Nadia Carlsten Leaves SandboxAQ to Lead Denmark’s First AI Supercomputer Initiative

Insider Brief

• Nadia Carlsten departs from her role at SandboxAQ to become the CEO of Denmark’s first AI supercomputer initiative, Gefion.
• As CEO of the Danish Centre for AI Innovation (DCAI), Carlsten will lead efforts to accelerate AI-driven research and innovation across healthcare, quantum computing, and the green transition.
• Carlsten’s expertise in AI and quantum technologies is expected to drive significant advancements within Denmark and globally, leveraging Gefion’s capabilities to transform research into practical, commercially viable solutions.

Nadia Carlsten, a leader in quantum and AI technologies, is stepping down from her role at SandboxAQ to become the CEO of the Danish Centre for AI Innovation A/S (DCAI), according to a statement from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Carlsten’s new role will place her at the helm of Denmark’s first AI supercomputer, Gefion, a public-private initiative aimed at accelerating AI-driven research and innovation across key sectors, including healthcare, quantum computing and the green transition.

The move marks a significant transition for Carlsten, who has been a key figure at SandboxAQ, a Google spinout focused on the convergence of AI and quantum technologies to solve global challenges. Her departure from SandboxAQ comes after over two years of leading product development and strategy, further building on her prior experience spearheading Amazon’s first quantum computing services.

“The combination of a strong scientific background and extensive experience in translating the incredible potential of new technologies – specifically AI and quantum – into real-world solutions makes Nadia Carlsten the ideal person to lead this initiative,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, according to the statement. “Her global outlook will also help ensure that the knowledge and innovation developed at DCAI will have impact far beyond Denmark.”

Gefion, which was announced earlier this year in collaboration with NVIDIA, is poised to become a pivotal platform for both research and commercial applications. Carlsten’s leadership is seen as critical to leveraging this technology to its fullest potential.

Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO, said in the statement “We are very proud to be able to hire a person with Nadia Carlsten’s expertise and abilities as CEO. For me, this emphasizes the importance and potential of DCAI. With her strong business background from both Amazon and SandboxAQ, she is the perfect candidate to ensure that DCAI will be a powerful platform for Danish businesses and for transforming groundbreaking AI-based research into commercially profitable solutions. AI is a strategic focus for EIFO, and I am very much looking forward to our future cooperation.”  

Nadia Carlsten said: “I’m thrilled to take on the role of CEO of DCAI and lead this groundbreaking venture at the forefront of AI technology. Gefion is not just one of the world’s most advanced AI supercomputers, it will also be a catalyst for further innovation. Our goal is to provide powerful AI platforms and solutions to bridge the gap between cutting-edge hardware and practical applications, and I look forward to working closely with our customers to harness AI to explore new frontiers and unlock the next wave of technological advancements.” 

According to the statement, Carlsten will lead a growing team of DCAI employees who will start being hired later this year. She will also have overall management and financial responsibility for DCAI, while working closely with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, EIFO, and NVIDIA. 

A pilot phase will begin later this year for mature projects, with DCAI aiming for broader availability by mid-2025 and additional phases for sensitive AI projects to follow, according to the statement.