LIFE SCIENCE ACROSS THE ØRESUND- a survey of transregional commuters, actors, research and investments - Medicon Valley ...
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LIFE SCIENCE ACROSS THE ØRESUND
– a survey of transregional commuters, actors, research and investments
900 border commuters in
Medicon Valley
At least 20 Danish CEOs
at companies in Skåne
13 Danish companies listed
in Sweden since 2014
PREFACE
The Danish-Swedish life science cluster that spans over the Øresund, Medicon Valley, is linked together
LIFE SCIENCE ACROSS THE ØRESUND by all of the engaged individuals who work at the universities, hospitals, research centres and all of the
companies in the region. As part of the Interreg-project Greater Copenhagen Life Science Analysis Initiative,
– a survey of transregional commuters, actors, Øresundsinstituttet has surveyed networks, collaborations, investments, ownership and personal contacts
in Medicon Valley.
research and investments
More than 900 people employed at companies in the life science cluster commute across the Øresund Strait,
This analysis has been prepared by Øresundsinstituttet as part of the Interreg- most of them from Skåne to Danish companies such as Novo Nordisk, Ferring, LEO Pharma, Lundbeck and
project Greater Copenhagen Life Science Analysis Initiative and was written by Genmab. The growing group of companies from Skåne – frequently small and listed in Sweden – is also hel-
Jenny Andersson, Kristoffer Dahl Sørensen, Sofi Eriksson and Johan Wessman. ping itself to the generous offering of skilled business leaders schooled in the large life science companies
across the strait in Denmark. Today, more than 20 life science companies in Skåne are headed by a Danish
Project manager for analytics: Jenny Andersson CEO. Ultimately, in and around Copenhagen is where Medicon Valley’s largest life science companies are.
Overall project manager: Johan Wessman The Danish system of large, foundation-owned companies means that power over the company remains in
Denmark, even if it is publicly traded, and it also means that part of the company’s profits return to research
Translation: Justina Bartoli and new startups via the foundations that own them. In Sweden, the focus is more on going public; since
2014, thirteen Danish life science companies have acted on the attraction to listing in Stockholm, and twelve
Cover photo: News Øresund of them are still listed today. More than 25 companies are active on both sides of the Øresund – and this is
no novel phenomenon. Already back in 1914, the then-Danish Løvens Kemiske Fabrik set up a Swedish sub-
June 2021 sidiary in Helsingborg: Leo Läkemedel. The company has changed hands many times since then, and today
it’s known as McNeil, and its manufacturing and development units are still in Helsingborg.
GREATER COPENHAGEN LIFE SCIENCE ANALYSIS INITIATIVE is an EU-project aimed
at increasing knowledge about the region’s life science cluster. The focus is on the There is nothing new about national rules and regulations making work across the strait more difficult despite
demand for labourers, future expertise needs, and more. The project has received the proximity over the Øresund with the bridge connecting Copenhagen and Malmö and ferries shuttling
funding through the EU-programme Interreg Öresund-Kattegatt-Skagerrak and will between Helsingborg and Helsingør. University grants are generally not allowed to cross borders, for example,
continue until 30 June 2022. The project’s lead partner is Medicon Valley Alliance, and although a good collaboration means bilateral flow. Over the past six years, crossing the Øresund has become
the partner is Øresundsinstituttet. Region Skåne and Region Zealand are co-funding even more difficult for us humans. The migration crisis, crime and now the coronavirus pandemic have led to
the project. national decrees on border control and at times even partially closed the borders. At the same time, the border
region is receiving support from Brussels via the EU-programme Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak. Since
2015, Interreg has granted nearly €47mn for joint border regional development projects in the life sciences.
This analysis is part of one such project.
After more than 50 interviews with players from Medicon Valley, we can draw several conclusions:
MEDICON VALLEY is the bi-national life science
• Personal contacts are of great consequence for the border regional development between Sweden
cluster spanning eastern Denmark and the
and Denmark.
Skåne region of southern Sweden. Today, the
Danish-Swedish region is marketed interna- • The national systems still have difficulty managing a border region.
tionally with the name ‘Greater Copenhagen’, • The trans-Øresund exchange is extensive. Medicon Valley’s Danish and Swedish parts are tightly
and its increasing population has reached interwoven by their people, capital, projects, research and affairs.
more than four million residents. In Sweden, • There remains great potential to increase contacts across the Øresund. The Øresund is where
the same geographical area is often called the
Denmark’s and Sweden’s national life science strategies meet. Two neighbouring countries, both
‘Øresund Region’.
successful in the life sciences, each an important trade partner for the other. The interviews in this
report show that the actors who see great opportunities in expanding collaborations are very many.
Copenhagen and Malmö, 22 June 2021
Johan Wessman
CEO
Øresundsinstituttet
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Summary .................................................................. 6
2. Commuters and the labour market .......................... 12
3. Management ........................................................... 26
4. Research and education .......................................... 47
Focus: Diabetes ........................................................ 56
Focus: Oncology ....................................................... 68
Focus: Reproduction ................................................. 82
BioInnovation Institute 5. Transregional sector actors and activities ............... 90
6. Investments and listings ....................................... 110
7. Appendix ............................................................... 135
PHOTO: LEO PHARMA ABOUT ZEALAND AND SKÅNE
When we refer to Zealand and Skåne in this report, we are generally referring to the
following geographic classification: the Danish island Zealand, and the southern
Swedish province Skåne. There are also public and administrative geographies. On
the Danish side, the Capital Region of Denmark includes the capital city Copenhagen
and the surrounding municipalities, up to northeast Zealand and including the island
Bornholm. Region Zealand comprises the remaining parts of Zealand and islands such
as Møn, Lolland and Falster. On the Swedish side of the Øresund, the province of Skåne
is geographically equivalent to Region Skåne. Together, the three Danish and Swedish
regions comprise the Øresund Region, whose population was 4.1 million at the end of
2020, with two-thirds living on the Danish side. The Medicon Valley cluster shares the
geography of the Øresund Region. The term Greater Copenhagen is used as an inter-
national place brand for the Danish-Swedish region, and it also designates a political
collaboration that encompasses the three abovementioned regions as well as Region
Halland. The Greater Copenhagen region has a population of 4.4 million.
LEO Pharma Open Innovation.
SUMMARY SUMMARY
10 +20
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND & CELLAVISION
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT
At least 20 Danish CEOs/managing di-
rectors work in large, medium-sized and
small life science companies in Skåne.
