During his stay in Denmark, NordicHouse’s CEO held three meetings with partners – the city of Kalundborg and institutions from South Zealand. The visits were coordinated by Tage Riskjær Svendsen, a consultant responsible for development in the city of Kalundborg.
The first meeting was attended by the managing director of the city of Kalundborg, Michel van der Linden. The meeting focused on potential cooperation between Krakow, the Krakow metropolitan area, and the municipality of Kalundborg.
Kalundborg is a port city in Denmark on the west coast of the island of Zealand. It is associated with significant economic growth in Denmark. This is all thanks to the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which produces “Ozempik” and “Vegovi” – diabetes medications used by celebrities to lose weight.
Kalundborg is also a veritable construction site. New roads and factory halls are being built. Novo Nordisk has allocated €8.3 billion for this purpose. That’s 62 billion kroner. For comparison, Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, which will connect Denmark with Germany – will cost 50 billion kroner.
The next meeting, attended by Director Per Møller, took place at the Helix Lab Research and Education Center in Kalundborg.
The Helix Lab Research and Education Center in Kalundborg aims to attract master’s students from universities in Denmark and abroad. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded Helix Lab grants totaling 65 million kroner for the five-year project period.
Helix Lab contributes to the recruitment of new students and strengthens cooperation between science and industry in Kalundborg. The ambition is to strengthen Kalundborg’s position in the bioindustry, thereby strengthening industry in Denmark.
Helix Lab collaborates with domestic and international universities, ensuring a broad recruitment base. Students can choose from approximately 15 Master’s projects per year, which are offered a five- to twelve-month stay in Kalundborg, which includes accommodation and access to the Helix Lab research facilities. Students maintain contact with the educational institutions where they complete their Master’s studies.
A recent meeting with Director Lasse Bjerregaard of the Kalundborg Jobcenter focused on the city’s and region’s challenges related to the labor market.
The Work in Kalundborg Jobcenter is part of the Kalundborg Municipality and was established to support local businesses and residents. The institution’s primary goal is to attract, train, and retain a skilled workforce now and in the future.
The historical growth of the Kalundborg Municipality shows no signs of slowing down, and most industries in the region are flourishing. New jobs are being created, leading to an increased demand for both skilled and unskilled workers. The Work in Kalundborg Jobcenter was established specifically to support this historical growth.
Visits and meetings in Kalundborg contributed to establishing many contacts, which will undoubtedly, over time, result in many joint projects to the benefit of all partners.