IN BRIEF
PM SETS OUT AMBITIOUS GREEN VISION FOR DENMARK
Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Photo: Scanpix
At a recently held conference of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen spelled out an ambitious vision for Denmark as a land of green technological innovation, that is free from dependency on fossil fuels. This vision differs little in principle from the far-sighted government plans set in train in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, but the practical aspects are both contemporary and comprehensive.
First there is a green growth plan, creating jobs and lucrative exports by exploiting the key areas where Denmark has a technological lead – renewable energy and energy efficiency – supported by a strong focus on sustainable building and promoting Denmark as a test-bed for electric cars powered by wind energy.
Then there is a green political programme of massive funding for energy and infrastructure research and demonstration projects, complemented by the introduction of new energy and environmental standards, as well as tax reform aimed at creating a conducive economic environment.
Rounding off the vision is a green foreign policy aimed at putting Denmark in the vanguard of EU initiatives on energy and climate, as well as in the global limelight when the country hosts the all-important UN Climate Change Conference COP 15 in December 2009, where a successor to the Kyoto Protocol is set to be hammered out in a blaze of global publicity.
DENMARK IN THE NEWS
The world’s least corrupt country – again
For the second year in succession Denmark has been ranked the world’s least corrupt country by Transparency International. The Global Corruption Report 2008 analyses the degree of public sector corruption in 180 countries as perceived by business people and country analysts.
On a scale from 10 (minimum corruption) to 0 (maximum corruption), Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand all scored 9.3 to share the top ranking. Singapore followed with 9.2 and Finland with 9.0. At the other end of the scale Somalia was placed last with a score of 1.0, while Myanmar and Iraq with 1.3 tied for 178th position.
Denmark also maintained its position from last year in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2008 report, ranking 5th out of 181 world economies. The report tracks regulatory reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business by measuring their impact on a range of economic parameters.
DID YOU KNOW… ?
… that 85 per cent of Danish homes now have an internet connection? Ten years ago the figure was just 10 per cent.
Statistics Denmark
High profile speakers to address Copenhagen Climate Congress
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri. Photo: Scanpix.
José Manuel Barroso. Photo: Scanpix.
Lord Nicholas Stern. Photo: Scanpix.
Lord Nicholas Stern, author of the influential Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, IPCC chairman Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, and chairman of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will deliver keynote speeches at an international scientific congress on climate change in Copenhagen on 10-12 March 2009.
The University of Copenhagen is hosting the congress, entitled “Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions” in association with the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). Several thousand scientific researchers will participate in 57 sessions during the three day event.
Strategically scheduled in advance of the all-important United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009, the congress aims to provide a synthesis of existing and emerging scientific knowledge necessary for making intelligent decisions to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. An executive summary from the congress will be handed to policy makers at COP15.
More information on the congress is available on: http://climatecongress.ku.dk/
AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT USES 90% LESS ELECTRICITY
Danish company AC Sun has invented a climate-friendly air-conditioning system based on solar energy that uses only 10% of the electricity consumption of conventional air-conditioning systems, writes financial daily newspaper Børsen.
The novelty of the system, which is based on well-known thermal processes, is its considerable power savings (a factor of 10), pollution-free operation and silent cooling. The power savings come from the fact that the compressor in the system is run by a solar-driven steam engine, whereas conventional air-conditioning systems use an electric motor.
AC Sun chairman Bo Rhein Knudsen told Børsen: “There are enormous opportunities and now we have to find the right distributors. We have to mature the product and there is decent interest from both Danish and foreign companies.” Knudsen expect AC Sun will have its product ready for launch in about 12 months.
AC Sun: http://www.ac-sun.com
DANES WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Niels Bohr at the Niels Bohr Institute in 1955. Photo: Scanpix
Niels Bohr
1885 - 1962
One of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, Niels Bohr was the first to apply the quantum concept to atomic structure, a concept that remains an important part of modern science. The Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, first published in 1913 and described by Einstein as “one of the great discoveries”, earned Niels Bohr the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. The Institute of Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen, which Niels Bohr founded in 1922, became a gathering ground for a talented generation of physicists who were to create the new science of quantum mechanics.
WORTH KNOWING ABOUT
A profile of a Danish organisation that might interest you, either as a point of contact for business activity, or to add to your knowledge of what goes on in Denmark.
Career Guide 2 Denmark: Lots to interest job seekers from overseas – and it’s all in English
WHO ARE THEY?
Career Guide 2 Denmark is an organisation which helps Danish companies attract skilled knowledge workers from abroad by providing information in English about job opportunities in a range of career areas.
HOW CAN THEY BE USEFUL TO YOU?
On its website, Career Guide 2 Denmark gives foreign job seekers comprehensive and up-to-date information on Denmark, its lifestyle and culture, its labour market and the job opportunities available in 50 leading Danish companies and organisations, as well as numerous useful links.
