Best of Denmark intro vol 1

BEST OF

DENMARK

Vo l u m e 1

ChapterS Best of Denmark

48 - 63

Shipping, Transport and Logistic

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

11 - 47

Welcome

Industry and Service

Chapter 6

Chapter 5

90 - 105

106 - 129

Finance and Property

Chapter 9

162 - 171

Fine Dining

Chapter 10

152 - 161

Food and Food Production

Best of Denmark

Chapter 12

Chapter 11

184 - 191

172 - 183

Chapter 8

Chapter 7

142 - 151

130 - 141

Chapter 4

Chapter 3

80 - 89

64 - 79

Design Education and Research

Consultants Energy

Hotels and Conferences Fashion

Best of Denmark

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- for companies with international horizons Ørestad City attracts an increasing number of international companies, KLP Ejendomme houses companies such as Ericsson, Atkins Danmark, Medtronic, UCB Nordic, Dell, Glaxo Smith Kline, Accenture, Handelsbanken, Medicon Valley Academy, Novo Nordisk Scandinavia and IFS Danmark.

Best of Denmark – a celebration of Danish quality Denmark is adapting to the ever changing global markets; and has transformed from production society into innovative knowledge economy in less than one generation, without losing focus on impeccable quality, which is still the trademark of Danish business. Scientifically based innovation paired with creativity and the well known Danish design, is giving Denmark a cutting edge in a number of sectors including Green Energy, Life Science and Living Design.

Globalization of Danish Trade Globalization is a way of life for Danish companies. Being a small country the Danish companies have in decades been working in the global marketplace.

Specialization and niche production The Danish production consists mainly of light manufacturing and reprocessing, and the production is often characterized by a high degree of specialization and niche production of high technical standard. Denmark enjoys a position of high specialization in key industrial fields, and is increasingly competitive in areas such as know-how, quality, design and R&D. Many Danish companies are global leaders in high-tech niches.

Green energy Denmark has gone from being 99 % dependent on foreign oil to become completely energy self sufficient.

Thirty years of focused energy policy have catapulted Denmark ahead of most other nations in the use of green energy technology, and Denmark is now world leader in the areas of windand wave energy.

Fashion and Design Living Design – Fashion Zone – Denmark excels in combining user needs with aesthetics, when it comes to fashion, design and furniture.

Life Sciences The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most modern and successful in the world, and Denmark is among the largest exporters, of pharmaceutical products, measured per capita. Together with IT/Communication it is the industrial sector with the highest R&D expenditure.

Medicon Valley, is home to more than 60 % of Scandinavia’s pharmaceutical industry, and is Europe’s fastest growing biotech cluster measured by products in development.

In all their diversity the companies presented share the ability to combine quality, design and functionality.

Be inspired by the Best of Denmark.

Henning Dyremose Chairman of the Danish Trade Council Best of Denmark

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Best of Denmark

Danish Export Association The Danish Export Association is one of the largest export associations in Denmark with 500 company members. The purpose of the association is to encourage trade between Danish and foreign companies providing a platform for quality-conscious Danish manufacturers and service providers to interface with their foreign customers and partners.

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Your short-cut to expert suppliers within key industries The association provides a reliable and easy shortcut to leading Danish suppliers within key industries specialising in such skill areas as wind power, marine and fishing industries, technology and interior design for airports, cruise ships and railways. It invites foreign businesses to issue details of their requirements in terms of expertise, capacity and know-how, or to search its databases and website www.dk-export.com to find a company with the resources, products and quality they demand.

The Danish Export Association operates by planning and launching export campaigns, often linked to international trade fairs and exhibitions, and by providing a forum for Danish exporters and foreign buyers.

A staff of experienced consultants are facilitating each business group establishing contacts with international partners and customers.

The members of the Danish Export Association are divided into the following supplier groups: DANISH AIRPORT GROUP DANISH CRUISE & FERRY GROUP DANISH FISHING EQUIPMENT GROUP DANISH MARINE GROUP DANISH MARINE GROUP CHINA DANISH MINING & QUARRY GROUP DANISH POSTAL & LOGISTICS GROUP DANISH RAILWAY GROUP DANISH WIND ENERGY GROUP Danish Airport Group The Danish Airport Group currently consists of over 40 companies, all delivering products, services and/or knowhow to the international airport market.

The group has taken part in numerous export drives worldwide, providing new foreign business partners with a reliable and easy shortcut to quality-conscious Danish companies within the airport industry.

Danish Cruise and Ferry Group The Danish Cruise & Ferry Group was established with the aim of boosting international sales for its company members through exchange of knowledge and joint initiatives and to safeguard common interests. The group consists of company members with complementary expertise, making it possible to design and produce almost anything for cruise liners and ferries.

Danish Fishing Equipment Group The Danish Fishing Equipment Group consists of 75 members, specialising in machinery, equipment and products for the international fishing industry. The group represents leading Danish companies of all sizes within this industry and function as a link between Danish subcontractors and foreign buyers.

and innovation of the Danish companies within this sector. To maintain this position, a network of 85 leading Danish wind turbine subcontractors has formed The Danish Wind Energy Group. The main purpose of the group is to optimise the export market and to provide a forum for Danish exporters and foreign buyers within the wind energy sector.

Danish Marine Group The Danish Marine Group represents a variety of companies, consultants and expert suppliers within the marine industry.

With about 140 companies it is a strong and very active player in the marine industry worldwide.

Award The Diploma of the Danish Export Association and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s Medal of Honour is Denmark’s most prestigious recognition for extraordinary achievement in promoting and markting Danish products and services abroad. Any exporter of Danish products or services may nominate their customers abroad as possible recipients of the award.

Representatives in other countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish Export Association may also nominate candidates.

Nominations should be addressed to Danish Export Association. The application form can be downloaded from www.exportaward.dk.

Danish Marine Group China Danish Marine Group China is open to all Danish companies with interest in the Chinese Maritime Industry. The network runs a constant programme of activities, covering everything from local meetings to executing major export campaigns and participation in a range of international trade fairs.

Danish Mining & Quarry Group Denmark is not a traditional mining nation but in spite of this fact there are quite a few Danish companies who specialise in delivering equipment and know-how to the international mining industry. In 2005 the Danish Mining & Quarry Group was founded and consists of highly specialised consultants, manufacturers, service providers and subcontractors within the mining industry.

Danish Postal and Logistics Group The Danish postal service system is widely recognised for its high level of efficiency and service. It is no coincidence as some of the leading companies in this industry originate in Denmark. To maintain this position, leading Danish companies formed the Danish Postal & Logistics Group.

Danish RailWay Group The Danish RailWay Group was founded as an export network for consultants, manufacturers and subcontractors, all of which are highly experienced and have built a solid reputation within the global rail sector. This network provides a reliable and easy shortcut to the specialised Danish companies capable of producing quality equipment and solutions for the international railway industry.

Danish Wind Energy Group Denmark has a leading position within the wind energy industry due to the know-how

Danish Export Association Glarmestervej 20A DK- 8600 Silkeborg Tel: +45 8681 3888 Fax: +45 8681 3114 E-mail: export@dk-export.com www.dk-export.com

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the world’s largest carrier of refined oil. and yet, we feel so small.

Foreword by Torben Janholt, Chairman of the Danish Shipowners’ Association Danish Shipowners’ Association Denmark is a true maritime nation with focus on quality shipping, and Danish shipping is a success story without parallel. Today and for many years, Danish shipping has been of major significance for the Danish economy.

Shipping is the core of a strong maritime cluster in Denmark, and the Danish merchant fleet continues to grow.

In the past year, the Danish merchant fleet has grown by 10 percent and has now reached 12 million DWT. Shipping companies contributed with DKK 175 billion to the Danish balance of payments in the past year, and we estimate that the contribution will rise up to DKK 200 billion in 2008.

We are proud to say that Danish shipping companies maintain an impressive international position: The level of activity has never been higher.

Danish shipping companies own a total of 3 percent of the world merchant fleet and are responsible for 5 percent of the world’s shipbuilding contracts. The total and consolidated fleet is estimated to account for 7-8 percent of the world’s merchant fleet, and Danish shipping companies account for about 10 percent of overall world trade measured by value.

