Denmark

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Introduction

Denmark has long experience of designing and implementing promotion programmes to promote biotechnology: the Danish research councils have been funding biotechnology research with specific initiatives since 1987. A large majority of Danish biotech firms are small in size, with less ten employees. A major part of biotech activity in Denmark is conducted in larger firms that also have activities outside of biotechnology. This group includes pharmaceutical companies located in Denmark but also the two world largest enzymes producers (Novozymes and Genencor-Danisco) which make Denmark one of the most active countries in the field of industrial biotechnology.

I. Research and Innovation

Modern industrial biotechnology is a relatively new discipline, with major areas of knowledge still to be explored. Public support to research as well as the establishment of pilot and demonstration facilities to scale-up individual processes will therefore help in the development of a European bio-based economy.

A. Public research funding

The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Education (DASTI) is member of the European Research Area for Industrial Biotechnology (ERA-net IB) as a partner.

The Danish Council for Strategic Research (DCSR) of the DASTI funds research and provides advice within politically prioritised and thematically defined research areas. The Council also helps to strengthen the interaction between public and private-sector research.
Its Board appoints a limited number of programme commissions with the competency to grant funding. There are currently (August 2008) height programme commissions. The budget for energy and environment was DKK 105 million in 2007.

The Danish Foundation for advanced technology (Højteknologifonden) has been established by the Danish government to stimulate research and innovation in technology areas where Denmark has special strengths and potential. Among other things the foundation has supported projects within energy, environment, food and health. For 2008, the Foundation has a budget of DKK 280 million.
A specific project on “Development of second generation bioethanol is running at the moment. The budget for this project is DKK 22 million.

The EUDP program - Programme for Energy Technology Development and Demonstration aims to strengthen development and demonstration within energy technology. The total budget for 2007-2010 is DKK 713 million, of which DKK 200 million must be spent on second generation biofuels. In 2008 the budget is DKK 210,6 million.

B. Pilot and demonstration plants

A descriptive list of pilot and demonstration plants in Denmark is available here.

II. Policy

Public authorities can promote the quick take-up of industrial biotechnology innovations by implementing a number of “instruments” or policy initiatives. This can be the improvement of the regulatory framework; the integration of specification for bio-based products in public procurement; the establishment of standardisation, labelling and certification schemes to overcome perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency; the development of financial instruments and supports to increase investments into research, technology development and innovation as well as the elaboration of communication and information campaign to communicate the benefits of bio-based products to users.

A. Policies and regulations

No information

B. Public procurement

Specific public procurement for bio-based products does not exist in Denmark. The issue is under discussion at the political level, but no concrete actions have been taken.

The government supports various voluntary/private initiatives such as energy saving campaigns.

C. Standardisation, labelling and certification

The Swan label applies in Denmark. This label was introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers with the objective to promote a more sustainable consumerism with the goal of creating a sustainable society.
In this voluntary system, the applicant agrees to follow a certain criteria outlined by the Nordic Ecolabelling in cooperation with stakeholders. These criteria include environmental, quality and health arguments. The criteria levels promote products and services belonging to the most environmentally sound and take into account factors such as free trade and proportionality (cost vs. benefits)

However, the label does not communicate specific bio-based properties / qualities as a specific labelling system for bio-based products does not exist.

D. Access to finance

One possibility for getting financial support is the Danish Energy Authority and its Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP – see above Public research funding).

E. Communication

Industrial biotechnology companies are represented via the national association Dansk Biotek.

Main Sources

Dansk Biotek

Danish KBBE-net delegate