MORE THAN 900 BORDER COMMUTERS The number of Danish directors has
risen since 2017. Read more on page 27. Simon Østergaard, new
Søren Bregenholt, new CEO of
Alligator Bioscience in Lund. CEO of CellaVision in Lund.
The life science sector’s labour force moves back
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
and forth across the Øresund Region. A total of
over 900 border commuters were identified in the
region. At least 800 people commute from Skåne
to work at life science companies in Zealand. At
EXCELLENT RESEARCH IN THE REGION
least 100 commuters from Zealand were identified Cancer, diabetes and reproduction are three research areas of excellence in Medicon Valley.
as working in the life science sector in Skåne. World-class research is conducted in all three, and there are multiple links across the strait.
These figures are the result of extensive contact There are around 600 researchers in CANCER RESEARCH at the hospitals in Region Skåne,
between Øresundsinstituttet and the companies Region Hovedstaden and Region Sjælland, and there is also extensive research at the universities,
between 2020-2021. One often hears about highly in the industry and at the Danish Cancer Society’s research institute in Copenhagen. Within cancer
educated workers who are active across the Øre- research, it is relatively common for researchers and research groups to collaborate across the
Examples of life science com- Number of border
sund. Novo Nordisk is the Medicon Valley company panies in Zealand with border commuters from
strait, but researchers call for more structural collaboration.
with the largest number of border commuters. DIABETES RESEARCH has strong historical links to the
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
commuters from Sweden Sweden
200 people travel from Sweden across the Øre- Novo Nordisk A/S 206
Øresund Region, as the predecessor to today’s Novo Nordisk
sund to work at the company in Denmark. was founded in Copenhagen in 1923. Today, research centres
Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S 110
on both sides of the Øresund bring together diabetes research,
Read more about border commuting and the LEO Pharma A/S 66 and many of the largest players have joined forces in the Inter-
labour market in the sector on page 12-25 H. Lundbeck A/S 40-45 reg-collaboration DiaUnion.
REPRODUCTION RESEARCH has also traditionally been
strong in the Øresund Region, and there has long been extensive
exchange across the strait within the Interreg-project ReproU-
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
MORE FOREIGN CEOS IN ZEALAND nion 2.0 and its earlier iterations. Today, a unique biobank is
Around three-fourths of the life science companies that being constructed, the aim with which is to include 5 000 couples
are listed in Sweden and have headquarters or ma- from Denmark and Sweden and get to the bottom of involuntary
nufacturing facilities in Skåne are headed by Swedish childlessness. Read more pages 46-89.
CEOs. In Denmark however, around two-thirds the
life science companies with
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
headquarters and listings
€47mn
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC in Denmark are headed by
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
POTENTIAL FOR MORE
GIVES BORDER COMMUTERS Danish CEOs. The share of RESEARCH COLLABO-
TAX HEADACHES. foreign CEOs in the segment RATION ACROSS THE
Working more from home due to the is thus larger in Denmark than ØRESUND.
pandemic is making it difficult for border in Skåne. Larger, listed Danish ”Working together is incre-
commuters – in the life science and other companies such as Novozy- dibly easy; it’s great when Between 2015-2022, the EU-programme
sectors – to fulfil the requirement of mes, H. Lundbeck, Zealand Danish and Swedish doctors Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak
working at least half of the time in their Pharma, Orphazyme and and researchers get together granted just under €47mn to joint Da-
country of employment. This has created Ambu for example have recruited chief executives from for a project and share data nish-Swedish development projects in the
extra administration and additional costs abroad in the past five years. According to recruitment and work together – that has never been a problem, it’s life sciences. 18 life science projects have
for companies and could also mean that experts, the differences in internationalisation between always been a lot of fun. The obstacles to collaboration received funding during that time, and ten
border commuters may be hit with back Denmark and Skåne are related to the companies’ size, are much more structural.” of the projects are still currently active –
taxes. Read more on page 16. development stage, capital needs and more. Read more Mef Nilbert, head of research at the Danish Cancer Society e.g. DiaUnion. Read more on page 91.
on page 26-40. in Copenhagen. Read more on page 80-81.
6 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 7
SUMMARY SUMMARY
DENMARK’S AND SWEDEN’S LIFE SCIENCE
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
THE WORD ON ØRESUND COLLABORATION
STRENGTHS CONSOLIDATE AROUND THE
”We have historical collaborations in the Øre-
sund Region, and we will definitely continue to
have them. The collaborations are both on the
commercial and on the academia fronts. I think ØRESUND
we should open a mutual invitation and say: the
things that we can do better together working The Øresund Region’s Medicon Valley cluster is Scandinavia’s largest life science cluster. The
across the Øresund are things we should pursue”, region’s common research strengths are in diabetes, cancer, fertility and more, and globally le-
says Kim Kjøller, chairperson of the cluster orga- ading companies and universities are active in those fields. Denmark and Sweden work across the
nisation Danish Life Science Cluster, which was Øresund to build highly advanced research facilities, and Danish and Sweden investment compa-
founded in 2020 and represents around 500 actors
nies join together to fund new ideas. Innovation and new startups take shape at universities and
from the sector. Read more on page 106.
science parks in Medicon Valley, and more than 900 border commuters cross the Øresund for their
work, bringing together Danish and Swedish expertise.
€35mn
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
Danish and Swedish companies, organisations, • Approx. 1 700 cancer researchers
labour forces, capital and research merge in the • Approx. 1 000 diabetes researchers
Øresund Region’s life science sector. This is appa- • Approx. 150 reproductive researchers
rent when research starts at Lund University and is
The Novo Nordisk Foundation granted developed further in Copenhagen, for example. Da- Sector links within the cluster are apparent in
€35mn for the super-microscope Mi- nish and Swedish trade organisations work together that e.g. there are employees in the sector who work
croMAX in Lund, which will be ready on conferences and marketing strategies. Biotech on the opposite side of the Øresund. All the while,
for use in 2022. The grant is the foun- companies recruit expertise from Skåne. Danish researchers at Danish universities develop instru-
dation’s largest in southern Sweden companies list in Sweden with the help of Swedish ments and software that are already in use and will
today. Read more on page 107. financial players. Life science companies from Skåne
recruit experienced business managers who have
been schooled in Denmark’s global enterprises. And
research groups work across the Øresund to reach MEDICON VALLEY EMPLOYS 50 000
joint goals of finding new treatments. The companies in the Danish-Swedish Medicon
INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN PROGRESS The life science sector that spans across the
Øresund is thus linked in many ways in the
Valley cluster employ more than 50 000 pe-
ople in the Øresund Region.
