FOREIGN RESEARCHERS KEEN ON DENMARK

A report recently conducted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, shows that an increasing number of foreign researchers seek positions in Denmark, writes the daily newspaper Jyllands-posten.

More than one third of the 3,300 newly employed professors and teachers that were hired in the years 2007-2009 have foreign citizenships and 60 per cent of the advertised positions had at least one foreign applicant. Comparatively, foreign citizens constituted just 12 per cent of all new employments in the years 2004-2006.

- We need international scientists that can contribute with new knowledge and this is an acknowledgment of the quality of Danish research, says the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Charlotte Sahl-Madsen. She emphasizes that a few months ago, the ministry’s research barometer rated Danish scientists as the most quoted in the world.

The president for Danish Universities Jens Oddershede elaborates:

- It is all about hiring the best researchers and scientists, and the selection is greater outside the boundaries of Denmark. Nobel Prize winners often come from American universities, but the people behind the awards are equally often European or Asian. We are about to change this paradigm. The Technical University of Denmark has the highest share of foreign researchers; 30 per cent of the researchers and 50 per cent of the PhD students are foreign, Jens Oddershede states.

Martin Bendsøe, Head of the International Faculty at the Technical University of Denmark, explains that these figures are the result of several years’ recruitment in other nations. Positions are advertised in international media and employees participate in international conferences to extend their network.

The scientific newspaper Nature presents several reasons to why Denmark is attractive to foreign researchers. Last year, the magazine elected Danish scientists as the most pleased and content in the world due to the good salaries, proper working conditions, holidays and maternity/paternity leave options.

Martin Bendsøe recognises this:

- Denmark is attractive due to the possibility of combining work and family time and because the working conditions are so favourable. Moreover, rumour has it that more financial resources will be distributed to research in Denmark over the next few years.