Mr Pedersen served as Deputy Director General of the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation from 2006-2011. Prior to this appointment he was Deputy Director and formerly Head of Administration in the ministerial department of the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and had a long career with the Danish Ministry  of Trade and Industry. Special offices held by Mr Pedersen include former membership of the board of NordForsk (the coordinating and funding Nordic research advisory body on Nordic research policy) and until 2012 he served as Danish ESFRI delegate. Mr Pedersen holds an MSc in sociology from the University of Copenhagen.