, Jonas Juul, receives a Novo Nordisk Foundation Data Science Investigator grant of DKK 6.5 million for a project that aims to improve statistical methods for predicting outbreaks of infections.

Within Limits – an exhibition on computation and constraint

Within Limits – an exhibition on computation and constraint

24 February, 2025

On 7 March, join Artist Jacob Remin, Associate Professor James Maguire and Postdoc Frauke Mennes from the Center for Climate IT at ITU for the launch of Within Limits – an art installation that questions and reimagines the scalar logics inherent in computational worlds.

ITU students and alumni win awards at Copenhagen Gaming Week

ITU students and alumni win awards at Copenhagen Gaming Week

21 February, 2025

ITU was represented with games developed by both students and alumni from the university at Copenhagen Gaming Week and ‘Spilprisen’ that took place last week. Students from the MSc Games won the award for ’Best Student Game’, while alumni from the same study programme won for ‘Best Debut’.

New research project to find a more inclusive way to develop algorithms

New research project to find a more inclusive way to develop algorithms

10 February, 2025

Associate Professor Veronika Cheplygina has received a Novo Nordisk Data Science Investigator Grant of almost DKK 11 million. The grant will fund research on how more inclusive teaching and research environments may lead to better algorithms for medical imaging.

Thesis on digital divide in prisons wins award

Thesis on digital divide in prisons wins award

31 January, 2025

Three students from ITU have won the Danish Institute for Human Rights' Thesis Award for their thesis "The Digital Divide in Prisons". The thesis examines how the digital divide between inmates in Danish prisons and the surrounding society can be bridged.

New ITU research analyses attacks on Large Language Models

New ITU research analyses attacks on Large Language Models

16 January, 2025

What are the intentions and profile of someone trying to use LLMs for malicious purposes? And how do they do it? In a new study, researchers from ITU define so-called “red teaming” of LLMs to enable better security in the future.

Jakob Grue Simonsen named new prorector at IT University in Copenhagen

Jakob Grue Simonsen named new prorector at IT University in Copenhagen

22 November, 2024

Jakob Grue Simonsen, who comes from a position as head of department at the Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, will focus on well-being and collaboration when he takes over as prorector at ITU on 1 January 2025.

IT University of Copenhagen reveals two new members of management

IT University of Copenhagen reveals two new members of management

18 November, 2024

At IT University of Copenhagen, future head of education, Luís Cruz-Filipe (L), and future head of research, Morten Hjelholt (R), will become part of the university management when both take up their positions on 1 February and 1 January 2025 respectively.

Video: Is artificial intelligence the key to human consciousness?

Video: Is artificial intelligence the key to human consciousness?

12 November, 2024

"Our future is going to look like science fiction." Associate professor at IT University of Copenhagen, Paolo Burelli, uses artificial intelligence to approach a better understanding of the human brain and consciousness.

ITU researcher awarded Villum Synergy grant for qualitative data project

ITU researcher awarded Villum Synergy grant for qualitative data project

15 October, 2024

Associate Professor at IT University of Copenhagen, Anna Rogers, and Associate Professor Hjalmar Carlsen at University of Copenhagen have received a Villum Synergy grant from Villum Fonden to develop a new tool for conducting large-scale, high-quality qualitative interviews.

Contact us

Phone
+45 7218 5000
E-mail
itu@itu.dk

All contact information

Web Accessibility Statement

Find us

IT University of Copenhagen
Rued Langgaards Vej 7
DK-2300 Copenhagen S
Denmark
How to get here

Follow us

ITU Student /
Privacy /
EAN-nr. 5798000417878/
CVR-nr. 29 05 77 53 /
P-nummer 1005162959

This page is printed from https://www.itu.dk/404