Photo: Mikal Schlosser

Exchange agreement on biotech students between Denmark and India

Biotechnology and biochemistry
Sponsored by Novozymes and the Henning Holck-Larsen Foundation, biotech students at DTU can now receive a grant to go on an exchange to India.

It was smiles all around when representatives of Novozymes, the Henning Holck-Larsen Foundation and DTU gathered last Wednesday, 21 November, at the office of Philip John Binning, Dean of Graduate Studies and International Affairs. Here, they signed a new exchange agreement which secures financial support for biotechnology students wanting to do an exchange stay in India.

“The agreement offers our students the opportunity to learn how to use their competences to help realize the sustainable global goals in a country needing support. It emphasizes that at DTU we create technology for people, and if you want hands-on experience, there is no better place to go than India,” says Philip John Binning.

The exchange agreement is the result of the efforts which have been made in recent years to support Indian biotechnology students doing exchanges at DTU. With this extension, the parties to the agreement are focusing in particular on motivating Danish students to travel to India.

“There is so much happening in India, both academically, in the private sector, and in the start-up environment, but the country also has more than its fair share of problems. There are 200 million people that live below the poverty line, while they’re also struggling with huge environmental challenges. So, there is every opportunity to create innovation and develop ideas which can help the people, the environment, and agriculture,” says Mads Bjørnvad, Senior Manager at Research and Development, Novozymes.

Mads Bjørnvad adds that he has spent two years in India, and that an exchange programme enables you to build up a strong network and competences that can be leveraged in the Danish biotech industry. Philip John Binning agrees:

“We have a mission at DTU to build close ties and to support Danish businesses with our study programmes. So, it’s very important for us that we do this together with one of Denmark’s biggest companies and the Henning Holck-Larsen Foundation,” he says.

BSc, MSc, and PhD students in biotechnology will be able to apply for an exchange stay. They will receive EUR 2,000-2,700 (DKK 15,000-20,000) to pay for travel expenses, and EUR 1,100 (DKK 8,000) a month to cover living expenses.