The main reason for the great success of Danish shipping lies in the maritime tradition as well as the strong maritime cluster. We have also in recent years had excellent market developments, and Denmark offers a stable and competitive framework for the shipping industry.

Danish shipping has an ambition of a continious sustainable growth and with time become Europe’s leading shipping nation.

Torben Janholt, Chairman of the Danish Shipowners’ Association and CEO of J. Lauritzen A/S.

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The Best of Denmark: A true paradise for companies Dansk Erhverv – The Danish Chamber of Commerce According to the American business magazine Forbes, Denmark has the best business conditions in the world.

The country is a true paradise for companies and is actually the one place on earth that offers businesses optimum conditions, when taking the majority of factors into consideration.

Since 2007, the Danish Chamber of Commerce has been the main organisation for the service sector: retail, wholesale, it-sector, consultants, public accountants, hotel and restaurants, transport and logistics, private hospitals, recruiting services, etc. We represent more than 20,000 member companies and 130 industry associations. As the second largest employer and business organisation in Denmark, our mission is to be known as the leading political representative and advisor to Danish companies in order to assist them in improving their local, national and global positions.

Initiatives by The Danish Chamber of Commerce: - “Job Exchange”: A platform where companies get the opportunity to recruit new employees face-to-face. We facilitate the meetings, with a special focus on immigrants, who traditionally are not applying for jobs through ordinary channels.

- “Expat in Denmark”: A social network for integrating foreign employees in Denmark.

- “Doing well by doing good”: Focus on CSR, shows economic benefits are the result of good behaviour among our member companies.

Denmark is known for a high level of creativity and knowledge, and is appreciated dearly around the globe. And every day it brings Danish companies one step ahead of their competitors.

We hope that as you page through this book you will be inspired by the numerous examples of successful Danish businesses. And when the last page has been turned you are more than welcome to visit us to see for yourself the very Best of Denmark.

Jens Klarskov, CEO at the Danish Chamber of Commerce

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Denmark – A nation of superlatives Denmark has weathered the controversy well and continues to lead the global rankings prompting larger economies to look to it for answers and inspiration to problems and solutions ranging from economics to design.

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A brief introduction Denmark, “The happiest place on earth”, as ranked by an international survey on happiness comprises five and a half million inhabitants and covers 43,098 square kilometres. It is the land that produced Hans Christian Andersen and is home to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark.

The Kingdom of Denmark, as it is officially called, is a constitutional monarchy that includes the self-governing territories of the Faeroe Islands in the Norwegian Sea, and Greenland, the world’s largest island.

Consisting of the mainland of Jutland and 406 islands, of which only 78 are inhabited, fertile farmland covers over 60 per cent of the country, which is among the flattest in the world.

Scandinavian by history, not geography, Denmark is the southernmost of the Nordic countries and a stepping-stone between the European mainland and the Scandinavian peninsula. It has been integral to NATO defence since 1949; although the country gained membership in the European Union in 1973, Danes rejected adopting the euro currency in 2000 thus putting the country at odds with many of its European partners.

Denmark boasts one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive social welfare systems, and its standard of living is among the highest in the world. A constitutional monarchy, its chief of state is the Danish monarch, and the head of government is the prime minister.

In recent years, Denmark has received many accolades and attention normally reserved for superpowers. It has been lauded for having the best business climate, happiest inhabitants, and the most competitive economy. However, in 2005 the country’s high profile and neutral role in international affairs was abruptly changed, when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten printed 12 caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. This sparked widespread protests among Muslims and prompted debate about free speech versus respect for other religions and cultures.

Denmark has weathered the controversy well and continues to lead the global rankings prompting larger economies to look to it for answers and inspiration to problems and solutions ranging from economics to design.

Land and climate Located in Northern Europe, Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands constitute the Kingdom of Denmark.

Denmark covers an area of 43,000 sq km and consists of the peninsula Jutland and 406 islands of which only 78 are inhabited. The Islands of Zealand (Sjælland with the capital Copenhagen) and Funen (Fyn with the city of Odense) are the largest.

Greenland covers an ice-free area of 341,700 sq. km and has a population of 53,000. Its principal city is Nuuk.

The Faroe Islands cover an area of 1,399 sq km and has a population of about 45,000. Its principal city is Thorshavn.

Denmark is attached directly to continental Europe at Jutland’s 68-km boundary with Germany. Other than

this connection, all the frontiers with surrounding countries are maritime, including that with the United Kingdom to the west across the North Sea. Norway and Sweden lie to the north, separated from Denmark by sea lanes linking the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. From west to east, these passages are called the Skagerrak, the Kattegat, and The Sound (Øresund). Eastward in the Baltic Sea lies the Danish island of Bornholm, a popular tourist destination.

Bridges now connect many of Denmark’s larger islands: the Øresund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand, and the Little Belt Bridge connects Jutland with Funen. Ferries or small aircraft connect to the smaller islands.

Denmark’s terrain is low and flat with little elevation. Its highest point is Møllehøj, at 170.86 metres (560.56 ft).

Some 64 per cent of the total area is cultivated, the highest percentage in Europe. Fifty-six per cent of the land is used for growing corn, 20 per cent for grass, and four per cent each for roots and for grain.

Climate Denmark has a temperate coastal climate with mild windy winters (an average temperature of 32 °F / 0 °C) and cool summers (an average temperature of 60.2 °F / 15.7 °C).

Its climate is one of the keys to its agricultural success. The Faeroes are windy, foggy, and cool. Greenland’s climate ranges north–south from arctic to subarctic.

Lakes may freeze and snow frequently falls during the cold winters, yet the mean temperature in February, the coldest month, is about 32 °F (0 °C), which is roughly 12 °F (7 °C) higher than the worldwide average for that latitude. Summers are mild, featuring episodes of cloudy weather interrupted by sunny days. The mean temperature in July, which is the warmest month, is approximately 60 °F (16 °C).

The average wind force across the year is 7.6 m per second, which helps explain why Denmark is the world’s largest exporter of wind turbines.

Due to Denmark’s northern location, the days are short during the winter months with the sun rising around 8:30 am and setting 4:30 pm. Summer days are long with a morning sunrise at 3:30 am and sunset at 10 pm.

The shortest and longest days of the year have traditionally been celebrated.

The celebration for the shortest day corresponds roughly with Christmas (Jul). The celebration for the longest day is Midsummer Day, which is known in Denmark as sankthansaften (St. John’s evening).

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Society & culture The Danes are known for their seafaring culture, which dates back to the Viking age of expansion between the 8th and 10th centuries. It is from this seafaring position Denmark has forged a magnificent history and developed a remarkable culture.

A majority of Danes today trace their heritage to Germanic tribes who have inhabited Denmark since prehistoric times. Even with increasing immigration in recent years, the Danish society is still more homogenous than is the case of most other western European countries.

Denmark’s small population of foreign citizens doubled between 1984 and 1999 and the current right-leaning government has pledged to curb immigration. The most visible minority groups are the Inuit, Greenland’s indigenous inhabitants and the Turkish community.

A fairly liberal nation, marriage has lost its status as an almost inevitable social institution in Denmark. Cohabitation without the formalities of engagement and wedding is quite common, and nearly half of all live births take place out of wedlock. In addition, in 1989 Denmark became the first country to establish registered partnerships for same-sex couples, which offered the same rights and duties as marriage.

Danes face life through the security of the Danish cardle-to-grave welfare system.

The basic principle of the system, often referred to as the Scandinavian welfare model, is that all citizens have equal rights to social security. Within the Danish welfare system, a number of services are available to citizens, free of charge. This means, for instance, the Danish health and educational systems are free. The Danish welfare model is subsidised by the state, and as a result Denmark has one of the highest taxation levels in the world.

Culture

In the same way, cultural institutions - museums, theatres, film institute etc.

- enjoy extensive autonomy without state interference in the daily administration.

Legislation in these areas concerns only the external framework and overall objectives and contains very few restrictions with regard to detail.

Danish cinema has won international recognition, not least for its willingness to experiment. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s the Dogme movement directors often used hand-held cameras to dynamic effect in a conscious reaction against high-tech, big-budget cinema.

The Danish cultural life is varied, offering live music, ballet, theatre and opera. The Royal Danish Ballet, the opera houses in Jutland and Copenhagen and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra are examples of internationally acclaimed institutions. Denmark is, furthermore, the country of music festivals, which means the selection of music in the summer half is comprehensive and international, especially in the genres of rock, folk and jazz.

