Kasper Tang Vangkilde

Kasper Tang Vangkilde is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. He is also the Head of Studies for the BSc and MSc in Anthropology and the Master in Health Anthropology. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Business Anthropology and leads the research project "RE-ANIMATE: Designs for Life-Enhancing Economies in Anthropological Perspective," funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

His primary research interests lie in business, organizational, and design anthropology, with a focus on developing theoretical understandings of social and cultural dynamics in corporate environments and enhancing the societal value of anthropological practice. He explores themes such as life-enhancing design, sustainability, responsibility in organizations, creativity, branding, fashion, social innovation, and future-making.

The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research that bridges anthropology with design, business, and environmental studies. His work often examines the intersection of cultural values and economic practices, especially in contexts of innovation and transformation. Key areas include scenario planning in medical companies, the magical dimensions of inspiration in business, and the sociopolitical dimensions of renewable energy transitions in Denmark.

• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Business Anthropology (2022–present)
• Principal Investigator, "RE-ANIMATE" project (funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark)
• Head of Studies, BSc/MSc Anthropology and Master in Health Anthropology
• Former Head of Graduate School of Social Sciences
• Former Head of AnthroAnalysis (2020–2022)

Kasper Tang Vangkilde has supervised and collaborated on numerous research initiatives and has been instrumental in advancing design anthropology as a field through editorial leadership and collaborative research. His grants include significant funding for long-term ethnographic projects on sustainable economic practices. He has been involved in major academic collaborations, including the development of the MSc track in "Innovation, Organization, and Work" at Aarhus University.

He is a key member of research networks focused on design anthropology and sustainable futures, participating in global dialogues on regenerative leadership and circular economies. His work with a global network of leadership thinkers underscores his engagement with transnational academic and practitioner communities.