New Danish innovation centres strengthen ties with international partners

• Innovation Centre Denmark

Denmark has doubled the number of innovation centres with the opening of three new centres in Brazil, India and South Korea.

The opening of the three new innovation centres is part of the Danish government’s innovation strategy, which will prepare Danish companies and knowledge institutions for new global development. These new centres also advance the government’s growth market strategies.

The innovation centres have been established in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Denmark already has innovation centres in Shanghai, Munich and Silicon Valley.

Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Morten Østergaard stresses that Denmark should be a country open to utilising the opportunities presented by globalisation.

- Denmark’s global opportunities are strengthened by attracting new knowledge, talents and investment that benefit growth and employment in Denmark. The innovation centres provide easier access for Danish companies and institutions to leading international knowledge and contribute to research and innovation cooperation between Danish and international partners. This will also help attract talented researchers and students who can create world-class research and educational environments in Denmark, says Morten Østergaard.

Denmark has chosen countries with considerable growth that prioritise research, innovation and education. All of the countries have strengths within the fields of e.g. food science, cleantech and ICT.

Minister for Trade and Investment Pia Olsen Dyhr comments:

- The new innovation ventures allow us to help Danish companies with research and innovation in three important growth markets. Danish companies, via the centres, will have access to partnerships in international innovation environments. Through such partnerships, we make Danish companies more competitive and help them develop solutions for growth markets, says Pia Olsen Dyhr.

The centres offer targeted advisory services, inspiration, training and feedback. They also help with the establishment of partnership agreements with leading international research environments, work to attract talent and collaborate on student mobility, so that Danish students and researchers have a greater global impact.

Furthermore, the centres work closely with Invest in Denmark and help market Danish research and innovation environments with the aim of attracting international investment to Denmark.

About Innovation Centre Denmark

• The innovation centres are a collaboration between the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Denmark has increased its innovation effort further with the opening of three new centres this year in Brazil, India and South Korea.
• The existing centres are found in Silicon Valley, Munich and Shanghai. The focus areas for these centres include green technology, ICT, as well as health and biotechnology.
• The innovation centres work closely with Invest in Denmark and help market Danish research and innovation environments with the aim of attracting international investment to Denmark

For further information please contact:

Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education:
Head of Office Kim Brinckmann, tel.: +45 7231 8240; kibr@fi.dk

Press and communications consultant Steen Bruun Jensen,
tel.: +45 4132 6030; sbj@fi.dk

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Trade Council:
Head of Section Susanne Hyldelund, tel.:+45 3392 1392; sushyl@um.dk