Denmark is famous for stylishly designed ceramics, silverware, porcelain, jewelry, and home furnishings.

Copenhagen has a permanent exhibition of arts and crafts where artisans from all over the country may display and sell their work.

Of about 25 major museums in the country, the most important is the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle (in Hillerød). Built between 1600 and 1620, the museum contains up to 10 000 exhibits. The Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, another 17th-century building, holds a collection of arms, apparel, and furniture, as well as the crown jewels. The Thorvaldsens Museum, also in Copenhagen, contains the works of the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Also housing cultural gems are the National Museum, in Copenhagen; the Natural History Museum, in Århus; and the Viking Ship Museum, in Roskilde.

Simplicity, minimalism, and style are the hallmark of the self-aware and receptive Danish culture. These are found in a wide range of expressions from strikingly modest architecture of the village churches to contemporary Danish design and the “Dogma concept” of young filmmakers.

Due to historical traditions, culture has a high priority in the Danish budget. Local governments administer a huge part of this budget in order to culturally involve citizens directly through decentralization.

The openness and flexibility of Danish cultural life are also due to the fact that there is very little government in the world of art and culture. There is relatively high unconditional state support for the creative community and cultural institutions in the country.

The direct grant aid and support means Danish artists are able to devote themselves entirely to their art.

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Politics & the Monarchy The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and a multiparty democracy.

The associated territories of Greenland and the Faeroe Islands have home rule.

Neither territory is a member of the EU. Faeroe remains divided over the issue of independence.

Denmark’s constitution of 1953 provides for a unicameral Folketing (parliament) of 179 members – 175 representing metropolitan Denmark and two each for the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. The prime minister heads the government, which is elected for four years but may be dissolved before the end of its term. The voting age in Denmark is 18 and over. The monarch signs acts passed by the Folketing upon the recommendation of the cabinet sitting as the Council of State.

The establishment of unicameralism in Denmark in 1953 paved the way for the country’s entry into the European Union in 1972. Despite the Danes rejecting further integration in the European monetary union

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in two referenda (1992 and 2000), Denmark continues its strong involvement in the EU. The government, led by prime minister Fogh Rasmussen, has championed Denmark’s commitment to the Union and suggested another referendum on the euro should be held once the new EU constitution is ironed out.

In 2001, Danes elected the current coalition government, the centre-right coalition of the Liberal and Conservative parties headed by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, on a political platform of tax freeze and stronger immigration policies. The new restrictive immigration law raised widespread criticism among political onlookers both inside and outside Denmark. The coalition government was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 against a background of strong Danish economic growth.

Today, Denmark pursues an active foreign policy with a balanced humanitarian and civilian approach. Between 1948 and 2007, the Danish government has sent a total of 87,000 Danish soldiers and policemen

to undertake peacekeeping activities and humanitarian tasks for the UN, NATO, OSCE and as EU monitors. Danish troops took part in NATO’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999 and the US-led action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Danish Monarchy The story of Denmark’s rise into a formidable kingdom begins in the days of Gorm the Old, considered the traditional ancestral father of the Danish monarchy. The last of the heathen kings of Denmark, Gorm ruled 900-940, having his court at Jellinge in Jutland. History has unfortunately failed to chronicle the rules and achievements of the old Danish Viking Kings, whose legends survived into saga traditions.

Gorm the Old did not live an especially long life, but his rule of 40 years is the longest of any Danish Viking monarch. His son Harald Bluetooth (940-985) is credited with unifying Denmark and speeding the Dane’s conversion to Christianity.

The direct lineage of the ancient Danish dynasty ended with the death of Christoffer III in 1448; today, the Danish Royal House is directly related to many of Europe’s reigning monarchs.

Denmark has a constitutional monarchy, which means the monarch cannot independently perform political acts.

Although the monarch signs all Acts of Parliament, these only come into force once they have been countersigned by a cabinet minister. As Head of State, Denmark’s reigning monarch Queen, Margrethe II, participates in the formation of a new government.

Queen Margrethe II acceded to the Danish throne in January 1972 and is regarded with affection and respect. True to her Danish culture, Queen Margrethe is an accomplished artist and designer.

She married French diplomat Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, now known as Prince Henrik, in 1967.

The members of the Danish Royal House include the Queen, the Prince Consort Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and their son Prince Christian and daughter Isabella, as well as the Crown Prince’s brother, Prince Joachim, his wife Princess Marie and his two sons Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, the Queen’s sister, Princess Benedikte, with her spouse and the Queen’s cousin, Princess Elisabeth.

Prince Joachim’s former wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, is also included among the members of the royal house.

As Head of State, the Queen has important and formal ceremonial roles in relation to the Danish government.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs regularly report to the Queen to advise her of the latest political developments. The Queen hosts official visits by foreign heads of state and pays state visits abroad. She also formally appoints and dismisses civil servants.

Members of the Royal Family often also attend exhibition openings abroad in connection with export campaigns.

Compared with other European royal houses, the Danish royal household is relatively modest. The ceremonial is limited to essentials with little extravagance. The traditional pomp is only strongly in evidence on very special occasions, such as state visits, royal weddings, important birthdays and anniversaries.

Denmark was touched by royal pageantry in May 2004 when Crown Prince Frederik married Australian Mary Donaldson, and the birth of their son Christian in October 2005 was followed by the birth of their daughter Isabella in 2007. The couple regularly feature in Danish as well as Australian news, as befits a nation who treats its royal family with adulation. In 2008, Prince Joachim married Marie Cavallier a native of France. This is the second marriage for Prince Joachim.

The Danish royal household numbers about 140 in total. The staff is paid from the Civil List, the state’s disbursement to the royal house. A significant part of this is the royal family annuities, currently totalling around 81.6 million Danish crowns.

At a time characterised by internationalisation and rapidly changing fundamental values, the Danish royal house today stands as an important symbol of Denmark’s national unity.

This status is partly attributable to the monarchy’s solid anchoring in ancient traditions, but also to the royal house’s ability to adapt to contemporary conditions without spurning traditional values such as permanence, respect for tradition, sense of duty and responsibility for the nation, which historically have always been the mainstay of the monarchy as a form of government.

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Fast Facts The Kingdom of Denmark

Unemployment in percent of total labor force

Source: Eurostats

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Total tax in percent of GDP

Source: Eurostats

Capital

Copenhagen

Area Denmark Faroe Island Greenland

43,094 sq km 1,399 sq km 2,175,600 sq km

Government

Constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy

Population

5,5 million

Time Zone

CET (Central European Time)

Official languages

Danish

Other languages

Faroese, Greenlandic (Inuit dialect), German (small minority)

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian, Inuit, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Religion

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholic) 3 %, Muslim 2%

Currency Exchange rates

Danish krone (DKr) US$1 = 5.5 DKr (October 18, 2008) €1 = 7.5 DKr (October 18, 2008) £1= 9.6 DKr (October 18, 2008)

Banks

Banks are open from 10 am to 4 pm weekdays with extended opening hours till 6 pm on Thursdays. Banks are closed on all public holidays.

Money exchange

Most major banks have ATMs which give cash advances on credit cards.

There are 24-hour cash exchange machines in Copenhagen. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard (also known as Access or Eurocard) are widely accepted. Don’t expect to use anything other than a Danish domestic card (Dankort) at supermarkets. American Express and Diners Club are also accepted, but not as often.

Company tax

25 %

Climate

Temperate coastal climate with mild windy winters. The Faeroes are windy, foggy, and cool. Greenland’s climate ranges north–south from arctic to subarctic.

Geography

Located in North Europe. Borders the Baltic Sea and the North Sea on a peninsula north of Germany.

Controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas.

Terrain

Low and flat to gently rolling plains

Land use

Arable land 52.6% Permanent crop 0.2% Other 47.2%

Coastline

7,314 km

Transportation

Well-integrated network of bus, rail, and ferry services. The Storebælt project connecting the islands of Fyn and Sjælland opened in 1998.

A 16-km (10-mile) Øresund road and rail link by bridge and tunnel, connecting Copenhagen with Malmö in Sweden, opened in July 2000.Copenhagen’s new Metro light railroad system has now been completed.

