New robotics initiative to keep Denmark at the forefront of technology
Danish companies need innovative robotic solutions to remain competitive in the future. Startups are a key source of these solutions, but many lack support to develop their technology, scale their businesses, and turn good ideas into successful ventures. A new accelerator programme, supported by nine million kroner from the Danish Industry Foundation, will now address this challenge and help emerging robotics companies thrive.
Boosting robotics innovation in Denmark is important, says the Danish Industry Foundation, and the right way to start is at the country’s strong incubation environments.
– Robotics and drone entrepreneurs in Denmark have a massive growth potential and can contribute towards increasing automation in Danish industry. But they lack the resources to fully develop their solutions and transform their businesses into high-growth ventures. Startups hold the keys to new solutions and technologies that will create growth and jobs in Denmark in the future, and we want to help unlock that potential. That is why we are now giving innovation and growth of robotics startups an extra boost, says Thomas Hofman-Bang, CEO of the Danish Industry Foundation.
The foundation has granted nine million kroner to the Danish robotics cluster, Odense Robotics, to accelerate robotics and drone startups in Denmark and attract talented startups from abroad.
– Deep tech is unlike other technologies. The development process is long and costly, and the path to market is complex. With support from the Danish Industry Foundation, we can now provide robotics and drone startups with even better support and truly accelerate their development, says Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics.
In practice, the accelerator programme will be offered to startups selected by the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund and the internationally recognised incubator at the Danish Technological Institute in Odense. Here, they get help to strengthen their business and technology and also become part of the ecosystem around Odense Robotics.
– It is crucial for Denmark’s competitiveness that we accelerate technological innovation. This means making the journey from idea to market-ready technology easier for emerging entrepreneurs. We are therefore pleased that the Danish Industry Foundation is enabling us to expand our support for startups by leveraging our specialists and robotic innovation facilities to advance and accelerate the future of robotics and drone technologies, says Anne-Lise Høg Lejre, Director at the Danish Technological Institute.
Robots as a driving force in the Danish economy
The Danish robotics industry has garnered global acclaim and several successful robotics companies have been wholly or partially acquired by international owners. This has created a unique robotics ecosystem in and around Odense, where entrepreneurs, investors, and local enthusiasts drive innovation forward and reinvest previous gains into new ventures.
To strengthen and anchor the innovation and growth efforts around the robotics environment in Denmark, a special fund for robotics entrepreneurship, the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund, has been established.
The fund is supported by leading figures from Denmark’s robotics industry, several foundations, and some of Denmark’s largest industrial companies. They have come together to invest in the fund because they believe that robotics start-ups can be a significant driving force in the Danish economy in the future.
The grant from the Danish Industry Foundation will, in addition to accelerating many robotics entrepreneurs, also support the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund so that it can grow in scale, become self-sustaining, and form the foundation for a sustainable entrepreneurial environment where money is continuously reinvested.