SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
A GLOBAL
INNOVATION LEADER
Denmark is internationally recognized as a frontrunner in several areas
of science and technology.
E
dward Teller rightly said, “The science of today is
the technology of tomorrow”. Innovations that drive
lasting economic growth, emerge from the most
advanced science and technology.
Denmark is known worldwide for its high quality and
ground-breaking research and development activities, and
is one of the few nations of the world that invests 3% or
more of GDP in research and development. Danish research
institutions are among the most well-renowned in the world
when it comes to areas related to life science, biotechnology,
renewable energy and food and environmental sciences.
This is, among other things, due to the country’s unique
interplay and cooperation between industry players in the
private sector and research institutions in the public sector.
According to the European Commission, Denmark is
classified as an innovation leader. The country excels at
“open, excellent and attractive research systems, linkages
and entrepreneurship, and intellectual assets. In particular,
40
in international scientific co-publications and public-private
co-publications, the country is performing well above the
EU average.”
An innovation-friendly environment
Denmark takes the second place among the EU countries,
performing above the EU average in close to all dimensions.
Most notably in:
• Attractive research systems.
• Top R&D spending enterprises (per 10m population).
• R&D expenditure in public sector.
• Innovative SMEs collaborating with others.
• PCT patent and trademark applications.
• New doctorate graduates.
Knowledge and expertise are the most important raw
materials that Denmark has in the competition and
collaboration with other nations in the world. There is a
strong political consensus on the importance of science and