The investment climate in Medicon Valley is moving forward, according to a number of Danish and Danish-Swedish Medicon Valley cluster, which
Swedish investment companies. Funding rounds are growing larger, especially on the Danish side of employs around 50 000 people. The five chapters of
the Øresund, and the participation of venture firms from abroad is increasingly more frequent. Many the report in hand aim to identify strengths, links
of the life science companies in Medicon Valley with Danish-Swedish ownership interviewed agree and structural similarities and differences in the life
that the access to risk capital is generally good. Actors from the sector point out that Novo Nordisk science sector in Medicon Valley, which is Scandi-
Foundation’s establishment of the BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen in 2017 was an important navia’s largest life science cluster.
event for seed-funding in the region, and it has also benefitted Swedish life science companies. Com- One of Medicon Valley’s shared Danish-Swedish
panies in Skåne also highlight the need for better access strengths is that Zealand and Skåne both conduct
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
to venture capital, and companies on Danish shores globally leading research in diabetes, fertility and
would like to see the Danish stock market become more cancer. Research is carried out commercially via
lucrative, like its Swedish counterpart. The result is beacon companies such as Novo Nordisk, Ferring
MEDICON VALLEY is the bi-national life
different capital structures on either side of the Øresund: Pharmaceuticals and Genmab, as well as at universi-
science cluster spanning eastern Denmark
• 71 life science companies have headquarters in ties, where the researchers further boost the region’s
(Region Zealand and the Capital Region of
Skåne and are listed in Stockholm scientific strong points. We received data for this Denmark) and the Skåne region of southern
• 20 life science companies have headquarters in analysis from hospitals and universities (The only Sweden. Today, the Danish-Swedish region
Zealand and are listed in Copenhagen data from the University of Copenhagen concerns is marketed internationally with the name
• 13 Danish life science companies have gone public the Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) ‘Greater Copenhagen’, and its increasing po-
in Stockholm since 2014; 12 of them are still li- and Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), pulation has reached four million residents.
sted. Together, the companies’ IPOs raised 665mn and reservation is made for the possibility that some In Sweden, the same geographical area is
SEK, or €65mn. researchers work at hospitals as well as universities often called the Øresund Region’.
regarding:
8 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 9
SUMMARY SUMMARY
be used at research facilities in Skåne in the future. Life science companies in Skåne also benefit
Danish companies also receive advice from Swedish from an open and flexible labour market, however.
players on going public in Sweden to raise capital The expertise that people who reside in Sweden can EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN MEDICON VALLEY
for further development. acquire working at larger life science companies in COMMUTERS AND EXECUTIVES ACROSS THE ØRESUND
Zealand is unique, as there are multiple large global
PHOTO: NOVO NORDISK
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
PHOTO: PRIVATE
• There are at least 900 border commuters
PHOTO: LEO PHARMA
companies in the industry in Zealand. They function
PHOTO: SCANDINAVIAN ONCOLOGY
employed in the companies in Medicon Valley, as an anchor of sorts for startups and other businesses
800 of whom live in Skåne and work in Zealand. in the region. In many cases, people from the sector
from Skåne later bring their expertise back and thus
• There are at least 20 Danish CEOs in the life scien- benefit other companies in e.g. Malmö and Lund.
ce cluster in Skåne. Increasing awareness among Danes in the sector
of the career opportunities that exist on the Swedish
• 13 Danish life science companies have listed in side of the Øresund is a transregional challenge. Maj Hedtjärn,
Kasper Bødker Britt Meelby Sara Harboe, Niclas Nilsson,
COO & Head of
Sweden since 2014, 12 of them are still listed today. Danish-dwellers in the sector may also have higher Mejlvang, Country Jensen, CEO Atos Vice President Head of Innovation
R&D Operations at
expectations when it comes to e.g. salary that may Manager Novo Medical. See p. 22. ArjoHuntleigh. See Lab at LEO Phar-
Scandion Oncology.
be difficult to honour. Nordisk. See p. 14. p. 25. ma. See p. 41.
• Denmark makes financial contributions to See p. 34.
European Spallation Source, ESS, and MAX IV With its 25% rate, the so-called SINK-tax has RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
in Lund. Denmark and Sweden are host countries traditionally prompted Danes to accept positions
PHOTO: IKENNET RUONA - LUNDS U.
PHOTO: KENNETH RUONA
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
PHOTO: LUND UNIVERSITY
PHOTO: DIRECTORS CORNER
for ESS, whose research facilities are being built in in Skåne despite the Danish crown being stronger
Lund and the data centre for which is at Copenha- than its Swedish counterpart. The taxation advanta-
gen Bio Science Park (COBIS) in Copenhagen. ge for border commuters has become a tax trouble
during the coronavirus pandemic, however. Official
Border commuting is important for both restrictions have made it difficult for many people
Sweden and Denmark to fulfil the requirement of being physically present
One of the main results of this report is that there in one’s country of employment 50% of the time. Erik Renström, Elise Witthof, Kristian Pietras, Carl Borrebaeck, Aleksander
are more than 900 border commuters at companies This has meant additional administration and costs Vice-chancellor of Coordinator iCope. Professor and Professor and se- Giwercman,
in the region. Many in the sector thus live in one for companies and employees in the life sciences Lund University. See p. 74. Coordinator LUCC. rial entrepreneur. Project Manager
See p. 54. See p. 76. See p. 78. ReproUnion 2.0.
country and work in the other. and in other sectors, and there have been calls for
TRANSBORDER ACTORS AND OPERATIONS See p. 87.
Trans-Øresund exchange is important, as it broa- the tax rules for border commuters to be adjusted to
dens the recruitment base across the Øresund. Danish accommodate for working from home in the future.
PHOTO: BIOINNOVATION INSTITUTE
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
PHOTO: NEWS ØREUSND
PHOTO: COPENHAGEN CAPACITY
PHOTO: INVEST IN SKÅNE
life science companies are currently finding themselves In spite of the abovementioned challenges,
with a labour force shortage. If border commuting approximately 100 commuters live in Denmark and
from Skåne were to decrease, the need for labourers in work at life science companies in Skåne, more than
the sector in Denmark would be intensified further. 20 of them in executive positions.
