Start-ups as well as researchers and students with an interest in entrepreneurship need to learn more and strengthen their networks. Throughout 2020 Copenhagen Science City has arranged a series of events aiming to provide inspiration, information and motivation to anyone dreaming of launching an innovation based business, joining a start-up or finding science based collaborators. Despite the global pandemic, this series known as Brew Your Own has proven successful.

Events highlight networking opportunities

Eight events. 35 speakers. 347 participants. 60 percent start-up founders, staff or consultants found an opportunity to network with 40 percent researchers and students during the first two seasons of Brew Your Own-events. For the head of the Copenhagen Science City secretariat, Kristoffer Klebak, the event series has been highly satisfying.

We work very hard to make Copenhagen one of the best places in the world to launch or grow an innovation-based business. One of the things that make Copenhagen Science City great is the close proximity between companies, the researchers they need to develop and test their products and the students they need to hire. The Brew Your Own-events put a spotlight on this”: Kristoffer Klebak, Head of Secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.

Promotion of local facilities

Copenhagen Science City planned and executed the events in collaboration with the cluster organisation Biopeople and a number of local innovation ecosystem stakeholders. Highlighting local facilities is another central aim of the event-series. One facility that hosted a Brew Your Own before COVID-19 made physical meetings impossible was the “House of Practice and Innovation” A state-of-the-art test facility for Health-and Care products and services.

Our innovation district is home to facilities for inventing, developing and testing just about anything you can imagine. From new materials over new medicines to novel ways of building and running computers. Most of them welcome commercial partners and we are very happy to help promote their services”: Kristoffer Klebak, Head of Secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.

Next season in the making

Brew Your Own-events are themed meetings with subjects of general relevance to those interested in entrepreneurship. All events feature institutional speakers to present research or regulations as well as start-up speakers to provide personal experience within the subject matter. For the spring season 2021, the event-organisers plan five brew Your Own events. After testing a series of themes with the target audience, the first theme has been locked in. January will kick off with a Brew Your Own about early stage funding.