Greater Copenhagen Life science analysis initiative

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The life science sector in the Danish-Swedish Greater Copenhagen region has developed over the past fifteen years to become the leading cluster in the Nordic region. Although Danish and Swedish life sciences have developed differently, employment in Medicon Valley also increased during the financial crisis when most other industries reduced the workforce. This makes the regional life science industry the Greater Copenhagen’s most important industry in terms of employment and growth. Labour demand in life science is expected to increase and has been identified nationally as one of the most important factors for a positive development nationally in both Denmark and Sweden. There is an ongoing industry slide against biological medicines, e-health and nutrition. At the same time, new opportunities are being created to develop new products with the help of the materials research facilities Max IV in Lund and ESS in Lund and Copenhagen. Overall, this means that there is a need to map and analyse the future need for skills so that the industry’s conditions for continued expansion can be fully exploited in a regional and national perspective. The Medicon Valley Alliance and Øresund Institute have collaborated since 2015 to strengthen knowledge about how the Danish-Swedish life science cluster Medicon Valley develops. The collaboration has resulted in an annual report, the State of Medicon Valley, which provides an overview of key figures and basic facts about the pharmaceutical industry in Greater Copenhagen. However, the Parties note that there is still a strong need for in-depth analysis with a focus on the labour market regarding the recruitment needs of life science companies and the role of universities as research and education actors. In order to conduct an in-depth study and analysis of the future competence needs, the cluster needs to be analysed in detail regarding the structure of Medicon Valley as well as the individual companies regarding the present situation and future prospects/planning. In order for these analyses and the knowledge generated to be translated into actions and initiatives that directly or indirectly affect employment and labour mobility across the Danish-Swedish border, it is also necessary to have a skills council that brings together those actors (trainings, industry representatives, regions, employment agencies, etc.) which have a direct impact on how the future workforce in the life sciences sector is to a greater extent than hitherto benefiting from the opportunities on the other side of the strait. The Medicon Valley Alliance and Øresund Institute are therefore seeking co-financing for a three-year analysis project that will provide an in-depth and more detailed description of Greater Copenhagen’s life science cluster; Medicon Valley, labour mobility, future skills needs in life science and proposals for concrete measures to increase mobility. The project is divided into two parts where part of the result is several reports focusing on analytically describing the life science industry in Greater Copenhagen from a development and labour market perspective, which also includes an overview of the region’s life science companies. The organisation responsible for the analysis work is the Øresund Institute. In addition, a Skills Council will be established which brings together a number of regional, state and industrial partners to formulate initiatives and actions that increase mobility and synergies in the Öresund regional labour market. The work of establishing and running the work of the Council of Competence is led by the Medicon Valley Alliance. The results of the project can, for example, provide valuable input to educational bodies, authorities and decision-makers, not least to the national life science offices established in Sweden and Denmark as well as to local and regional initiatives. In addition, the project contributes with new knowledge that enables a stronger and more precise regional marketing effort to position Greater Copenhagen as an attractive destination for investments, business start-ups and workforce.

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