Be more denmark – pharma-innovation trip to Copenhagen
My Learnings from Our Pharma & Life Science Innovation Trip to Copenhagen
Denmark has three to four major industries (besides Lego 😊) in which it is (almost always) a global leader:
- Logistics (Maersk and DSV)
- Wind Energy (Vestas)
- Pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk)
1. Long-Term Thinking and Investment
The major Danish pharmaceutical companies (including Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck, Leo Pharma) are backed by foundations. These foundations have statutes that mandate:
- Staying in Denmark and reinvesting locally
- Prioritizing long-term thinking (no pressure from shareholders)
This setup fosters stability and growth in the national ecosystem.
2. Strategic Focus of the Country
Denmark deliberately concentrates on a few key sectors (see above: Pharma & Life Science, Wind Energy, Logistics). Why: With only 6 million inhabitants, the country focuses intentionally on clusters with proven success models.
This leads to:
- Universities serving the needs of industry
- Close collaboration between academia and the private sector
- Targeted training for future talent in those clusters
- Strong investment in fundamental research, especially in pharma
3. Culture of Trust
Danes trust each other and their institutions – for example, there are no health insurance companies. Everything runs through a centralized, state-funded system.
Denmark has had a national health data strategy for 40 years. All health data since 2003 is stored on a central digital government server (Germany started in April 2025). These data can be used for research purposes by Danish pharmaceutical companies – but only with the individual user’s consent.
Work culture is also shaped by high levels of trust:
- Flexible working hours & modern practices
- Flat hierarchies, consensus-based decisions, and direct communication with leadership
- Downside: Sometimes too much consensus culture leads to slow decision-making
4. (Clinical) Trial Nation & Scaling
Denmark offers a coordinated system to develop pharmaceutical innovations from basic research to globally scaled products.
With Trial Nation (a state-supported platform), the country enables clinical studies and early-stage production.
For every phase – from idea to clinical validation to mass production – Denmark provides the right infrastructure. This allows faster translation from research to market-ready products and turns strong ideas into global pharma successes.
We’re planning the next trip in 2026.
If you’re interested in joining us – feel free to reach out!
