International Press Releases
Science Hub Denmark Launches to Attract World-Class Research Talent
Apr 15, 2024 A bold new nation-wide initiative backed by Denmark’s leading foundations aims to put Danish research on the global map. Three of Denmark’s largest research-oriented foundations, The Villum Foundation, The Novo Nordisk Foundation, and The Lundbeck Foundation, have joined forces in a groundbreaking three-year collaboration to launch Science Hub Denmark. The initiative aims to enhance Denmark’s global visibility as a top destination for leading international researchers and to attract exceptional scientific talent in select high-impact fields.
Despite Denmark's research excellence in areas like neuroscience, biosolutions, and Power-to-X technologies, international awareness of these strengths remains limited. Denmark is often described as “quietly brilliant”, renowned among insiders but overlooked by many global researchers. Science Hub Denmark intends to change that.
A 2023 preliminary study, commissioned by the three foundations, revealed a significant untapped potential: a national branding and outreach effort could greatly improve Denmark’s standing in the global research community. The findings were presented to the Rectors’ Conference of Danish Universities in October 2023 and received widespread support.
With a launch slated for April 2024, Science Hub Denmark will operate as a three-year pilot project. It will focus on three strategic scientific domains where Denmark has strong international leadership potential: Power-to-X, Biosolutions and Neuroscience. These fields not only align with Denmark’s industrial and societal goals but also offer compelling career prospects for international researchers in natural sciences, engineering, and health sciences.
The initiative will be led by Copenhagen Capacity, which brings over a decade of experience in international talent recruitment through its successful “Talent to Denmark” campaigns.
“This initiative is a response to the global under-recognition of Denmark’s scientific quality. With Science Hub Denmark, we aim to purposefully build international visibility and attract the right talent by developing robust digital communication platforms,”
— Nikolaj Lubanski, COO, Copenhagen Capacity
The project is already being embraced by academic institutions. Professor Tejs Vegge of DTU Energy, Director of the Pioneer Center CAPeX, highlights its timeliness:
“Denmark is poised to lead in Power-to-X and create new commercial successes. But we must raise our international profile to recruit top-tier talent. Science Hub Denmark arrives at the perfect time, especially as CAPeX begins recruiting PhDs, postdocs, and tenure-track faculty—our future ‘Power2Xperts’.”
Science Hub Denmark’s impact will be measured across three key levels:
- Global Visibility
Crafting and promoting a unified narrative about Denmark as a premier destination for research careers, something currently lacking on the global stage. - Targeted Digital Engagement
Running data-driven digital campaignsunder the place brand "A State of Denmark" to inform international researchers about Denmark’s strengths, scientific activities, job opportunities, webinars, and events. - Researcher-to-Researcher Connections
Facilitating direct engagement between foreign researchers and Danish research environments. The initiative aims to diversify applicant pools across gender, expertise, and cultural background.
The three foundations have jointly allocated DKK 15 million to the pilot project. An evaluation will be conducted after 2.5 years to determine its long-term viability and future direction.
About the Villum Foundation
The Villum Foundation is a non-profit foundation that supports technical and scientific research as well as environmental, social and cultural purposes in Denmark and abroad. In 2023, the foundation distributed over 1 billion DKK. The Villum Foundation was founded in 1971 by civil engineer Villum Kann Rasmussen - founder of, among others, VELUX A/S and other companies in the VKR Group, which aims to bring daylight, fresh air and a better environment into people's everyday lives. The Villum Foundation is a major shareholder in the VKR Group, but does not have a controlling interest in VKR Holding A/S. Read more HERE.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Novo Nordisk Foundation was established in 1924 as a Danish commercial foundation that supports scientific, humanitarian and social purposes. The foundation's vision is to promote human health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The foundation works to strengthen research and innovation within the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and infectious diseases. In addition, it seeks to contribute to the development of knowledge and solutions that support the green transition of society. Read more HERE.
About the Lundbeck Foundation
The Lundbeck Foundation is a commercial foundation that works with a wide range of commercial and philanthropic activities linked by a strong desire to create innovation, new knowledge and treatment for the benefit of patients and their relatives. The foundation's awards amount to more than 500 million DKK annually and have a special focus on the brain. This includes, among other things, the annual awarding of the world's largest prize in brain research, The Brain Prize. Read more HERE.
About A State of Denmark
A State of Denmark wants more people to attain a happy, meaningful, and good life in Denmark. It is a Danish place brand with the purpose of showcasing Denmark as a great place to live and offering excellent services for internationals looking to move and stay here.
A State of Denmark wants more people to attain a happy, meaningful, and good life in Denmark. It is a Danish place brand with the purpose of showcasing Denmark as a great place to live and offering excellent services for internationals looking to move and stay here.
Under the place brand, we operate A State of Denmark Job Portal that connects international talent with hiring companies in Denmark. We also facilitate targeted campaigns and events focused on attracting people with specific professions to career opportunities in Denmark.
The A State of Denmark place brand, trademark, Job Portal and campaigns are administered and run by Copenhagen Capacity. You can get in touch via email state-of-denmark@copcap.com.
The A State of Denmark place brand, trademark, Job Portal and campaigns are administered and run by Copenhagen Capacity. You can get in touch via email state-of-denmark@copcap.com.
Copenhagen Capacity attracts international companies and investments to Eastern Denmark and talents to Danish businesses. We use Copenhagen’s strong international brand, Eastern Denmark’s unique business strengths, and Denmark’s attractive business climate to attract knowledge and resources from around the world. The goal is to create sustainable changes that help the country tackle its most significant societal challenges.
For 30 years, Copenhagen Capacity has worked to attract international companies, investments and professional talents to ensure innovation and growth in Denmark and Greater Copenhagen. Copenhagen Capacity is a leading partner in the national Talent to Denmark collaboration, which on behalf of Denmark promotes the country as an attractive talent destination. Over the past 6 years, Talent to Denmark has attracted several thousand highly qualified employees to Danish companies through international attraction campaigns.
Copenhagen Capacity is a not-for-profit business foundation, funded by both public entities and private foundations and companies. Read more HERE.