Telecommunications

Highly developed. Among the world’s top 5 in penetration of PCs and internet use and broadband.

International dialling code

+45

Internet domain

.dk

Major int. associations

European Union (1973), NATO (1949), Schengen Convention, Interpol United Nations (1945).

Denmark has opted out of certain elements of the European Union’s Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defence cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

International Disputes

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark’s claim that the Faroe Islands’ continental shelf extends beyond 200 nautical miles. Faroese continue to seek full independence from Denmark. Sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

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Copenhagen – Probably the best city in the world

It’s no surprise Copenhagen seems to be the seat of everything Danish - artistic, financial, and political. It is home to a third of Denmark’s population and the seat of one of the oldest kingdoms in the world.

Through its capital city, Denmark has contributed much to the growth of world culture and humanities.

Style and substance rule happily in the city, whose history dates back more than a thousand year, starting on a small, canal-encircled island called Slotsholmen (Palace Island). It was here in 1167 that the great Danish statesman, Bishop Absalon, a lover of art and learning, built a small fortress within a harbour side village to try and stifle regular raids by the German Wends on the east coast of Zealand thereby laying the foundations for the future capital of Denmark.

Absalon successfully drove out the Wendish pirates from the country and today Christianborg Palace, which houses several very important institutions such as the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Royal Reception Rooms, sits atop the ruins of Bishop Absalon’s Castle and Copenhagen castle.

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Absalon’s fortress on Slottsholmen served to inflate the town’s sense of self-worth.

It grew significantly and adopted the name Købmandshavn (Merchant’s Port).

The name was eventually shortened to København (Copenhagen). The town’s fortifications came under repeated German attacks and it wasn’t until centuries later in 1416, when the reigning monarch, King Erik of Pomerania, usurped the rights to the rebuilt Copenhagen castle that the city’s fate as the capital of Denmark was secured.

By the turn of the 18th century Copenhagen’s population numbered 60,000. It was reduced to a third of its size a century later following the bubonic plague and a pair of fires (in 1728 and 1795) destroyed large areas of the city. To add insult to injury, Britain dispatched a fleet under Horatio Nelson to Copenhagen during the Napoleonic wars where in 1801 the Danish fleet was destroyed and the city’s fortifications dismantled.

Nearly a half-century later, the artistic ‘Golden Age’ supplanted Denmark’s ‘war and gloom’ years. The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, the fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen, the verbose theologian

Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, and Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, founder of the Danish School of Art, all contributed to the cultural revolution that was daubing, scribbling and philosophi-sing its way across the country.

Today, Copenhagen is the largest metropolis in Scandinavia and flourishing as a centre of culture, arts and design. With its palaces and gardens, it hosts more visitors than any other Nordic city. In July 2000 the Øresund bridge a lengthy 16km (10mi) bridge-tunnel, road-rail linking Copenhagen and the Swedish port of Malmö was opened.

It is the first direct land link between Denmark and the rest of Scandinavian Europe.

It helped that the city’s founder, Bishop Absalon, was a lover of art and learning for he encouraged and assisted Saxo Grammaticus, the Danish historian, with his great history of Denmark, Gesta Danorum (1185-1216). The 16-volume work includes factual and mythological material and contains the story of Amleth, the source for Shakespeares Hamlet.

The Best of Copenhagen With so many details to be enjoyed in this historic city, it helps to be a bit curious. Since it’s founding nearly a thousand years ago, Copenhagen has become a meeting place for stylish design-fanciers and famed for its very modern Scandinavian lifestyle.

Tivoli Gardens. Developed in 1843 and since then visited by 270 million people, Tivoli Gardens is located in the heart of Copenhagen - a stone’s throw from the Central Station. It not only served as an inspiration to Walt Disney’s Disney land, but also to the City of New York, which asked Tivoli to act as its advisors for the renovation of Coney Island amusement park in Brooklyn.

Tivoli Gardens is one of Denmark’s biggest attractions and an enchanting combination of gardens, rides, carnival games, open-stage and indoor shows, and fine dining. Many visitors come for the cultural events in the Concert Hall, at the Pantomime Theatre, in the Glass Hall theatre and the Open Air Stage.

The Little Mermaid. No visit to Copenhagen is complete without a visit to this statue. Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale about her and Disney produced the movie. The Little Mermaid is perhaps the city’s top attraction and one of the most photographed statues in the world. Unveiled on August 23, 1913 the 165 centimetres tall sculpture rests on rocks right off the shoreline of the seagoing entrance to Copenhagen’s harbour at Kastellet.

Amalienborg Palace. Amalienborg Palace, the royal couple’s winter residence, is a major architectural work and probably the most outstan-ding piece of Rococo architecture in Denmark. Amalienborg comprises four palaces and was originally conceived as town mansions for families of the nobility at the beginning of the 1750’s. The Royal Guard is on duty for 24 hours at the Palace. The relief takes place each day at noon.

Round Tower. Built on the initiative of King Christian IV (1588-1648), the Round Tower was the first stage of the Trinitatis complex, which was to gather three important facilities for the scholars of the seventeenth century: an astronomical observatory, a student’s church and a university library.

Kronborg Castle is situated at the sea in Elsinore (Helsingør) between Denmark and Sweden. The Castle was built between 1574 and 1585 during the reign of Frederik II. The castle’s strategic location helped Denmark’s medieval kings keep an eye on ships sailing through the narrow sound between Denmark and Sweden along with collecting taxes from incoming ships.

says if Denmark is ever threatened, the stone figure will turn into flesh and blood and rise in defence of the kingdom.

Christiansborg Palace. Christiansborg Palace bears testimony to three eras of Danish architecture. The Palace sits atop the ruins of two older castles: Bishop Absalon’s Castle built in 1176 and Copenhagen castle, which was destroyed by the Hansa League in 1369. Work began on the current castle in 1733. Christianborg Palace houses several very important institutions such as the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Royal Reception Rooms.

The National Museum. The National Museum is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history. The museum’s main domicile is a classical 18th century mansion just a short distance from ‘Strøget’ at the centre of Copenhagen.

The National Gallery. The National Gallery houses European and Danish paintings and sculptures from the 15th century onwards. Statens Museum for Kunst, the Danish national gallery, is the only place in Denmark that features 700 years of Western art and cultural history under one roof.

The museum houses a large collection of Danish and international paintings, sculptures, drawings, and installations.

Strøget. Copenhagen’s largest shopping area is centred on Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street, Strøget. It is Denmark’s premier shopping street. Luxury lables like Prada, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Cerutti, Mulberry, Chanel, Marlboro, Karen Millen, Hermès and Boss are represented here. Strøget is also a popular venue for street performers of all types – and talents.

The Danish Design Center. Dansk Design Center showcases Danish industrial design alongside international design trends. The fivestorey building, designed by Henning Larsen, features Danish design classics in the basement and imaginative changing exhibits on a variety of design-related topics on the ground floor.

Carlsberg Brewery/Visitors Center Carlsberg Visitors Center has an exhibition on the history of Danish beer from 1370 BC (a carbondated bog girl was found in a peat bog caressing a jug of well-aged brew). The brewery was founded

by Christian Jacobsen in 1801 and was renamed after his son Carl in 1847 (Carlsberg means ‘Carl’s Hill’). In the sculpture garden, you can see parts of Carl Jacobsen’s collection, including a Rodin and a smaller version of The Little Mermaid, from 1937 – Jacobsen commissioned the statue sculpted

by Edvard Eriksen and donated it to City of Copenhagen in 1913.

Kronborg castle contains the 62m-long Knight’s Hall - one of the longest halls in Europe and the famous statue of Holger Danske. Legend

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Best of Denmark

Business Environment Lately, Denmark has emerged as the poster country of a competitive economy, ranking top of the leagues in several different business categories normally reserved for superpower economies. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s recent business environment ranking lists the country as the best place in the world to do business over the next five years. Forbes magazine ranks its suitability for capital investment second to none, prai-sing its mix of low inflation, low unemployment, and the government’s emphasis on entrepreneurship.

That Denmark has not been hampered by a tradition of large-scale industry, but has had a relatively flexible business structure consisting of many small and medium-sized companies has helped to transform this old industrial kingdom into the modern, competitive knowledge economy, for which it is prized.

