{"id":13856,"date":"2026-01-14T11:30:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T10:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/?p=13856"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T10:40:13","slug":"new-association-secures-strong-foundation-for-innovation-district-copenhagen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leo-foundation.org\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/new-association-secures-strong-foundation-for-innovation-district-copenhagen\/","title":{"rendered":"New Association Secures Strong Foundation for Innovation District Copenhagen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
14 January 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Growth Hub for New Businesses Nationwide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With elite research institutions, leading hospitals, a thriving start-up environment, and a central location in one of the world\u2019s most attractive cities, Innovation District Copenhagen has enormous potential to tackle many of society\u2019s challenges \u2013 including those related to health, security, and climate. In September, the government, the City of Copenhagen, and the University of Copenhagen entered into a political agreement on the district. The agreement sets the direction for the physical and organisational development of the innovation district. To realise this vision, a broad coalition of partners is now forming the Innovation District Copenhagen association. Here, members will lay the foundation for attracting capital and talent and create the best possible conditions for researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInternational competition is fierce. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial that research is translated into innovation and new businesses. Our groundbreaking innovation district will help make that happen. With this joint initiative from a very broad partnership, we are creating a strong foundation that moves Copenhagen closer to becoming a centre for new ideas and solutions. It\u2019s a big step towards unlocking the potential for thousands of new jobs and multi-billion investments\u201d. Morten B\u00f8dskov, Minister, Industry, Business and Financial Affairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Research Becomes Jobs, Competitiveness, and Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no doubt that research-based companies strengthen job creation and competitiveness, but innovation is not just about money. Innovation is also essential for keeping citizens healthy and for continuously improving society\u2019s infrastructure and welfare services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to make it easier and simpler to turn knowledge into solutions and to create good conditions for close collaboration between researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and businesses. We now have a strong new association, we have allocated free innovation funds for several years, and we have solid recommendations from the Taskforce for Strengthened Knowledge and Technology Transfer to build on. This provides a solid foundation for making Copenhagen one of the world\u2019s leading innovation districts, bringing together talent, ideas, and investment.\u201d An attractive and creative city quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As the district develops, new buildings will be constructed, existing ones preserved, and urban spaces and connections created to make it an attractive place to spend time. When the urban environment is appealing, it\u2019s simply more likely that people with great ideas will bump into each other and become creative together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope we create a vibrant urban environment with a mix of new and old buildings that respect the area\u2019s DNA, attractive green spaces, and good connections that better link the city for pedestrians and cyclists. Urban development, together with other initiatives, should help create an appealing innovation district that can attract some of the world\u2019s best companies and researchers and, among other things, lead to collaboration with our own healthcare services. I look forward to following the work ahead\u201d. Sisse Marie Welling, Lord Mayor, Copenhagen<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Duty to Create Value for Denmark<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Denmark already holds international strongholds in areas such as life sciences and quantum technology, but the potential is greater and can only be realised if we become even better at turning research into business and societal value. The research community will be represented by University College Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, Rigshospitalet, Bispebjerg Hospital, and the University of Copenhagen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of the world\u2019s most valuable companies originate from basic research. As one of Europe\u2019s leading universities, we have a special obligation to create value for Denmark \u2013 and the rest of Europe. It\u2019s a responsibility we have already embraced, for example by intensifying our support for innovative researchers. That\u2019s why we welcome the many new partners.\u201d David Dreyer Lassen, Rector, University of Copenhagen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Founding Members of the Innovation District Copenhagen Association<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The broad coalition of founders will ensure coordination across sectors and organisations, creating the best possible conditions for innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Members include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Innovation District Copenhagen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Innovation District Copenhagen aims to become an international powerhouse for innovation, bringing together researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and businesses to develop more new solutions and companies within areas such as life sciences and quantum technology. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":13862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInnovation District Copenhagen aims to become an international powerhouse for innovation, bringing together researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and businesses to develop more new solutions and companies within areas such as life sciences and quantum technology. A broad coalition of partners is now establishing an association to support the long-term and sustainable development of the district. The association is founded by representatives from the state, municipality, research institutions, the healthcare sector, business, finance, foundations, and innovation stakeholders. Among the founding members is the LEO Foundation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Christina Egelund, Minister, Higher Education and Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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