The Career Search menu on the website is conveniently divided into 8 different career areas: Engineering; IT; Medical & Health; Natural Science; Technology and Technics; Economics; Logistics; Administration; Business, Finance & Marketing.
A click of the mouse on any of these submenus delivers not only the range of jobs available but also clear and concise information about the companies – all in English.
WANT TO CONTACT THEM?
Internet: http://www.cg2denmark.com
E-mail: info@cg2denmark.com
Tel: +45 30240080
Address:
Career Guide 2 Denmark
Studiestræde 14A 4th floor
1455 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Danish biotech industry in Europe’s top 3
A recent report from Ernst & Young shows that Denmark ranks 3rd in Europe in terms of the number of biotech products under development, writes Invest in Denmark. In 2007, the number of drug candidates under development in Danish biotech companies shot up 25%, compared to the European average of 9%.
And with 188 potential new products in the development pipeline, for diseases including HIV and cancer, Denmark is only headed in volume terms by Great Britain and Germany – both far bigger countries in size and population.
Ernst & Young also notes that Denmark is performing well in terms of capital raised. The Danish biotech industry collectively raised DKK 3.4bn (USD 650m) in capital in 2007, the fourth largest sum raised in Europe.
Photo: Scanpix
When fuelling a ship, it pays to know exactly what you’re buying
Photo: Scanpix
It may look like a drinks dispenser, but this machine designed by Danish company NanoNord performs a far more technically complex function: it performs in-line analysis of fuel and lubricating oils on board a ship.
The fuelling of a ship – known in the trade as bunkering – is important from several perspectives. Besides being one of the major costs of operating a ship, the quality and composition of fuel and oil are critical to the efficiency and mechanical protection of the engines, as well as the environmental impact of exhaust gases.
If a fuel or oil is not up to standard, the time to know is the moment it starts being pumped aboard. And that is what NanoNord’s machine does, giving real-time analysis of a full range of parameters. It can also detect if an unscrupulous supplier tries to give short measure by watering down or aerating the fuel.
NanoNord: http://www.nanonord.com
BOOKMARK DENMARK
If there’s an event in your interest area, why not bookmark it to attend? Denmark is a great place to visit!
2009
| Interest area |
Event |
Description |
Want to attend? |
| ICT |
FTTH Council Europe
Conference
11-12 February 2009
Bella Center
Copenhagen |
The Fibre-to-the-Home Council Europe is a market development organization promoting the deployment of fibre-based broadband. Last year’s conference attracted over 2,000 visitors and 60 exhibitors. |
For more information, visit www.conference.
ftthcouncil.eu, for registration, programme, accommodation, contact, sponsors etc. |
| Food |
TEMA 2009
22-25 February 2009
Bella Center
Copenhagen |
Scandinavia’s biggest trade fair for the food industry, expected to attract 40,000 visitors. Covers the food industry and the canteen, hotel, restaurant and catering sector. The ideal opportunity to see all the latest ideas and innovations under one roof. |
http://www.tema09.dk/
English for exhibitor list, catalogue and contact details. Organiser: Bella Center in collaboration with numerous Danish industry associations |
| Climate Change |
Beyond Kyoto:
Addressing the challenges of climate change
5-7 March 2009
University of Aarhus
Denmark |
A multidisciplinary international conference offering the opportunity to gain cutting edge knowledge, share and develop ideas and network with key players on the climate scene. The opening address will be given by the renowned Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland. |
To register, contact the conference secretariat on:
Tel: +45 8629 6960
Fax: +45 8629 6980
Email: bk@kongres-
kompagniet.dk |
| Transport |
Transport 2009
18-21 March 2009
Exhibition Centre Herning |
The 11th running of Scandinavia’s biggest trade fair for the entire transport sector. See all the latest in trucks, buses, vans, body-work, trailers, cranes, containers, refuse collection, operating & maintenance, and more. |
See www.transport
2009.dk/uk for exhibitor info, contact and accommodation finder. Organiser: Exhibition Centre Herning tel. +45 9926 9926 |
A magnet for capital fund investments
Annual growth in investments from capital funds (1998-2007)
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers
A new global survey from Pricewaterhouse-Coopers shows that over the last 10 years, Denmark has achieved a 56% growth rate in capital fund investments, the highest in the western world. Financial daily newspaper Børsen reports that PwC ascribes Denmark’s strong performance to the fact that it has relatively many well-run medium-sized companies, the traditional targets of capital funds.
PwC’s analysis also shows that Denmark is among Europe’s top six for capital fund investments measured as a percentage of GDP. The figure for Denmark is 0.5%, a tad above the European average.
Developments have taken place rapidly in Denmark in the last decade. In 1998 there were very few Danish capital funds, and the major Nordic and British funds had no local presence. Today the picture is very different, and the big overseas capital funds now have offices in Copenhagen.
This page forms part of the publication 'FOCUS DENMARK 04/2008' as chapter 1 of 12
Version 1.0. 13-01-2009
Publication may be found at the address http://www.netpublikationer.dk/um/9229/index.htm
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