Petter Hartman, Jens Nielsen, Tue David Bak, Ulrika Ringdahl, Asbjørn Over-
gaard Chris-
UPCOMING ANALYSIS: SURVEY OF THE CEO Medicon
Valley Alliance.
CEO BII Founda-
tion. See p. 103.
Managing Director
Greater Copenha-
Managing Director
Invest in Skåne. tiansen, CEO
DANISH LIFE SCIENCE SECTOR See p. 108. gen Committee. See p. 97. Copenhagen Capa-
INVESTMENT AND LISTINGS See p. 97. city. See p. 97.
The focus of this report is movement over the Øresund and transregi-
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
PHOTO: NOVO SEEDS
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
PHOTO: PILA PHARMA-JENNY LEYMAN
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
onal commuters, actors, research and investments in the life science
sector. Upcoming analyses in the Interreg-project Greater Copenha-
gen Life Science Analysis Initiative will include a detailed survey of the
life science cluster on the Danish side of Medicon Valley and more.
An analysis of the clusters on the Swedish side by the name of
“Life science in Skåne – A survey of companies in the sector” was
published in the autumn of 2020. The report shows among other
things that more than 7 500 people work in the life science sector
Carsten Borring, Fredrik Rahl, Søren Møller, Peter Benson, Dorte X Gram,
in Skåne; this in an increase of 1 500 employees since 2015. A total Head of Listing. & Director Sedermera Managing Partner Chairperson & CEO PILA PHAR-
of 426 life science companies were identified in Skåne. Cap. Markets Nas- Fondkommission. Novo Seeds. See co-founder Suns- MA. See p. 44 &
The analytic work is carried out by Øresundsinstituttet, and the daq Copenhagen. See p. 120. p. 126. tone. See p. 128. 133.
Interreg-project’s leading partner is Medicon Valley Alliance. Report on life science in Skåne See p. 118.
from from November 2020.
10 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 11
COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET
PHOTO: NOVO NORDISK
Over 900 Danish-Swedish border commuters
in Medicon Valley
Border commuters are important for the life science sector in Medicon Valley, as many of those
active in the sector gain their professional experience across the Øresund. There are over 900 bor-
der commuters in the sector, many of them in positions that require a high level of expertise. At
least 800 people from Sweden work in the sector on the Danish side. Over 100 border commuters
from Denmark commute to jobs in the sector in Skåne; commuting for work from Skåne to Zealand
is thus more common than in the opposite direction. These figures come from a survey in which
Øresundsinstituttet interviewed the majority of Skåne’s life science businesses, as well as 50 of
the larger Danish life science companies in Zealand, regarding the number of their employees who
commute across the Øresund. For example, just over 200 of Novo Nordisk’s employees commute
from Skåne to the pharma company’s office- and research facilities in Zealand. The coronavi-
rus-pandemic has created immediate challenges related to taxation, attracting employees and
more, but also new, flexible working conditions for border commuters.
More than 900 life science employees commute and the surrounding areas to make a difference in
over the Øresund. At least 800 life science employ- the Danish life science sector, and that the same is
ees from Sweden work in some of Denmark’s largest true in the other direction, toward Skåne.
life science companies. Around 100 border commu-
ters from Denmark were identified as commuting
to Skåne for work in the sector. Many border commuters at Novo Nordisk
These results are based on contact for this report and Ferring
between Øresundsinstituttet and the region’s busi- One pharmaceutical company in Denmark with
nesses in 2020 and 2021. This involved asking the many employees from Sweden is Ferring Pharma-
majority of Skåne’s life science companies questions ceuticals A/S, which was founded in Malmö in
regarding the number of their employees who
commute across the Øresund, and 50 larger-scale
900
Danish life science companies were also selected
and interviewed about the same. Over 30 Danish
life science companies supplied figures regarding
the number of their employees who commute from More than 900 Danish-Swedish border
Sweden, and in total, around 800 people cross the commuters were identified in Medicon
border from Sweden to work in the Danish life sci- Valley in Øresundsinstituttet’s survey
ence sector. They are frequently people with a high between 2020-2021.
level of expertise.
Thus, people who live in Sweden commute to 800 BORDER COMMUTERS FROM SWEDEN
e.g. the pharmaceutical companies H. Lundbeck, At least 800 border commuters from Sweden
LEO Pharma and Novo Nordisk, the hearing aid were identified as working in life science
manufacturer GN Hearing, the ingredients solution companies in Zealand; for example, ca.
company Chr. Hansen, the biotech companies 200 commuters from Sweden work at Novo
Genmab and Zealand Pharma and the medtech Nordisk on the Danish side of the Øresund.
company Ambu.
It may be assumed that the number of border 100 BORDER COMMUTERS FROM DENMARK
COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET
commuters from Sweden to Denmark would be At least 100 border commuters from Den-
higher if board members and consultants were mark were identified as working in life scien-
included in the figures; in addition, commuter ce companies in Skåne. Most of the sector’s
figures were not supplied by all of the life science commuters travel from Sweden to Denmark.
companies asked. Examples (page 14) show that
labourers from Skåne find their way to Copenhagen
ØRESUND - ØRESUNDSINSTITUTTET GCLSAI • June 2021 13
COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET
OVER 900 DANISH-SWEDISH BORDER 1950. In 2002, the company was among
COMMUTERS IN MEDICON VALLEY the first to consolidate in the then-new
neighbourhood Ørestad, near Copenha- FERRING’S NEW RESIDENCE CAN BOOST BORDER COMMUTING
Many life science companies in the Danish-Swedish Medicon gen Airport, and in 2006 it opened a new OVER THE ØRESUND ONCE AGAIN
Valley cluster recruit employees from across the Øresund. At least global headquarters in Switzerland. Today,
800 people from Sweden work in the sector on the Danish side. Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ International
Over 100 border commuters from Denmark commute to jobs in PharmaService Center and R&D are in More border commuters in Medicon Valley
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
the sector in Skåne for a total of at least 900 border commuters in may become a reality in the years to come.
