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Photo
by Henrik Stenberg
The Oeresund Bridge, Copenhagen |
Silicon Valley, California, is acknowledged by
most as the area that has housed the engine driving
the high-tech global economy. A 2006 study sponsored
by the Wall Street Journal found that 10 of the
20 most inventive towns in America are located in
Silicon Valley. The clustering of businesses in
"the Valley" demonstrates that even though
the Internet has made the world increasingly flat,
geography still does matter, as similar cluster
societies are developing in other countries around
the world. The ecology of strong clusters provides
entrepreneurial support network and maintains channels
of communication among market participants that
supports the creation of knowledge while also reducing
the transaction costs of comprehending and utilizing
information. Stig Jorgensen, Managing director of
Medicon Valley Academy, one of Europe’s premiere
clusters, explains, "effective cluster societies
work to link like-minded people, creating the ideal
infrastructure for growth, thereby turning intellectual
wealth into successful businesses."
Medicon Valley has become the epitome of cluster
achievement, an infrastructure that supports knowledge
sharing. With one of the fastest growth rates, based
on the number of start up companies in Europe, Medicon
Valley is a world leader in biotechnological and
pharmaceutical development. Since its official initiation
in the mid-90’s, Medicon Valley has grown to
encompass a population of approximately 3 million
people, including 41,000 people employed in the
life sciences, and 5,000 life science researchers.
The region houses over 145 biotech companies, including
some of the leading names in US and European biotechnology,
6 science parks, 14 universities, and 26 hospitals.
Sixty percent of Scandinavia’s life science
output comes from Medicon Valley.
The success story of Medicon Valley has its competitors
scratching their heads, for not only does Medicon
Valley create partnerships among industries, universities,
hospitals, science parks, clusters of innovative
scientists, investors and business services but
it also engages two countries, Denmark and Sweden;
this latter made possible by the construction of
the Oresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen, Denmark,
and Malmo, Sweden. As for funding, Medicon Valley
is supported by both regional and national governments
as well as by membership fees. Jorgensen explains,
"We are very proud of the knowledge sharing
that takes place at Medicon Valley not only between
public and private arenas but between countries."
Denmark and Sweden are not new to the world of
life sciences. The two countries have excelled in
biotech for over a century with companies such as
Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck, and LEO Pharma. The region
already had top universities and companies in place;
and included an appealing infrastructure that has
attracted over 275 members including major non-European
companies such as Biogen and Pfizer. "Denmark
and Sweden provide ideal conditions for clinical
trials since all Danish and Swedish citizens have
equal access to free health care and medical data
is tracked from birth until death. These factors
insure a comprehensive patient database," said
Jorgensen. The Swedish and Danish governments also
provide free education that produces a highly educated
labor force; furthermore corporate taxes are among
the lowest in Europe, and foreign language skills
are excellent. "We understand that the presence
of mature pharmaceutical companies is important
to securing the best technology, the right business
mindset among entrepreneurs, and specialized employees.
We are doing everything in our power to create an
ideal infrastructure here," said Jorgensen.
What is perhaps most important to the success of
this cluster is the region’s ability to attract
top companies and to create a capital base that
is increasingly international. "With our synergy
and knowledge, stakeholders are realizing the opportunities
present here. We feel that a strong global network
is crucial to successful innovation," said
Jorgensen.
The officers of the companies and other institutions
located in Medicon valley have been working to further
develop this "global network." Not only
does the region participate in a European network
of BioValleys, but Medicon Valley is also in the
process of creating an Ambassador Program. This
is essentially an exchange program that temporarily
swaps representatives from Medicon Valley with their
counterparts from other clusters around the world.
"By 2010, we hope to have 10 different biotech
clusters represented here and 10 of our members
learning from other bioregions," said Jorgensen.
By creating an international link with clusters
from the U.S. to Japan, the world will further benefit
from knowledge sharing. The global linking of these
biotech clusters will form the ultimate cluster,
since the lesson from the "Valleys" of
the world is that the more knowledge is shared,
the more everyone benefits.
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DENMARK
