Finding leader from the entire pharmaceutical industry in one place is a rare occurrence. In November, high numbers of them flocked to Copenhagen for the 2018 Bio Europe conference. This was an unusual opportunity to raise awareness of Copenhagen Science City with a global and highly relevant audience and the innovation district was pleased to sponsor a welcoming ceremony in Copenhagen City hall. By Jes Andersen.

Exceptional version of legendary forum

Bio Europe is one of the leading conferences for the global pharmaceutical industry. From Big Pharma to small start-ups, influential figures in research, investment and production have met once a year for over two decades for this event. The 2018 version was born to be special. It became exceptional.

More delegates, more deals, less German

Held in Copenhagen, this was the first time a non-German speaking town hosted the conference. With 4,400 delegates, it was the largest yet. Prospective business partners had scheduled 28,000 meetings at the conference, so it was also, arguably, the birthplace of more deals than ever before.

Global audience welcomed by The City

Almost 900 delegates joined the ceremony in the historical Copenhagen City Hall to hear opening remarks from Søren Tegen Pedersen, who is director in the City of Copenhagen, and member of the innovation district board, the so-called Development Council for Copenhagen Science City. Tegen expressed pleasure to welcome the delegates and told them that they had come to the right place for doing business.

Measured by capital Copenhagen has the number one investment profile in Europe when it comes to research in pharmaceuticals”: Søren Tegen Pedersen, Director, City of Copenhagen.

Partners in promotion raised visibility of Danish inventiveness

At the ceremony, and throughout the conference, Copenhagen Science City partnered with investment promotion agency Greater Copenhagen and with the University of Copenhagen Technology Transfer office, which facilitates commercialization of inventions from the university and all hospitals in the Capital Region of Denmark.

The close collaboration between these promoters of Danish inventiveness ensured that delegates learnt about opportunities to co-locate, co-create and invest in Denmark, in Greater Copenhagen and in Copenhagen Science City.