Ørestad and employ around 600 people,
the life science sector in the Øresund Region. Most commute from One major reason is that Ferring Pharma-
150 of whom are border commuters from
Sweden to Denmark for work in the sector. ceuticals (International Pharma Science
Skåne. Between May and September of
Center) is consolidating at a new address
2021, Ferring Pharmaceuticals will be in the Copenhagen area, this time even
Number
Examples of life science of border
moving to Soundport, near Copenha- closer to the southern Sweden.
companies in Zealand with Number of commu- gen Airport. Soundport will be the new In the summer of 2021, the pharmaceu-
border commuters from employees ters from Danish headquarters and Ferring Group’s tical company will move from its Danish
Sweden Subsector in Zealand Sweden largest R&D centre. It will be even closer headquarters in the Ørestad district to
Novo Nordisk A/S Pharma 16 800 206 to Malmö, where the company continues Kastrup, adjacent to Copenhagen Airport.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S Pharma 580 110 to have sales- and marketing activity. Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ new Danish
Another Danish life science company headquarters, which goes by the name
LEO Pharma A/S Biotech 2 100 66
with a commuting labour force from Soundport, is located right on the coast of
H. Lundbeck A/S Pharma 1 700 40-45 the Øresund Strait, with a clear view of Mal-
both Sweden and Denmark is Novo
Coloplast A/S Medtech 1 300 31 mö, the city in which the company has its
Nordisk. The largest pharmaceuticals
historical roots. With its 37 500m2, Sound-
Chr. Hansen A/S Biotech 1 800 29 company in Denmark and Scandina- Ferring’s new Danish headquarters near Copenhagen Airport, in
port will be the largest R&D centre for the
Demant A/S Medtech 1 800 25 via, Novo Nordisk has 206 employees Ferring Group, whose global headquarters Kastrup.
in Denmark who receive their mail in are located in Saint-Prex, Switzerland.
AGC Biologics A/S CDMO 670 22 chief executive at the company’s headquarters in
Sweden and are thus border commuters Ferring Pharmaceuticals expects to recruit
Genmab A/S Biotech 210 20 Switzerland today is the Swede Per Falk.
between Zealand and Skåne. Of these around 150 new employees as part of the move,
The company’s choice to situate the new Danish
GN Hearing A/S Medtech 630 15 206, 138 are Swedish. Moreover, the says Marianne Kock, CEO of Ferring Pharmaceuti-
headquarters Soundport near Copenhagen Airport
Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S Biotech 690 15 company has around five Danish com- cals in Denmark.
and just one stop from Malmö’s Hyllie district is justi-
WS Audiology A/S Medtech 1 000 13
muters at its facilities in Malmö, where – We expect to employ more staff when we move to
fied by both practicality and logistics. The view of and
around 75 people are employed. our new residence in Kastrup. The new building can
proximity to Malmö are also a nod to the company’s
Radiometer Medical A/S Medtech 1 200 13
– It is absolutely crucial for us as a com- accommodate up to around 750 employees; we are
history, however: it was there that the company was
Zealand Pharma A/S Biotech 230 13 pany to be able to attract and retain com- just under 600 in our current building. The new staff
founded by Dr Frederik Paulsen in 1950, under the
petent employees where we are. This is also members might be from Denmark, Sweden or other
name Nordiska Hormonlaboratoriet. The research
Example of companies in Zealand with 1-9 border commuters from countries. What is important to us is finding the right
true for our Danish subsidiary, and luckily lab and factory were built in the Limhamn district.
Sweden: Ambu A/S, Bavarian Nordic A/S, Symphogen A/S, AstraZe- employees with the right competences, she says.
neca A/S, Orphazyme A/S and Ferrosan Medical Devices A/S.
we can bring in sharp minds from Sweden. Today, the founder’s son Frederik Paulsen Jr is
Marianne Kock emphasises that the broadest
Similarly, our subsidiary in Malmö can chairman of the board at Ferring Pharmaceuticals,
possible recruitment sphere will be vital for the
be an attractive workplace for people who and he is also the owner – via a foundation – of the
Number many new vacancies at the new Danish headquar-
commute in the other direction over the Malmö-based life science companies PolyPeptide,
of border ters, and employees who commute over the border
QPharma, Nordic Drugs and Svar Life Science, which
Example of life science com- Number of commu- Øresund, says Kasper Bødker Mejlvang, will make all the difference, she says.
together employ more than 650 people in Malmö.
panies in Skåne with border employees ters from country manager for Novo Nordisk in Historically, the company has made use of
commuters from Denmark Subsector in Skåne Denmark
Denmark. He himself works at Novo border-commuting employees. Today, more than
PHOTO: FERRING
Arjo Sverige AB Medtech 200 14 Nordisk’s Ørestad office, which employs one hundred of those employed at the Internatio-
PolyPeptide Laboratories AB CDMO 280 14 just under 100 people. He adds: nal Pharma-Science Center and R&D in Ørestad,
– Our position in Ørestad, close to Copenhagen are border commuters from Sweden.
Atos Medical AB Medtech 200 10
the Øresund Bridge, makes commuting Back in 2002, Ferring Pharmaceuticals consoli-
LEO Pharma AB Pharma 25 10 dated in Denmark and in doing so scaled back its
between work and home in Sweden both
operations in Malmö, although the company still has
Example of companies in Skåne with 1-9 border commuters from easy and fast. Under normal circumstan-
sales and marketing activities there. Over the years,
Denmark: Novo Nordisk Scandinavia AB, Boston Scientific Nordic AB, ces, without Covid-19, it actually takes
being established on both sides of the Øresund has
Camurus AB, SVAR Life Science AB, Probi AB and Ascelia Pharma AB. less time to commute to and from Malmö meant that many border commuters from Denmark
or elsewhere in Skåne than it would and Sweden have worked for the company, and the
Source: Information from the companies and annual reports. Commuter numbers refer to from say Copenhagen to our facility in Ferring AB was founded in Malmö.
