Science in the Øresund region
The opening of The Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden in the summer of 2000 marked the realization of a century-old dream. The bridge was conceived out of a vision of a new dynamic European region - a region of growth, innovation, expansion and comfortable living. Slowly but surely this vision is turning into reality.
The evidence is there for everybody to see - for residents and the growing number of visitors and expatriates alike. A stroll along Copenhagen’s waterfront, a fascinating mix of past and future, is one example. Others are the case with the restored squares and parks, the revamping of the old port area and the exciting development projects of Malmö, the capital of Southern Sweden.
And at the centre of it all are, Copenhagen Airport Kastrup, Northern Europe’s most important air traffic hub and The Øresund Bridge itself, one of the world’s engineering marvels. The new bridge, the ultra-modern airport and the burgeoning developments in both cities are all part of the new face of The Øresund Region. And this is only the beginning. In October 2002 Copenhagen’s first metro opened and provided the Danish capital with one of Europe’s most advanced mass transit systems. And within this decade, the city tunnel project will bring Malmö’s infrastructure on a par with Copenhagen’s across the water. This will significantly underpin The Øresund Region’s infrastructure and development potential.
For glimpses of what the future of The Øresund Region will bring one should take a closer look at the numerous research establishments. Here scientists, developers and researchers are making the most of the opportunities within The Øresund Region in sectors such as life sciences, IT, food and environment. All bricks on which The Øresund Region is building its foundation for the future, and these are also the reasons for the region’s rapidly growing reputation for innovation and scientific skills.
The largest and oldest science park is Ideon in Lund, which since its start in 1983 has established new departments in Lund and Malmö. Today the Malmö-Lund constellation consists of 165 companies employing 1600 people. Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Axis, Opsis and BioInvent are some of the companies, which have developed within Ideon.
During 2001, 2002 and 2003 The Øresund Region saw a series of important initiatives by leading players in the scientific and business communities. One was the formalisation of a new platform for Danish-Swedish cluster development. Named the Øresund Science Region. This new network aims at further strengthening the competencies of the region’s IT, biotech, food science and environment sectors.
Both Sweden and Denmark are ranked among the world’s leading countries in the development of software and telecommunications equipment. Hence in recent years, The Øresund Region has attracted some of the IT industry’s global names. Companies like Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Lucent Technologies, Intel, Cisco, Alcatel and IBM plus more than 1,000 other IT companies. Whether the companies are local or international, start-ups or mature, they are all contributors to ensure that The Øresund Region in the future will continue to offer a fertile and innovative environment for world-class IT business.
This is also sustained by the continues supply of brainpower provided by the region’s 14 universities and institutions of higher education. They employ 12,000 researchers and provide education for 140,000 students at any given time. Hence The Øresund Region’s universities boast one of Europe’s most rewarding learning environments. Here students can freely choose between their place of study on either side of the new bridge - or even attend courses in both countries as part of their studies. There are also 26 training hospitals and 15 international schools. So it should be obvious why The Øresund Region is also known as “The Human Capital”. Especially since skills, competencies and life-long education among the people are some of the foremost characteristics of the region. Add to this quality of life in an efficient, yet friendly and relaxed society and emerging are the trademarks of The Øresund Region.
Business is about more than results, success and money. And The Øresund Region leaves room for genuine and enduring business achievement, which ascend from committed staff and partners who thrive on challenges while enjoying a full life - inside as well as outside working hours
The Øresund Region may well be an up coming region but it is a region destined to leave its mark for a long time to come.
For more information about The Øresund Region visit Øresund Network at Øresund Network.
Science in the Øresund region
Greater Copenhagen Area has during the last 10 years experienced an increase in employment of 10 percent and 7% more companies in the region. Moreover, it is worth noticing that the region accounts for 41% of Denmark’s economy and have higher growth rates and GDP per capita. The positive development is based on a broad range of key sectors being ICT, Life-science, transport, tourism and services employing 80% of the regional workforce.
The Medicon Valley cluster is responsible for approximately 60% of the Scandinavian pharmaceutical and medical industry. Medicon Valley - is the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnological growth centre in Scandinavia and one of the strongest in Europe. Medicon Valley employs around 35,000 full-time workers, two thirds of them on the Danish side. The region is a leading centre in medico-technology and biotechnology and holds a strong scientific position in Europe hosting an impressive number of biotechnological, pharmaceutical and medical device and service companies. The companies established in the region form an industry that is larger than the US biotech industry measured per capita.
Furthermore, strong regional clusters with significant performance and growthpotential are found in: photonix, censortechnology, nanotechnology, film/media, bio-health, diabetes and bioinformatics.
The Greater Copenhagen Area has a long tradition for academic and scientific excellence based on the old the University of Copenhagen dating back to 1479. Complementing the established institution new and smaller universities have appeared having a total of 9 universities:
- Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Danish University of Education
- Roskilde University
- Copenhagen Business School
- Technological University of Denmark
- Danish IT-university
- Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
- Royal School of Library and Information Science
with approximately 70000 students. In collaboration with the 5 universities in the Skane Region the Øresund university has been created; a virtual university cooperation making courses, libraries and other facilities and ressources available for students and researchers in the Øresund Region.
The Greater Copenhagen Region has 3 science and technology parks as well as related business incubators, tech-transfer offices and RTD-centres playing an important role in the regional innovation proces.
A major stronghold is the regional organising capacity, i.e a strong triple-helix structure that have been established in the bi-national Øresund Science Region, including representatives from main business networks, universities, regional political representatives as well as regional development agencies. This set-up have been established covering not only the Greater Copenhagen Area but also the Skane Region thereby increasing technological development, innovation and economic performance to encompass the entire Øresund Region. The concept of the "knowledge region" is widely perceived among regional key actors as a strong tool and the organisational set-up in the region considered a prerequisite for economic development and growth as well as a strong strategic forum for coordinating and harnessing of the regional innovation processes.
A main challenge is securing a high level of regional R&D activity in order to have a continuous production of high-end researchers and specialist to selected technologyfields. The transfer and exploitation of knowledge is another challenge in which the regional universities, tech-transfer offices and business intermediaries plays a key role.
Even though Copenhagen experienced a strong increase in foreign investments and international localisations in 2002, the global competition between regions, and within the knowledge intensive growth sectors is a major threat. In order to attract highly qualified people, researchers and investments the Greater Copenhagen Region must be able to globally match research and technological excellence. A key objective is thus to increase the critical mass, specialisation and linking up with other regions of knowledge.
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