In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold will dive deeper into the theory and science behind additive manufacturing or 3D printing. Mikkel is joined again by Kristoffer Ryelund Nielsen (former Head of Engineering at the Danish Technological Institute) and Karl Frederik Fischer (PhD, Materials Science) from the Danish Technological Institute.

We will unpack how layer-by-layer manufacturing really works, why powder-bed fusion delivers near-finished parts, how patent expiries reshape the market, and where materials science is pushing the limits from multi-material prints to meta-stable alloys you can’t make any other way.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. Additive vs. subtractive manufacturing, and why “layers” matter.
2. Powder bed fusion with lasers: tiny layers, fine features, and strong parts.
3. What materials get printed today (PA12, 316L, Ti-6Al-4V) and why.
4. How patent expiries drove prices down and access up.
5. Multi-material printing for better cooling, cost and performance.
6. Topology optimization and why design freedom + simulation = lighter parts.
7. Printing in extreme places (ISS, Moon/Mars) and why logistics drive adoption.
8. The realistic future: more availability, faster machines, and targeted high-value parts.

Episode Content
01:39 The basics with additive manufacturing 
03:04 What is powder bed fusions?
10:30 The printing range today 
14:24 Why additive manufacturing is great for weight and thermal/flow 
26:38 First metal prints in space
27:40 Bioprinting in micro-gravity
28:24 Next 5 years with 3D printing
35:08 Start with the problem, not the material list
35:59 Why patent cycles reshape the market 

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

3D printing isn’t just for fragile prototypes or weekend gadgets anymore.

In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold visits the Center for Industrial 3D Printing at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to explore how additive manufacturing is used in real production today.

The Guests of this episode Kristoffer Ryelund Nielsen (previously Head of Engineering) and Karl Frederik Fischer (PhD, Materials Science) will walk us through the machines, parts and business cases that make 3D printing a serious tool for industry.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:1. Why “additive manufacturing” is more than prototyping and where it shines in production.
2. Powder-based processes for plastics and metals
3. How the industries are adopting 3D printing today
4. The Concrete advantages in printing 3D
5. Real printing examples, such as rocket components.
6. Certifications and standards for medical and food-grade parts
7. How does the future look like with 3D Printing


Episode content
00:04 3D printing beyond the Wish-printer stereotype
01:58 “3D printing” vs “additive manufacturing” and why the term matters
02:45 From prototyping to full-scale production parts
06:37 When printing wins: faster lead times and optimized designs 
16:57 The biggest opportunities haven't yet been discovered 
18:02 Space example: consolidated rocket engines with fewer parts and better cooling 
25:38 Enabling designs that were previously impossible 
29:30 The future: mass customization and digital inventories 

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

What happens when wind and solar deliver more power than the grid can handle and batteries aren’t the answer?

In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold sits down with Pat Han, Technical Director at Skovgaard Energy, the company behind what is called the world’s first dynamic Power-to-X (PtX) ammonia plant.

Pat explains how “dynamic” PtX rides the ups and downs of wind and solar, turning excess electricity into ammonia. The ammonia process can start and stop quickly, that’s why ammonia is a strong first “X”, and how the sector coupling can turn rural areas into thriving energy hubs.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:1. What “dynamic” PtX means and why flexibility is the missing piece for high-renewables grids.
2. Why hydrogen-to-ammonia enables storage and transport.
3. How the process works from water to hydrogen plus nitrogen to ammonia.
4. How PtX is a flexible consumer that balances variability and prevents curtailment.
5. Why market design, ESG, and value-chain planning matter more than tech.
6. The social benefits with a PtX plant, such as jobs, industrial neighbors and revitalizing rural regions.
7. How good local cases unlock permits, public support and future regulation.

Episode content:
01:20 What is Power-to-X? 
08:31 Limits of batteries for grid-scale storage
10:35 Why ammonia?
11:56 Maritime propulsion and industrial demands 
22:01 How "dynamic” is dynamic? Matching power markets without second-by-second thrash
28:20 Turning stored energy back into electricity 
39:34 Why real projects create the political runway for better rules.
43:09 Jobs, keeping young talent local and making rural locations an advantage.
48:40 Industrial symbiosis and sector coupling 
51:11 Strong renewables, grid access, neighbors for heat/power synergies, supportive permitting. 

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

Fusion has long carried the reputation of being “30 years away”. Forever on the horizon but never quite arriving. That perception may finally be changing.

In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold is joined once again by Søren Bang-Korsholm, senior scientist at the Department of Physics at DTU. This time, the focus is on the practical future of fusion energy: what private companies are doing differently, how huge global projects like ITER fit into the picture, and what role fusion could play in the broader energy transition.

From billionaire-backed startups to the promise of grid-ready plants, Mikkel and Søren explore whether fusion can move beyond test facilities and become a true energy source for the 21st century.

