Denmark: Danish small- and medium-sized enterprises enter the arena

In Denmark, Eureka and its Eurostars programme sit at the heart of a self-reinforcing virtuous circle, driving innovation in the biotechnology, healthcare, sustainability and energy sectors. A major ambassador for local participation is the Danish Technological Institute, one of Denmark’s largest non-profit research and technology organisations.

The Danish Technological Institute assists small- and medium-sized enterprises on their research, development and internationalisation journey. With its extensive network, it guides companies to the best support programmes for unlocking their potential, serving as a gateway to cross-border knowledge exchange, business development, partnerships and scaling up. The institute regularly turns to Eureka and its Eurostars programme to maximise Denmark’s innovation ambitions. Since 2015, it has participated in 36 Eureka projects alongside 40 Danish small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Eurostars has a reputation for being an easy-to-access instrument for small- and medium-sized enterprises among Danish business support organisations, as the programme is bottom-up and has few administrative burdens. Five universities and research and technology organisations are partners in one third of Danish Eurostars projects. These are hands-on small and medium-sized enterprise-boosters.

Rasmus Mørk – Senior European Union Advisor at Greater Copenhagen European Union Office

In a notable Eureka project, SensiScreen Glioma, the institute joined forces with Danish company Pentabase and Swiss partner, l’Istituto Cantonale di Patologia. The collaboration produced a breakthrough technology for quantifying abnormal methylation patterns in DNA linked to cancer. The technology and accompanying diagnostic kit underwent robust clinical validation. The impact: glioma patients benefit from significantly faster diagnoses. The project directly led to major milestones for PentaBase in the form of revenue growth, job creation, a stronger international profile, new partnerships, increased export potential and entry into new markets. Winning a Eureka innovation award in 2024 further reinforced PentaBase’s reputation as a leader in somatic mutation cancer diagnostics.

Another Eureka project, Huginn, saw the Danish Technological Institute support Danish company Reblade in developing a drone that repairs erosion on the leading edge of wind turbine blades. Through the institute, Reblade partnered with Icelandic company, Euler, and received technical guidance and project coordination support. Frank Kjerstein, Chief Executive Officer at Reblade explains, “the Eurostars project directly enabled Reblade to mature as a startup and organisation. We hired more engineers during the project period and progressed so well that we were able to attract venture capital from a Danish venture fund in 2024.”

These results mirror those achieved by many other companies through the Danish Technological Institute’s open innovation model and hands-on support. Participation in high-profile projects also improves the institute’s internal competencies, particularly in international project management, market-oriented research and development and funding strategies. Through Eurostars, the institute builds, maintains and expands relations with innovative companies, many of which become commercial partners after the projects end.

The Danish Technological Institute is continuously supported by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. Eureka and Innovation Fund Denmark provide additional support for projects. A strong Eurostars track record reinforces the institute’s profile as a go-to organisation for funding agencies seeking to support consortia rooted in industry experience.

Eurostars is a well-known programme in Denmark. There, public-private funding amounts to approximately four euro per capita every year. The international and small- and medium-sized enterprise-led approach enables the Danish Technological Institute’s partners to leapfrog barriers, accelerate research and development, de-risk market entry and attain a platform for international recognition and growth.

Despite high engagement in Denmark, Eureka still has significant untapped potential in what is one of Europe’s leading innovation ecosystems. Whilst continuing to champion Eurostars, Innovation Fund Denmark is improving Danish and Nordic company attractiveness to global partners by participating in and leading thematic calls for projects through other Eureka programmes and involving actors with a presence around the world. Scaling up the Danish Technological Institute’s model for international cooperation is part of the toolbox for pushing Denmark’s innovative capabilities.