2018/2019/2020/2021. The numbers apply to border commuters from Sweden and Denmark,
which does not necessarily imply that they are Swedes or Danes. Please note that these figu-
Hillerød, he says.
res may have changed since they were reported. Read more about the method on page 135. Another of Denmark’s largest pharma-
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ceutical companies, H. Lundbeck, which has facilities that fewer Danes are commuting to jobs in the life
in the Copenhagen area and in Malmö, also recruits sciences in Skåne. Other actors in the sector with
WORKING FROM HOME DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS from both sides of the Øresund. Around 40-45 whom Øresundsinstituttet has been in contact have
employees in Skåne commute to Denmark, where confirmed this. It could be related to the lower sala-
LED TO TAX ISSUES FOR THOUSANDS OF BORDER COMMUTERS around 1500-1600 people work at the company’s ries in Sweden, even when the special 25% tax rate
headquarters in Valby, Copenhagen. with the SINK model is taken into account, accor-
Partially closed borders in Denmark and Sweden, re- in Sweden. The tax rate is 25%, but tax deductions – At Lundbeck we work to develop treatments ding to Dorte X Gram, the Danish CEO of PILA
commendations by authorities and employers to work are prohibited. The Danish tax rate is markedly for neurological disorders by researching and PHARMA in Malmö. She talks about her company
from home and negative Covid tests at the border higher.
developing medicine for migraines, Alzheimer’s, and more in the interview on page 44-45.
have made it complicated to commute for work in the For the ca 14 000 border commuters who usually
and depression, for example. That requires highly – Since large enterprises in Denmark offer such
Øresund Region. According to Skånetrafiken and the travel from Sweden to Denmark according to the
Øresundsbron Konsortiet, commutes by train and car most recent available statistics from 2015, working
specialised employees with good salaries, Danes are often
over the Øresund Bridge have decreased as a result. from home may be an advantage, as the taxes in neurological expertise. For that ”Our position in too expensive – relative to what
Increased working from home during the coronavirus Sweden are lower than in Denmark. For the 1000- reason, we have an internatio- I’m prepared to pay at any rate,
pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has meant tax trouble for 2000 border commuters who travel from Denmark nal workplace, with some of the Ørestad, close to she says.
some border commuters in the Øresund Region. to Sweden for work however, it may become more top experts from around the the Øresund Bridge,
expensive. globe, and thus naturally we’re
The Øresund Agreement requires that tax is paid in also happy that we can recruit makes commuting Expertise creates value as
the country of employment Actors in the border region criticise regulation employees to our offices from between work and it moves between Denmark
As per the Øresund agreement, border commuters Whilst some border commuters – both in the life both Denmark and Sweden, and Sweden
must pay tax in the country in which they perform sciences and in other sectors – have worked with says Matias De Place, senior di- home in Sweden The report Life Science in Skåne
their work duties. For Øresund commuters to be the restrictions and continued to commute throug-
taxed in their country of employment, at least 50% hout the pandemic, others have worked from home.
rector of HR at H. Lundbeck. both easy and fast.” from 2020 is part of the Greater
Copenhagen Life Science Analy-
of their work duties must be performed in that In March 2021, the information service Øressund-
PHOTO: NOVO NORDISK
sis Initiative, and it identified around
country over a three-month period; otherwise, they direkt told News Øresund that they receive around
AstraZeneca’s closure sent more 100 Danes with full-time positions at
should pay tax in their country of residence. 200 e-mails regarding the taxation issue every
Swedes to Denmark around 30 life science companies in
For border commuters who have elected or felt week. The Facebook forum “I klemme mellem 2
obligated to work from home during the pande- lande” – stuck between two countries – has more One of the many Swedes in the Danish Skåne. The Danish labour force finds
mic, that has meant – and may continue to mean than 4000 members. Among those to highlight life science sector is Niclas Nilsson, head its way to some of the Swedish subsi-
– filing taxes for certain periods in their country of the bureaucratic challenges that surround border of Open Innovation for Danish LEO diaries of larger Danish pharmaceuti-
residence and for other periods in their country of commuting and tax issues during the pandemic Pharma. He has noticed more Swedes cal companies such as LEO Pharma,
employment and thus submitting tax declarations has been the network organisation Medicon Valley taking on employment in Denmark in Novo Nordisk and H. Lundbeck –
in both Denmark and Sweden. According to the Alliance, which works to promote Denmark and the years since he started working for see table on page 14.
Kasper Bødker Mejlvang,
Öresund Agreement however, tax shall not be paid Sweden’s shared interests in the life science sector. LEO Pharma in Denmark in 2005. Larger companies in Skåne, as
Country Manager for Novo
in both countries for the same period, and another The Freedom of Movement Council, which works – There are definitely a lot of Swedes Nordisk in Denmark. well as the medtech manufacturers
Nordic agreement, the Trekk agreement, makes on behalf of the Nordic governments, and the orga-
in Danish life science, he says. As he Arjo and Atos Medical and the
it possible for authorities to transfer tax revenue nisation for Danish-Swedish political collaboration
sees it, many have come to Denmark in the past 5-10 CDMO-company PolyPeptide Laboratories – all of
that has been paid between the Nordic countries. Greater Copenhagen Committee have also repea-
years, and they contribute with additional competen- whose global headquarters are in Malmö – also take
For Øresund commuters who live in Denmark and tedly brought these problems to the attention of the
work in Sweden, changes in tax liability can lead to tax ministries in Denmark and Sweden in order to
ces and expertise. advantage of the Danish labour force, they report.
unpleasant fiscal surprises, as many usually pay a establish a fiscal exception for Øresund commuters The combination of Danish and Swedish Remarkably, McNeil AB in Helsingborg,
special income tax, called SINK-tax, on their work – to date, to no avail. colleagues in the sector has become much more which is Skåne’s largest life science company with
widespread, accepted – even completely normal, around 655 employees and has historical roots
says Niclas Nilsson. He notes that there was a in the Danish company LEO Pharma, has no
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
particular surge in Swedish employees in the life border commuting employees from Denmark it its
sciences in Zealand when the Swedish-British staff, whilst medium-sized and particularly small
pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca dismantled companies – for example at Medicon Village and
their R&D activities in Lund ten years ago as part Ideon in Lund – make use of the labour force from
of a larger, global R&D-restructuring, and 900 Denmark.
positions disappeared. Niclas Nilsson talks about In addition, there are 20 life science companies
his work in the life science sector in Denmark in with Danish CEOs in Skåne – read more on page
more detail in the interview on page 41-43. 31. If board members and consultants are included
Many of those competences then became in the count, the number of border commuters
accessible for Danish life science companies on the from Denmark linked to the life science sector in
other side of the Øresund, for example, says Niclas Skåne is even higher. The Danish-Swedish biotech
Nilsson. At the same time, he has the impression company PILA PHARMA in Malmö for example
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has put together an organisation that comprises is the biotech company Ascelia Pharma which is
both Danish and Swedish consultants, as CEO headed by the Danish CEO Magnus Corfitzen. The
Dorte X Gram recounts; read more on page 44-45. company expected to double its staff in 2020 and COMMUTER STATISTICS AFTER 2015 IN UNDERSUPPLY
in the years to follow. Today, it employs 15 people
Danish life science companies anchor full-time in Hyllie, south of Malmö, where it mo- 2015 is the most recent year for which official statistics After 2015, travel and commuting over the
startups in Skåne ved last year from its previous location at Medeon on border commuting over the over Øresund Strait Øresund has been negatively impacted by three
are available, as data exchange between Statistics events: In response to the migration crisis, Sweden
Another aspect of border commuting in Medicon Science Park.
