Digital Tech Summit 2024: Unveiling the Future of Innovation
Prepare to immerse yourself in a whirlwind of ideas and groundbreaking innovations at the Digital Tech Summit 2024, set to grace the historic Øksnehallen in Copenhagen on the 30th and 31st of October. This isn’t merely an event; it’s the largest deep tech gathering in the Nordic landscape, meticulously curated to address vital themes that pulse through the veins of today’s tech-driven society—Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, renewable energy, health innovations, and entrepreneurship, to name but a few.
A Critical Dialogue: Scaling Digital Startups in Denmark
On the agenda, as the clock strikes 12:30 PM on October 31st, a thought-provoking keynote will be delivered by Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU. She will be joined on stage by notable figures such as Associate Professor Marie Theresa Norn of 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 for a riveting discussion titled: Digital startups are not scaling in Denmark: What can we do to retain them?
University Support: A Double-Edged Sword?
A pivotal inquiry looms: Are our esteemed academic institutions adequately bolstering digital startups with the nurturing environment necessary to catalyze their growth into formidable scale-ups? Marianne Thellersen posits, “We do a lot, but we can always improve.” She highlights the collaborative spirit among Danish universities, many of which host innovative hubs like DTU Skylab, dedicated to steering nascent ideas towards viability—from the provision of early-stage funding to the refinement of robust business models. Initiatives such as Open Entrepreneurship—where academic research converges with entrepreneurial expertise—stand testament to these efforts. Yet, despite a 2022 analysis indicating that startups birthed from Danish universities boast high viability, the journey from startup to scale-up remains fraught with challenges, as Thellersen notes.
Venture Capital: The Golden Key to Scaling Success
In an era where entrepreneurial spirit dances with fiscal realities, venture capital emerges as a linchpin for transition. June 2024 bore witness to the government’s entrepreneurial package, an ambitious initiative replete with 46 proposals aimed at alleviating bureaucratic burdens, promising a substantial allocation of DKK 2.1 billion for the years 2024-2026. This fund is earmarked for enhancing university innovation ecosystems and cultivating a thriving marketplace for venture capital—from private investors to public entities.
As Thellersen articulates, “This is a critical focus area.” The struggle to secure capital within Denmark and the broader EU juxtaposes starkly with the more flourishing venture landscapes abroad, posing a significant threat to our long-term competitiveness. The need for robust funding sources from private entities is urgent—not only for digital endeavors but also for tech companies engaged in high-stakes hardware production, where scaling necessitates both time and substantial financial investment.
Join us at the Digital Tech Summit 2024 and be part of the conversation that could reshape the future of technology and innovation in Denmark!