The large industrial companies present in the country include Novo Nordisk, an important global manufacturer of insulin and enzyme preparations, Lundbeck, Scandinavian Tobacco Company, Vestas Wind Systems, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Danisco, F.L. Smith, the Rockwool Group and LEGO, a world-famous toy manufacturer.

The pro-entrepreneurship policy of the Danish government has clearly helped to foster easy access to venture capital for smaller innovative companies, start-ups, fledgling firms and promising research and development projects - all essential growth drivers of any nation’s economy.

Denmark has a strong presence in international trade and in research. Significant access to private equity investments in key sectors has helped its business environment to flourish and maintain a strong competitive edge. Thriving sectors attrac-ting lots of capital and international attention include life sciences, nanotechnology, ICT, green energy, and food research (functional and organic food).

Growth in GDP %

Source: Eurostats 2008

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Life sciences Denmark, together with Sweden, has identified biotechnology as one of its main industrial strengths. Medicon Valley, a cluster organisation for the Danish-Swedish biotech industry and research institutions in the Øresund region, is one of the most vibrant life science clusters in Europe. Spanning from Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden, the cluster covers more than 500 companies with an estimated 10,000 scientists.

Stem cells and system biotechnology are two specific fields where Denmark plays a leading role in research and development.

Strongholds also exist in diabetes, immunology, neurosciences, and cancer research.

Some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies has set up headquarters here. When the world map was spread out and the management of the world’s largest biotech company, Biogen Idec, pondered the right location for their European headquarters, the choice fell on Denmark.

The company considered Denmark to have a number of competitive advantages including a highly educated workforce and a strong research climate in Medicon Valley. Through Medicon Valley, Denmark is in the forefront of personalised medicine in Europe.

Denmark is among the countries in Europe that allocate the most resources to R&D per capita, and special attention is given to further developing the field of life science. The Danish government has established a €402 million High Technology Fund dedicated to the longterm development of key industries, including biotechnology.

External trade Unit

Imports Other industries Household consumption Machinery Other Exports Industrial products Agriculture products Fuels, etc.

Other Trade balance Net exports of oil Imports of oil Exports of oil

DKK bn. per cent DKK bn. per cent DKK bn.

1.000 tonnes -

1980 109 36 17 9 39 96 64 24 4 9 - 14 - 19 14.294 1.639

1985 192 36 19 11 35 180 65 21 5 9 - 12 - 19 10.765 2.241

1990 205 37 25 11 26 228 68 17 3 10 23 -3 8.196 5.665

1995 256 38 27 12 23 288 74 15 3 8 32 0 8.887 9.034

2000 359 34 27 14 25 408 74 12 8 7 49 13 8.160 17.125

2006 506 32 28 13 26 544 72 10 12 6 37 23 8.821 17.413

Source: www.statbank.dk

Top 5 Reasons for choosing Denmark • A natural gateway to the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic area. Copenhagen Airport is the main hub in Northern Europe and Europe’s most efficient airport; a high-quality motorway network means swift and easy access to all markets in the Northern European region • One of the world’s top 3 flexible labour markets (IMD 2007) • One of the most advanced telecommuni- cation infrastructures in Europe with world leading use of PC, Internet and Broadband • A company tax rate of 25%, and expatriates can benefit from a special tax regime • A well-educated population with a high proportion of university graduates and excellent language skills

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Best of Denmark

Science and technology Denmark’s 500 years-history of scientific research provides the foundations of the Danish society today. One prominent area within science and technology is Danish research in nanotechnology, which has developed rapidly in recent years.

Projects and research related to this field mainly takes place at select research institutions, such as the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL), Aalborg University and the National Laboratory at Risø. The areas of research are quite wide ranging, including biotechnology, energy technology, environmental technology, information and communication technology, chemical technology, materials technology, medical technology, micro and nanotechnology, as well as animal and plant production.

Denmark has been one of the first European countries to invest unequivocally in nano science and its technological applications. The sector has been identified as a possible future vehicle for wealth creation and for maintaining the country as a high tech economy.

Denmark’s high adoption rate for new technology has been noted extensively in the media. The strength in the ICT industry is based on the Danes’ natural ability to make technology and content blend seamlessly together. The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Denmark as the most networked economy, defined in terms of the overall ICT environment, readiness to benefit from ICT, and actual use.

The wireless and photonic sectors are among the areas where Denmark offers a strong international position in the ICT sector. Two clusters, one centered around Aalborg in northern Jutland and another in the Øresund region, regroup most companies and service partners of the Danish ICT industry.

Denmark also holds a strong position in software development and, in addition, the Danish mentality has a unique focus

on functionality and design. Danish researchers are renowned for their aesthetic sensitivity and ability to design appealing models and particularly for thinking in totalities.

Software companies located in Denmark are not only able to profit from the high level of education in Denmark, but also the close relationship with customers. Customers often play an active part in developing new technology, thus enabling developers to create highly user-friendly products. Combined with other factors, this makes Denmark the world’s best test market.

Using Denmark as a test market gives international corporations the advantage of being able – within a short period of time – to adjust and improve a product before releasing it on the world market.

From launch to take-off, Denmark boasts an average of 3.3 years, while larger European markets such as Germany and the UK take 2-3 times as long.

Favourable development of the Danish business environment also rests on its sound infrastructure. With Copenhagen airport already the Nordic region’s busiest, the country’s welldeveloped network of motorways means swift and easy access to all markets in the Northern Europe. The opening of the Øresund bridge in July 2000, the only bridge in the world connecting Sweden and Denmark, gave Denmark the official status as the gateway to the Scandinavian and the Baltic markets.

Transparency of government policy (score).

Distribution infrastructure of goods and services.

The higher the score the better.

The higher the score the better.

Source: The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, IMD

Source: The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, IMD

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Enterprises in Denmark

Employment by Industry

1960

Agriculture and fishing

Private services

Manufacturing

Public services

2006

Unit

Enterprises, total Agriculture, fishing, etc.

Manufacturing Electricity, gas & water supply Construction Trade, hotels & restaurants Transport, post & telecom.

Finance & business activities Public & personal service Employees Turnover Exports

1.000 per cent 1.000 DKK bn.

-

2001 284 19 7 2 10 22 6 22 13 2.211 2.360 546

2002 282 18 7 2 10 22 5 22 14 2.188 2.384 550

2003 276 17 7 1 10 23 5 24 13 2.168 2.393 575

2004 283 16 7 1 10 22 5 24 14 2.171 2.508 603

2005 294 16 6 1 11 21 5 26 14 2.185 2.775 676

Source: www.statbank.dk

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Best of Denmark

Green Energy Denmark is an environmental role model. With its thousands of wind turbines sprinkled along its coastlines and at sea, over 16 percent of the country’s electricity comes from wind, which is the highest proportion of any country.

And almost half of all the wind turbines in operation around the world are made in Denmark.

Danish institutions and universities are among the world leaders in wind energy research. The Danish wind turbine industry, which employs 21,000 workers and generates over €5.5 billon annually in revenues, is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. Danish wind turbine manufacturers collectively have a 40 per cent share of the global market.

The nation’s expertise in wind energy has attracted foreign companies worldwide to the country. The German company Siemens recently invested in wind turbine production in Brande, Jutland, through its acquisition of Bonus Energy, which at the time was Denmark’s oldest wind turbine manufacturer and the world’s fifth largest. The Indian producer Suzlon has placed its global head office in Aarhus, and Spain’s Gamesa has set up a development department in Silkeborg.

Denmark’s undisputed lead in the use of use of green energy is mostly due to government support. Very progressive policies by the government mean the wind industry has been able to evolve and build up scale.

Some parts of western Denmark derive 100 per cent of their peak needs from wind if the breeze is up. Germany and Spain generate more power in absolute terms, but in those countries wind still accounts for a far smaller proportion of the electricity generated. The average for all 27 EU countries is three per cent.

Denmark is the world’s leading supplier of wind turbines. The Danish company Vestas Wind Systems supplies nearly a third of all wind turbines being erected on land and at sea. Danish wind turbines and wind turbine technology today generate electricity for more than 50 million people worldwide, a figure which is set to increase greatly in the coming years.