In this episode, you'll learn about:


1. Why private investment is accelerating fusion research.

2. The scale and goals of the ITER project—the world’s biggest science collaboration.
3. How fusion could integrate into existing grids and even replace coal plants directly.
4. The role of fusion as a clean, reliable base load alongside renewables.
5. Potential use cases beyond electricity, including hydrogen production and desalination.
6. The biggest technical hurdles still standing in the way.
7. Why fusion’s commercialization might be closer than we think.

Episode content:

01:11 Why the “30 years away” joke may be outdated 
05:14 Fusion’s role in the global energy transition
09:13 ITER: the world’s largest fusion project explained
12:27 Timelines: demonstration reactors in the 2030s
13:22 How fusion could plug straight into existing grids
18:25 What still needs solving before commercialization 
30:16 Safety, waste, and why fusion differs from fission
31:50 The need for public-private collaboration in energy
34:17 How fusion could change daily life and global development 



This podcast is produced by Montanus.

What if we could power the world the same way the sun does? No carbon, no meltdown risks – just clean energy from smashing atoms together.

In this episode, I sit down with Søren Bang Korsholm, Senior Scientist at the Technical University of Denmark, to talk about fusion energy. You’ve probably heard it called the “holy grail” of power, but—weird metaphors aside—what does that actually mean? And are we any closer to making it work outside a lab?

We cover how a tiny bit of fusion fuel could keep your lights on for a lifetime, why plasma is such a pain to control, and whether this whole thing is still sci-fi or finally getting real.
If you like science, big ideas, or just want your energy bill to stop looking like your rent, give it a listen.

In this episode, you'll learn about:
1. Discover why fusion energy could provide unlimited, clean energy.
2. Understand the fundamental nuclear process behind fusion energy.
3. Learn how fusion energy mimics the sun’s power production.
4. Hear how magnetic and inertial methods can contain fusion reactions.
5. Explore the historical journey from fission to fusion research.
6. Find out how fusion might transform the global energy landscape soon.

Episode Content
00:17 Introduction to fusion energy with Mikkel Svold  
01:21 Why is fusion energy a big idea?  
02:11 The potential of unlimited energy sources  
03:06 Comparison of fusion energy to coal energy  
04:33 Understanding the basic processes of fusion  
05:28 How do fusion reactions actually work?  
09:03 What fuels are commonly used in fusion?  
12:47 Evolution of fusion research and technology  
20:54 Magnetic confinement fusion vs. inertial confinement fusion  
31:30 The role of the private sector in fusion development

This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co


This podcast is produced by Montanus.

In this episode—which is also going to be the last episode of this season—we'll try to understand artificial intelligence, or AI. I want to know what we can expect from AI, why we should care, and why it’s a big idea.

Now, to understand the intricacies of artificial intelligence and where it’s going, I’ve once again invited the very knowledgeable Thomas Schmidt into the studio.

Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Schmidt Innovation, an engineering company specialised in automation, mathematical modelling, software architecture, and of course, innovation.

Producing this podcast is Montanus – a company where we specialize in producing high quality content for marketing department in engineering and knowledge driven companies.

Learn more about Montanus here: www.montanus.co

Find the Shownotes here: www.montanus.co/bigideasonly/

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

In this episode, we’ll try to understand nuclear power, why it’s complex, and why it’s worth knowing something about. It’s gonna be super exciting!

To understand the intricacies of nuclear power, its history, and where it’s going, we've invited the very knowledgeable Thomas Schmidt into the studio.

Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Schmidt Innovation, an engineering company specialised in automation, mathematical modelling, software architecture, AI, and, of course, innovation.

Notably, Thomas has a Masters’ degree in energy engineering with a specialisation in mechatronics control. What this means is that Thomas has broad knowledge across mechanics, electronics, programming, and product development.

Behind this podcast is Montanus – a company where we specialize in producing high quality content for marketing department in engineering and knowledge driven companies. Find out more about Montanus at www.montanus.co.

Also, check out the shownotes at www.montanus.co/bigideasonly/

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

Today’s episode is a continuation of the last episode focusing on the world of virtual and augmented reality. However, in today’s talk we will dive into the possibilities augmented and virtual reality holds alongside all its shortcomings in today’s day and age. Because is virtual reality becoming as mainstream as one might believe?

To enlighten us on the topic, the founders and partners of the VR and AR studio PieLab;
Tomas Utaravičius and Filip Aničić have come to our rescue.

Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.

Find out more about PieLab here: https://pielab.dk
This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

In today’s episode we'll focus on the funky world of virtual and augmented reality. Is it fad or the future? And if the latter, in what ways are we going to use it?

To explain these futuristic phenomena, the founders and partners of the VR and AR studio PieLab; Tomas Utaravičius and Filip Aničić have come to our rescue.

Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.

Check out PieLab here: http://pielab.dk
This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co

This podcast is produced by Montanus.

In today’s episode we will look at Web3. What is it and how is it different from web1 and web2?

These questions and more will be answered by our guest is Rasmus Risager Lindegaard, product manager at the Grow Colony at Lunar bank. Rasmus will explain this interesting new phenomenon, while covering what decentralized finance is and its connection to web3.

Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.

This podcast is produced by Montanus. http://www.montanus.co

This podcast is produced by Montanus.