Digital Tech Summit 2024 will be held on 30 and 31 October in Øksnehallen in Copenhagen. It is the largest deep tech event in the Nordic region, and the programme focuses on essential topics such as AI, energy, cyber security, defence technology, health, entrepreneurship and more.
31 October at 12.30 pm, Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President - Innovation and Entrepreneurship, will take the keynote stage with Associate Professor Marie Theresa Norn from DTU Entrepreneurship, Adjunct Professor Tommy Ahlers, Vice Dean for Innovation and Public Affairs at the University of Copenhagen Jesper Thagaard and Rolf Kjærgaard from the Novo Nordisk Foundation under the headline: Digital startups are not scaling in Denmark: What can we do to retain them?
Are startups getting the proper support at the universities?
One of the discussion points is that we need to develop digital scale-ups in Denmark to maintain our global competitiveness. But are universities good enough to provide digital startups with the proper growth conditions that make them scalable in the market?
"We do a lot, but we can always improve," says Marianne Thellersen. "Danish universities are collaborating on this agenda in several ways. Many universities have innovation hubs, such as DTU Skylab, which works broadly with everything from early-stage funding to maturing business models. We have Open Entrepreneurship - where research and new technology are matched with experienced entrepreneurs - in the Danish Finance Act, we have mentoring programmes, and we invite experienced forces in as ‘entrepreneurs in residence’ and much more," she says.
An analysis of entrepreneurship at Danish universities from 2022 showed that startups from universities in Denmark are highly viable. But they don't necessarily scale - and that's a real challenge we must address, says Marianne Thellersen.
From startup to scale-up requires venture capital
In June 2024, the government's proposal for an entrepreneurship package was approved. With 46 new initiatives, it promises ‘fewer burdens and less hassle’ (only available in Danish), and DKK 2.1 billion is allocated for 2024-2026. Part of the money will go towards strengthening university innovation ecosystems, and there is a focus on creating a well-functioning market for venture capital from private investors, venture and equity funds and public actors.
"This is a critical focus area," says Marianne Thellersen. "In Denmark and the EU, we have difficulty finding capital to the same extent as outside Europe, and this harms our competitiveness in the long term. We need venture capital from private investors and others to scale up and retain important tech companies in Denmark - whether they are digital or produce high-tech hardware, which typically takes longer and costs more money."
Digital Tech Summit 2024 will be held on 30 and 31 October in Øksnehallen in Copenhagen.