Share of renewable energy in primary energy consumption (%)

Source: European Environment Agency and Eurostat

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Best of Denmark

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Climate Conference in Copenhagen

Copenhagen 2009: 30 November - 11 December 2009 The Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming ends in 2012. This heralds the very urgent need to ensure the continuation of Climate Protocol currently addressed by this agreement.

Binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sets the amount acceptable to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.

The conference in Copenhagen is the 15th conference of parties (COP15) in the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The recent meeting in United Nations Climate Change Conferences was held in December 2007 in Bali.

Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.”

An important part of the scientific background for the political decisions taken on the conferences is made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The IPCC is established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In 2007 the IPCC received the Nobel Peace Price.

The Climate Conference in Copenhagen parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will meet for the last time on government level before the climate agreement needs to be renewed.

This Conference is essential for the world’s climate and the Danish government and UNFCCC are making every effort possible to ensure the absolute success of the meeting in Copenhagen to prevent global warming and climate change.

The Climate Conference will take place in the Bella Center which is conveniently situated close to Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup.

Visitors to the Climate Conference in 2009 will find Copenhagen the perfect host for a gathering of this nature, from Kastrup the main airport of Denmark and the largest in Scandinavia to the excellent bouquet of hotels. The city has much to offer visitors. Well known for its warm hospitality, Copenhagen offers a proud welcome to attendees and trusts the Conference will prove very successful and pave the way for future gatherings that will ensure the stability and longevity of our planet.

Governmental representatives from 170 countries are expected to attend conference accompanied by other governmental representatives, NGO’s, journalists and others. Attendance is expected to exceed 8,000 people for the duration of the event.

Proudly hosting this crucial Conference is Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister of Climate and Energy and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, clearly indicating the importance placed on climate control by the Danish government.

The Danish Government has decided that not only the subject of the conference should be focused on the climate but also the conference itself. Among other initiatives the organizers work on mounting a windmill near the Bella Center to produce climate friendly electricity for the conference.

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Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

COP15 Copenhagen 2009

United Nations Climate Change Conference

ON THE CLIMATE AGENDA

UPCOMING EVENTS

Accra Climate Change Talks

1- 12 December 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP14 Poznan, Poland

Find reports, submissions, video and more from the talks at UNFCCC website

Welcome Welcome to Denmarks Host Country Website for COP15 - United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from the 30. November to 11. December 2009.

Go to Calendar > United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 Host country secretariat FAQ: What is the Kyoto Protocol?

What ís a COP? What are the guidelines for using the COP15 logo?

Read more > Links: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 Host country secretariat Prins Jørgens Gård 11, 1218 Copenhagen K | Tel.: +45 33 92 33 00 | Fax: +45 33 11 16 65

Listed below are several important contact details and information relating to the Climate Conference: COP15 The Climate Secretariat The Prime Minister’s Office Christiansborg Prins Jørgens Gård 11 1218 København K, Denmark Tel: (+45) 33 92 33 00 Fax: (+45) 33 11 16 65

Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard

A Danish network that will underpin the Copenhagen Climate Summit, thus making the 2009 UN climate summit a success for the benefit of sustainable climate policy. The network will use the period before, under and after the Copenhagen Climate Summit to establish networks among businesses, individuals and organisations supporting a climate policy focusing on the environment.

The Official secretariat of the 15th Climate Conference in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Climate Council c/ Mandag Morgen Valkendorsgade 13, Box 1127 1009 Copenhagen K Tel: (+45) 33 93 93 23 Fax: (+45) 33 14 13 94

Copenhagen Climate Network Ehlersvej 11 2900 Hellerup Denmark Tel: (+45) 39 48 18 10 Fax: (+45) 39 48 18 01

An initiative founded in May 2007 by a group of business leaders and scientists with the aim of helping make the case for a new global climate treaty that will come into force when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end in 2012.

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Best of Denmark

Danish Design - simply beautiful No other field in Denmark commands such a strong position relative to other countries than design, and furniture design in particular.

During the last two decades, Denmark’s design sector has evolved from the sphere of handicrafts to become a service industry of critical relevance to the competitive position of a country.

Three distinct streams and competencies are evident in the Danish design industry. The first stream is characterised by an artistic ethos and aesthetic of the highest international calibre; the second by an ability to use design to commercial success and thereby create jobs and export earnings; and the third by design as a knowledgeheavy service.

Danish design is best known for its artistic masterpiece. No other field in Denmark commands such a strong position relative to other countries than design, and furniture design in particular.

The international awareness of the country’s design is fairly strong and feature

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prominently especially in countries like the United States and China. Danish design played a key role in the $850 mio. renovation of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) four years ago. Everything from the sofas to the saltshakers on display at MoMA is Danishdesigned, a strong testimony to the country’s luxury brand name.

The work of several great names within furniture design, architecture and artfully crafted objects are all among Denmark’s biggest exports. The works of Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm, Poul Henningsen, Verner Panton, and Georg Jensen are known worldwide and have indeed become design classics.

Hans Wegner’s Round chair appeared on the cover of American Interiors in 1949 and was called “the most beautiful chair in the world”. In 1951 Finn Juhl was asked to

design the Trusteeship Council Chamber of the United Nations in New York and four years later Arne Jacobsen created the Series 7 chair, which would sell six million times and become one of the most copied pieces in history. In the late 1950’s Verner Panton’s Cone chair caused such a stir in the window of a Manhattan store that the police ordered its removal to avoid traffic chaos, while Poul Henningsen’s multitiered lampshades were equally prized.

The works of architect and designer Arne Jacobsen, who is regarded as the most celebrated and influential Danish architect in the 20th century, exude modernism. Considered the godfather of Danish design, Jacobsen’s works possess ingenious designs, have socially inspired designs and showcase the intellect and emotional force of their creator. Jacobsen’s gallery of famous buildings in include Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen

(1958-60), the Danish National Bank, and St. Cathe-rine’s College, Oxford (1964-66).

Many of his furniture designs have become classics, including the Ant chair (1952) and the Swan and the Egg chairs (1958).

Danish architecture From Viking structures to modern housing projects, Scandinavian architects used their own resources and traditions, as well as adapting the styles of medieval, renaissance, baroque, and modern Europe to generate ideas that were to have major international consequences. It’s hallmark – modern purity and a reverent use of na-tural materials, implying health and a democratic society – showed Scandinavian architecture was for all. Denmark emerged as the world centre of “architectural cool” in the 20th century and many an architect went north to learn just how good modern design could be in a civilised society.

Many architects settled in Denmark, to study the master Arne Jacobsen, who not only designed the stunning Denmark’s national bank but also Oxford’s Catherine College – from the building to the door handles, light fittings and cutlery.

Danish architecture has undergone several transitions. Functionalism replaced Neo-Classicism around 1930. The new ideal expressed a rational and functional architecture, with a social objective.

New materials, concrete, iron and glass, were combined in constructively ‘honest’ structures. Major examples of Danish Functio-nalism include the single-family houses at 5-11 Sølystvej by Mogens Lassen from 1936 and 1938, and the white Bellavista block of flats by Arne Jacobsen from 1934, all in Klampenborg.

Modernism emerged at the end of World War II stemming largely from an interest in American Modernism. Buildings, in particular,

houses were given irregular ground plans, flat roofs, open plan room sequen-ces and large glass facades, such as the single-family house at Hellebæk by Jørn Utzon from 1952, and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art by Jørgen Bo and Wilhelm Wohlert from 1958.

Arne Jacobsen, was one of the pioneers of functionalism; his buildings helped define not only the modernist architectural movement but also an era of design. One of his greatest works is the 1960 SAS Royal Hotel across from Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Viewed as cool classical Modernism with simple, strict forms, and curtain wall facades, Radisson was Copenhagen’s first skyscraper, and as a tribute to its designer, room 606 remains to this day a shrine to Jacobsen featuring the original furniture and fittings he designed and created.

Arne Jacobsen is not the only internationally renowned Danish architect

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who retains a presence in Denmark’s capital.

Jørn Utzon, designer of probably the world’s most famous building, the Sydney Opera House, also designed the Paustian furniture store in Copenhagen’s dock area.

Denmark’s with Modernism came in the 1970s in the form of housing. The low dense estate Tinggården in Herfølge designed by the firm of architects Tegnestuen Vandkunsten in 1978 was the first realisation of the idea of a new and alternative housing environment in the form of small, intimate residential enclaves in touch with nature. The idiom was varied and informal. Tinggården set the tone for residential building in the following decades.