Denmark (DST) and Statistics Sweden (SCB) has been introduced temporary border checks of incoming
Valley is that Swedes who have spent several years – More than half of the Swedish employees at travel from Denmark. In November 2019, Denmark
temporarily suspended. The reason for this is that
working in the life science sector in Denmark Ascelia Pharma today worked in Denmark for years; Sweden’s rules regarding public access are conside- introduced a temporary internal border inspection
return to Skåne in new positions – see page 36-40 that means that they have been in a global pharma red more extensive than their Danish counterparts. of those coming from Sweden to prevent criminal
for some examples. Large Danish life science com- headquarters and gained experience in late-stage According to the most recent statistics from activity across the border. In March 2020, Denmark
panies thus function as so-called anchor compa- drug development and commercialisation that they Ørestat / the Øresund Databank, the number of partially closed the border to Sweden to limit the
nies for life science companies in Skåne as well, would not have had the opportunity to gain in commuters and other gainfully employed individuals spread of the coronavirus SARS-Cov-2. Sweden par-
which can recruit experienced personnel from southern Sweden, he says. who commute over the Øresund rose by 297% in the tially closed its borders with Denmark for the same
larger global companies. Employees in Zealand and in Skåne can differ period from 2000-2015. reason in December 2020. At the time of writing in
Among those who have benefitted from that somewhat, Magnus Corfitzen observes, because In the year 2000, there were 3291 border commu- the spring of 2021, Denmark and Sweden have both
ters over the Øresund, and in 2015, that number had begun to loosen travel restrictions over the Øresund.
risen to 15 182 people, 14 045 of whom commuted Efforts are currently underway to revive statistics
from Skåne to eastern Denmark, and 1137 of whom on Øresund commuting. In the spring of 2021, Regi-
AROUND 1 300 PEOPLE WHO RESIDE ABROAD WORK IN THE LIFE SCIENCE moved in the other direction. on Skåne and Statistics Denmark have explored the
SECTOR IN DENMARK... 2008 was a record year: 25 689 people had an in- possibility of using Danish data from e.g. Denmark’s
come on the other side of the Øresund. The number income register to identify the number of trans-Øre-
The number of people who reside abroad and are employed in the life science sector in Denmark rose 12% then dropped, and in 2015 the number of commuters sund commuters.
between 2008-2018. The majority are employed in the capital area. Foreign employment in Denmark’s life was nearly one-third lower. In 2019, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the
science sector comprises ca 2.5% of all employees. The majority (91%) commute from the Swedish Nordic ministers of state set the goal of making
to the Danish part of the region, but the number of Scandinavia the world’s most sustainable and inte-
The number of people who reside in The number of people who reside outside commuters in the other direction has grown. grated region by 2030.
Denmark and are employed in the life Denmark and are employed in the life science
Denmark science sector in Denmark sector in Denmark
Area 2008 2018 2008 2018
companies’ composition varies according to size; country of employment
PHOTO: H. LUNDBECK
Capital Region of Denmark 29 032 38 028 1 028 1 209
that is both unique and positive and should be used rather than in their
Region Zealand 7 044 6 858 107 69
to benefit everyone involved, he says. country of residence.
Elsewhere in Denmark 9 764 9 887 78 78 – Being able to work freely in every direction is Working from home
Total 45 840 54 773 1 213 1 356 incredibly important so that the right competences during the pandemic
can be recruited – for both Danish and Swedish has made it difficult
Source: Statistics Denmark. The figures do not indicate how many Swedes work in the life science sector in Denmark. It is plausible that the majority of those companies, he says. to fulfil the physical
who reside abroad are Swedes, as the majority of the commuting is to life science companies in the capital region in Zealand (Denmark). The figures refer to
seven sector codes that are used to define the life science sector: 26.60.10, 26.60.90, 32.50.00, 46:46.10, 72.11.00, 72.19.00 and CF Pharmaceutical Industry.
presence requirement of
Pandemic creates tax issues for border 50% in the country of
commuters employment. Matias De Place, Senior
The coronavirus pandemic has complicated border As per the rules, tax Director i HR i H. Lundbeck
... AND THEY PAY CA 265 MN DKK IN INCOME TAX commutes for work between Sweden and Den- must then be paid in
Income tax from people who reside abroad and are employed in the life science sector in Denmark rose mark. As a result, train- and car commutes over both countries – albeit not at the same time, but
82% between 2008-2018. During that same period, people in the life science sector who reside abroad paid the Øresund Bridge have dropped: -43% and for different periods throughout the year. Not
a total of ca. 2.6bn DKK in income tax in Denmark. -27%, respectively, since 2019, according to Skå- declaring this might result in tax trouble cos-
netrafiken and the Øresundsbron Konsortiet. ting thousands of crowns. This has meant extra
The pandemic has thus led to problems related administration and expenses for many, inclu-
Denmark 2008 2018
to how employees working from home should be ding the Malmö-based Ascelia Pharma, says the
The total income tax from people who reside in Denmark and are 6.4 mn DKK 10.3 mn DKK taxed. The regulations are part of the Øresund company’s CEO Magnus Corfitzen. As he sees it,
employed in the life science sector in Denmark
Agreement, a taxation agreement between Sweden the situation has been suboptimal, although he
The total income tax from people who reside outside Denmark and 145 mn DKK 265 mn DKK and Denmark. According to the agreement, border understands border regions will probably never be
are employed in the life science sector in Denmark
commuters must work on site in their country completely frictionless.