In recent years, Danish architecture has increasingly aligned itself with the Neo-Modernism. The most conspicuous characteristic is the often sophisticated use of the materials of Modernism - steel and glass, typically with an almost minimalist effect.

International heavyweights such as Arne Jacobsen, Jørn Utzon and Henning Larsen may have long ago placed Denmark on the architectural world map but contemporary Danish architects continue to sculpt the country with a sense of high quality, natural and very modern building designs.

Copenhagen is home to many of the country’s architectural gems. The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek’s French wing, designed by Henning Larsen, is a masterpiece of light and space, while the monumental glass and concrete extension to the National Gallery (designed by Anna Maria Indrio), which now houses its modern art collection, is worth the entrance fee alone. The most recent and prestigious building projects in Copenhagen include the Opera House (2005) by Henning Larsen and the Playhouse (2008) by Boye Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg.

High-rise development is a new phenomenon in Denmark and is currently planned in several cities across the country.

Copenhagen has cautiously started projects in peripheral areas with the 21-storey Ferring International Centre in Ørestaden, built by Henning Larsen in 2001, and the 16-storey Copper Tower in Copenhagen’s North Harbour, built by Arkitema in 2004.

While these world famous architects and designers have all contributed to Denmark’s reputation as one of the world’s leading design nations, there is also a corps of more commercially-orientated companies that have created very successful businesses on the basis of Danish design abilities. At the more technical end of the sector, you’ll find Cowi, a very successful company that is one of the world’s leading in bridge construction among other things.

Internationally, Danish design and architecture continue to inspire success in other areas in particular in design for ecoliving. Danish architects continue to be highly positioned and feature prominently in some of the most prestigious building projects worldwide.

Dane-designed The Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, (1956-1973) and the National Assembly of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait, (19721984). Designed by Jørn Utzon.

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark (1958). Designed by Jørgen Bo and Vilhelm Wohlert (1920-2007).

St. Catherine’s College, Oxford (1964).

Designed by Arne Jacobsen (1902-71).

Trondheim University, Norway (1978), the Foreign Office in Riyadh (1984) and the Danish Embassy in Riyadh (1988).

Designed by Henning Larsen.

Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Germany (1986) and Iraq’s National Bank (1985). Designed by the architect firm Dissing+Weitling.

Bahrain’s National Museum in Manama (1988). Designed by the architect firm Krohn & Hartvig Rasmussen, now KHR. The Parisian suburb La Défense and the Arch of Humanity, a large open cube measuring some 105 x 105 metres (completed in 1989). Designed by Johan Otto von Spreckelsen (1929-87).

The Danish Embassy in Berlin (1999) and the Concert Hall in Amsterdam (2005).

Designed by the Danish architect firm 3xNielsen.

Floating Hotel: AquaDomi Star Hotel R200 (2009). Designed by architect firm C. F. Moller for an investor group, in co-operation with AquaDomi.

Museum of Liverpool (2008). Designed by architect firm 3XNielsen.

Danish Export vs. Import in billion DKK (Goods and Services)

Source: Statistics Denmark

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The art of being Danish It takes a visit to Denmark to understand how all-encompassing design is in the Da-nish culture. It is in everything - from glasses, crockery and cutlery to the dentist’s chair.

All is well made and well thought out with a sense of quality - just witness the aesthetic carving of the Danish Viking ships.

Danish design is typically regarded as a problem-solving process. The solution to the design task must be as simple and natural as possible without violating the complexity of the task. The aim is to create an identity between user and implement, and the solution must respect the requirements associated with cost and environment. On this background, Danish design culture offers functional, simple, and stylish objects to be enjoyed by people all around the world.

Through decades, Denmark has become known for an elite selection of brands – each brand often representing a unique view on

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life. Danish designs/products continue to be featured extensively by trend-setting magazines like Wallpaper, Dazed & Confused and Vogue and even in blockbuster movies.

Jacobsen’s Egg, Ant and Swan chairs, and Henningsen’s lamp shades, for example, are still to be seen in many hotels, restaurants, and cafés from Copenhagen, London and New York, while Jacobsen has made visible contribution to pop culture in his flatware design, with right- and left-handed spoons in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, picked for the film because of its “futuristic” design.

The rich heritage of Danish Jewellery, and arts and crafts is widely celebrated. Most prominent among these are Georg Jensen and Royal Copenhagen, which have emerged as coveted exclusive luxury brands and now have strings of boutiques in the world’s most upmarket shopping promenades.

Newer companies like Bodum, famed for its cafetières and teapots and Gubi, the extremely innovative maker of the Gubi chair take the Danish design and crafts tradition as a starting reference but add new elements and twists to create products for a broader market.

The fashion scene hosts another bundle of names that have made an international breakthrough – Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Munthe + Simonsen and Bruuns Bazaar.

Where most companies across the world have led their production process with a rational mind – design has become the main driver in everything Danish. It is precisely this unique approach that might be the reason why the home of functional design seems to be owned by Denmark more than any other country.

Skagen Swiss swiss made movement, elegant, unique design

Best of Denmark

Denmark’s natural resources knowledge and education Danes are eager to learn and keen to be involved in life-long education – it’s really a matter of survival. The country’s long tradition for life-long learning means it spends more money per person on adult education than any other country in the world.

Total expenditure on education, % of GDP

Source: The World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005, IMD

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Realizing that knowledge and skills are particularly crucial in a country without significant natural resources or large-scale industry, successive Danish governments have implemented very active education policies, investing in their most important natural resource – people. The result is a welleducated population with a high proportion of university graduates.

Denmark’s history of lost wars and territories has carved into the public mind a sense of national vulnerability making it possible to establish a common and widely accepted understanding of national identity.

The outcome: discernibly Danish common traits, shared experiences and collective perspectives.

The development of this collective experience starts at a very early age. Because most women work outside the home, almost all Danish children enter the kindergarten system between the ages of 12 and 18 months of age. It can be argued that the resultant high level of interaction with other youngsters from such an early stage later contributes to the Danes’ abilities to cooperate and work in teams.

Education in Denmark is free, and virtually the entire adult population is literate. Formal schooling begins at age six and is mandatory for nine years. Preschool and kindergarten education is available to all children and most children attend preschool. Around 90 per cent of Danish pupils go on at the age of 16 to further academic or vocational training.

The educational level in the country is generally high, in part reflecting the need for a skilled workforce. At the pinnacle of Danish higher education are the University of Copenhagen (founded in 1479), the University of Aarhus (1928), and the University of Southern Denmark (1966), all state supported. Additional universities

were established at Roskilde in 1972 and at Ålborg in 1974.

Though only three of the Danish universities are ranked in the list of the world’s top 150 colleges, Danish universities manage to achieve admirable results – bright young people with good language skills, who are both team players and individualists and who are curious and skilled at devising practical solutions to many problems.

Danes are eager to learn and keen to be involved in life-long education – it’s really a matter of survival. The country’s long tradition for life-long learning means it spends more money per person on adult education than any other country in the world. This policy is designed to ensure that the skills of the workforce are constantly upgraded to meet changed requirements.

Denmark also has a very long tradition of vocational training. And some of the world’s best craftsmen are the young Danes who are not interested in an academic career.

An unusual feature of Danish education is the fact that young people frequently enter a trade before taking a university degree.

But although this practice is dying out as market and economic dynamics demand that students complete their courses faster, it is still not unusual to meet a Danish engineer who first trained as a plumber or an architect who’s also a fully qualified carpenter or bricklayer.

Regardless of the career path a Danish student takes, it will be funded by state grants and various scholarships and supplemented by the students’ own earnings from part time jobs.

Individuality, cooperativeness, conscientiousness, curiosity, egalitarianism and creativity are hallmarks of Denmark’s most important resource – its human capital.

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Danish Agriculture - Organic growth Next to its well-educated labour force, the soil is Denmark’s most important raw material and as such, farming and produce plays a key role in Danish society. Over half of Denmark’s soil is cultivated with more than half devoted to grains. Barley and wheat account for a large percentage of the country’s total grain harvest.

Denmark’s strong agricultural sector contributes significantly to the country’s welfare society. Agriculture has a very large export share and accounts for around 16 per cent of all Danish exports. Animal production features prominently and accounts for 66 per cent of the sector’s total production. Dairy cattle, pigs, and poultry are raised in great numbers to supply both the domestic and the foreign markets.

The fishing industry is also economically important: Denmark is among the world’s largest exporters of fish products. Herring, cod, and plaice (flatfish) account for most of the total catch; other important species include salmon and eel.

For years, Denmark has maintained a very strong position on world agricultural markets, and is among the world’s leading exporters of pork, fur and hides, seeds and cheese. Demand for quality Danish produce means two-thirds of Denmark’s agricultural production is exported.

Danish Co-ops This Danish model of food production is unique internationally. The strength of its agricultural sector rests on two factors: the strong co-operative movement and the continual cooperation throughout the entire food production chain - from farm to fork between research bodies, extension services, farmers, companies and the authorities.

Most of the current enterprises within the Danish food industry are co-operatives, owned and governed by farmers. Today around 97 per cent of all milk produced in Denmark is delivered to co-operative dairies and 89 per cent of the country’s pigs are slaughtered by cooperatives.

Danish farms are considerably large compared with the average for the other EU countries. In recent years, farming in Denmark has undergone structural changes, which have led to increased specialisation and even larger farms. Only a few co-operatives remain and these are now major companies involved in national and international activities and number among Denmark’s leading companies in terms of turnover and employment.

Denmark is world-known for its highquality food products. Its focus on food safety ensures Danish farmers have easy access to professional advice. Uniquely, the Danish advisory system, which is owned and operated by Danish farmers, have advice centres scattered across the country to ensure no farmer is far from professional advice and guidance at any time.

Developments such as these have helped to establish the competitive edge of

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Denmark’s many-faceted agricultural sector and ensure the country remains competitive and at the forefront of the world’s food industry.

Organic growth It follows naturally that Denmark’s welleducated, modern, and urban society would be Europe’s leading consumers of organic produce. Like everything else in the Danish society, quality counts, so fittingly, Denmark has become one of the pioneers in promoting organic agriculture and in producing and marketing organic food and beverages.

Organic food has developed into a €300 million-industry in Denmark with dairy products (milk at 45 per cent) accounting for more than half of the total followed by meat, vegetables, and fruit . Most goods are sold via supermarkets, however, catering firms, restaurants, and specialty shops are making strong inroads into the market.

The number of officially registered organic farms in the country has dramatically risen within a decade. In 1988, the break-through year for organic farming in Denmark, (the first law on organic farming was decided and governmental control established) there were 219 organic farms in the country. By 2007, this figure had risen over 1,200 per cent to reach 2,900 farms covering a total area of 165,00 hectares. Organic farmland now accounts for six per cent of Denmark’s agricultural land placing Denmark in the top five of the EU-15 countries. Jutland, the traditional heartland of Danish farming, is the most important area with 73 per cent of the organic farms and about 85 per cent of the total organic land in 2000.

There is heavy demand for Danish organic products, in particular, dairy products and high added value meats within the EU. Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom are the three main export markets. Denmark’s organic producers now supply organic butter to the British supermarket chains Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. The Danish food group Arla Foods is the market’s largest player and currently the world’s largest producer of organic milk products.

Organic food products are particularly popular in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, where the organic market share is estimated at 10-12 per cent. The first Danish organic supermarket, Egefeld, was opened in Copenhagen in 2006 and now has a fairly strong market presence.

According to the Denmark’s food and agriculture ministry, Danish organic foods exports is in its infancy because organic producers’ first priority is to satisfy the growing demand on the domestic market.

As production rises, export opportunities will become more evident. And organic food producers in Denmark expect a boost in global exports after the country was named the world’s best nation for environmentally friendly farming at the Biofach convention in Nürnberg this year.

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Blue Denmark - the Danish Shipping Industry Denmark’s investment in shipping knowledge has resulted in a pool of formidable business talent and is the reason why chartering of tonnage has developed into a Danish specialty

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Life in Denmark has traditionally been sea-bound. With over 400 islands and a total shoreline of more than 7,300 km, Denmark is wedded to the sea. The seeds of a strong seafaring nation implanted long ago since the days of the Vikings, Denmark possesses a formidable merchant fleet and is today considered among the world’s elite international maritime centres.

The Danish shipping industry is now the country’s second most important export

earner, accounting for a substantial share – more than 50 per cent - of the country’s balance of payment. Aggregate turnover in the industry tops DKr100 billion (€13 billion).

The country has in A.P. Moller-Maersk, Torm, Norden, Lauritzen, and Eitzen some of the major players in world’s shipping industry in their respective segments.

Some 150 companies, many of them small shipping companies active in different segments comprise the Danish maritime cluster, also called Blue Denmark, which employ up to 100,000 people or around six per cent of the country’s private sector workforce. Up to six of the largest shipping companies are more than 100 years old and new companies continue to emerge adding variety to the industry.

Although countries like Norway and Greece, two major European shipping nations continue to own more ships than Denmark, the country’s 150 shipping companies carry goods of considerably higher value and thus achieve a higher turnover than the countries.

Denmark’s maritime fleet transports a major share - over 10 per cent - of world trade at sea, which makes Denmark one of the most important seafaring nations in the world Shipping.

Headed by industry giant A.P. Moller Maersk, the industry’s international reach is impressive with high Danish visibility in major world markets in North America, Asia and the Middle East. Maersk Line, the key company in Blue Denmark, is part of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, which is Denmark’s largest company, and is the global market leader in container shipping. Moller - Maersk’s fleet, which includes Emma Maersk, the world’s largest container vessel, transport about 20 per cent of the world’s containers. Based in Copenhagen A.P. Moller - Maersk, whose turnover is close to that of Microsoft, is a pillar of the Danish economy.

Danish shipping companies have benefited from close ties with government, which ensures the nation’s shipping industry is given the framework conditions it needs to compete in the international arena. This close working relationship has kept Denmark’s International Ship Register and its tonnage tax system up to date and gives Danish shipping companies a sound platform for making progress in the face of global competition.

Denmark’s dominance in shipping is not only due to the country’s long-standing maritime tradition and the close relation the industry enjoys with the government, but also to the country’s high level of maritime education. Denmark is one of the few places in the world where maritime education has been available for decades.

The Danish government supports the need for bachelor and master educations in commercial as well as technical fields within the shipping industry. Leading Danish universities offer programmes in key areas such as shipping and logistics, technology management, and transport and maritime management. Furthermore, Danish universities are engaged in creating close relations with companies within the

industry for development industry-specific education programmes as well as research collaborations.

This investment in shipping knowledge has resulted in a pool of formidable business talent and is the reason why chartering of tonnage has developed into a Danish specialty. Foreign shipping companies are keen to establish their business in Denmark because of the country’s high educational level in shipping.

Also noteworthy is Danish sub-suppliers to the shipping industry are equally educated and well advanced in developing new environmentally and climate friendly solutions. Their substantial store of knowledge and expertise gives them a competitive edge against sub-suppliers from the United States and Asia.

Denmark’s impressive maritime achievement is due to not one but a combination of several factors: very competitive shipping companies, a strong maritime tradition, progressive maritime education, and goodwill from Danish governments and the authorities. In short, the Danish shipping industry is a cluster with a wealth of maritime know-how.

Maritime Facts Danish shipping industry • Danish shipping operates more than 50 million DWT – owned as well as chartered.

• Danish shipping companies account for 5 per cent of the world’s newbuild orders • Accounts for up to 10 per cent of the world’s seaborne cargo measured in value.

• 5-6 of the largest companies are over 100 years old.

• Average age of Danish merchant fleet is 7 years compared with world average of 13 years.

Danish maritime cluster A.P. MOller-Maersk - Denmark’s leading and the world’s largest within container shipping and logistic.

TORM, J. Lauritzen, Norden and Clipper Group - Leading operators of tank and bulk tonnage Thrane & Thrane - World’s leading manufacturer of mobile satellite and radio communication Damcos - Leading supplier of comprehensive management and control solutions Viking - A market leader in maritime safety Knud E. Hansen - One of the world’s leading ship designers Furuno - The world’s leading manufacturer of radar systems and navigational equipment Port of Aarhus - The Baltic hub for deepsea container lines.

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