Source: Statistics Denmark. The figures refer to seven sector codes that are used to define the life science sector: 26.60.10, 26.60.90, 32.50.00, 46:46.10, of employment at least 50% of the time over a To date, national authorities in Sweden and
72.11.00, 72.19.00 and CF Pharmaceutical Industry. three-month period in order to be taxed in their Denmark have not offered exemptions related to
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18 19COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET COMMUTERS AND THE LABOUR MARKET
taxation issues for border commuters during the during the coronavirus pandemic. According to
pandemic, despite calls for them by the Nordic CEO Petter Hartman, a consequence will be that
Freedom of Movement Council, the collaborative companies will have more difficulty recruiting and Examples of life science companies with facilities in
Danish-Swedish organisation Greater Copenhagen retaining employees from the opposite shores of
Committee and others. the Øresund, and the efforts being made to attract both Skåne and Zealand
– Politicians say that there is no double taxation, investments and talent to the region are also suffe-
• Lohmann & Rauscher. Global headquarters in Ger-
but in effect there is, as commuters have difficulties ring damage. PHARMA/BIOTECH
many and Austria, branches in Vedbæk and Lund.
getting refunds of the excess tax they have paid; – We have to handle crisis situations better. Bor-
each of the tax authorities believes that they have der regions get shabby treatment on a national level, • Novo Nordisk. Global headquarters near Copenha-
• Swedish Labex. Headquarters in Helsingborg
done what they have to and that the other tax and if border regions are to be motors for growth, gen in Bagsværd, offices in e.g. Ørestad and Malmö.
and branches in e.g. Valby, Copenhagen.
authority is responsible for the reimbursement, says that has to change, he says. Read more in the inter-
Magnus Corfitzen. He adds: view on page 108-109. • H. Lundbeck. Global headquarters in Valby, Copen-
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and co). Global headqu-
– Without border commu- ”Without border Britt Meelby Jensen, CEO of hagen, sales and marketing division in Malmö.
arters in the USA, branches in e.g. Helsingborg
ting, we dramatically reduce the medical equipment manu-
recruitment potential in both
commuting, we facturer Atos Medical in Malmö, • LEO Pharma. Global headquarters near Copen-
and Lyngby.
Denmark and Sweden, and dramatically reduce agrees. The company moved its hagen in Ballerup, sales and marketing division
• Medidyne. Headquarters near Copenhagen in
the competitiveness of the
region as a whole decreases.
recruitment potenti- headquarters from Hörby, Skåne
to Malmö in 2016. Among
in Malmö.
Nærum and branches in e.g. Ängelholm, Skåne.
The question then is whether al in both Denmark other reasons, they wanted to • Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Global headquarters
• European Institute of Science. Headquarters at
companies should recruit from and Sweden, and facilitate access to the Danish in Switzerland, branches in e.g. Ørestad/Copen-
Ideon Science Park in Lund, branch in Kastrup
elsewhere in Europe or from labour market, which they did. hagen and Malmö.
other parts of the world – if the competitiveness Although she and her colleagues near Copenhagen.
people can’t be in the same of the region as a have been able to commute • RhoVac. Headquarters at Medicon Village in
• Acarix. Headquarters in Malmö, branch in e.g.
place anyway, and we have across the Øresund during the Lund, branch near Copenhagen in Hørsholm.
to take transfer pricing etc whole decreases.” pandemic, the difficulties of bor-
Hellerup in the Copenhagen area.
into account anyway, even der commuting have nonetheless • Astellas Pharma. Global headquarters in Japan,
PHOTO: NEWS ØRESUND
for employees whose workplace is hit the Øresund Region as a whole, Nordic headquarters in Kastrup and a branch in CRO/CMO/CDMO
just on the other side of the bridge. she says. Malmö.
Our region has so much to offer on – I find that there has been very • Visiopharm. Global headquarters near Copenha-
both the Danish and Swedish sides. little focus on making it easier – MEDTECH gen in Hørsholm and a branch in e.g. Lund.
We’ve built up so much and we need neither on the part of Sweden nor
to reinforce that further so it will Denmark, she says, pointing out that • Arjo. Global headquarters in Malmö, branch • Red Glead Discovery. Headquarters at Medicon
continue to become stronger in the the Danish and Swedish rules have near Copenhagen in Lynge. Village in Lund, office at COBIS in Copenhagen.
future, says Magnus Corfitzen. He been unclear. As she sees it, it is es-
believes that smoother commutes, Magnus Corfitzen, CEO sential that potential candidates don’t • Atos Medical. Global headquarters in Malmö and • Larix. Headquarters in Herlev, branch at Medi-
less administration and authorities’ Ascelia Pharma. get the impression that crossing the e.g. manufacturing and R&D in Hörby, Skåne and con Village in Lund.
acceptance that working from home Øresund Bridge can be a nuisance. a branch in Roskilde.
during this or any other pandemic has no effect – If the Øresund Region and transborder com- • KLIFO. Headquarters in Glostrup in the Copenha-
on tax affairs are essential and necessary for the muting are something we really want, then it’s also • Getinge. Global headquarters in Gothenburg, gen area, branches in e.g. Medicon Village in Lund.
long-term growth of the life sciences in the region. important that commuting is made easier – even branches in Malmö and e.g. Ballerup, near
Among other things, this is because promising during a coronavirus pandemic, she says. More Copenhagen. • Bioneer. Headquarters near Copenhagen in
biotech companies in Skåne are sometimes depen- details in the interview on page 22-23. Hørsholm, branch at Medicon Village in Lund.
dent on life science expertise from the Danish side Novo Nordisk’s country manager in Denmark • Mediplast. Global headquarters in Malmö, bran-
of the region in order to grow into a commercial Kasper Bødker Mejlvang is positive at the moment ch near Copenhagen in Herlev. OTHER
company – as is the case with Ascelia Pharma, he when it comes to the opportunities for the labour
says – whilst competence in Skåne is, as mentio- market and recruitment that the coronavirus pande- • BoneSupport. Headquarters at Ideon Science Park • Chas. Hude. Headquarters in Copenhagen, bran-
ned earlier, broadly beneficial for the life science mic have made visible since March of 2020. in Lund, branch in e.g. Lyngby near Copenhagen. ch at e.g. Medicon Village in Lund.
industry in Denmark. – The lockdowns showed us that it’s very possible
to work from home, and in the future that will also • Rubin Medical. Headquarters in Malmö and a • Høiberg. Headquarters in Copenhagen, branches
at e.g. Medicon Village in Lund and MINC in Malmö.
Higher priority for border region challenges make working elsewhere in the region both easier branch in the Copenhagen area in Hvidovre.
Like Ascelia Pharma, the Danish-Swedish network and more attractive. But it’s obviously important
organisation Medicon Valley Alliance is also that there is proper and flexible framework in place
critical of the border commuting conditions for employees who commute, he says.
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