Southern Denmark takes first step in national dialogue on healthcare and life science
The University of Southern Denmark, the Region of Southern Denmark and Healthcare Denmark brought together stakeholders from across Southern Denmark to discuss the region’s strengths in healthcare and life science and how they can achieve greater international impact.
How can Danish expertise in healthcare and life science gain greater international visibility, and what can Southern Denmark in particular contribute with? This was the focus when the University of Southern Denmark, the Region of Southern Denmark and Healthcare Denmark brought together key stakeholders for a dialogue meeting at SDU in Odense on 12 August.
The day featured concrete examples from Southern Denmark’s healthcare and innovation ecosystem, as well as discussions on how these experiences can be put to greater use internationally. The meeting also marked the beginning of work to develop a shared international narrative about Danish healthcare and life science.
Collaboration is our strength
The meeting in Odense was the first in a series of regional dialogue meetings that Healthcare Denmark will hold across the country during 2026. One of the aims is to incorporate regional perspectives into efforts to strengthen Denmark’s international position in healthcare and life science.
For Jens Ringsmose, Rector of the University of Southern Denmark, one of Southern Denmark’s key strengths is precisely its collaboration across research, the healthcare system, municipalities and companies.
– Our strength in Southern Denmark is not a single technology or a single company. It is the close relationship between partners – SDU, the region, the municipalities, Life Science Fyn and the entire ecosystem – that enables us to bring together research, clinical practice, companies and the healthcare system to develop and implement the healthcare solutions of the future, he says.
From hospital technology to solutions closer to citizens
The day featured concrete examples of areas in which Southern Denmark has particular strengths. One theme focused on the future of health technology innovation in hospitals, with presentations on projects including DANARC, Thoracic Park and PEACE.
Another focused on the healthcare reform and innovation closer to citizens, featuring Mindhelper from Center for Digital Psykiatri, Det Digitale Sundhedscenter and Luft til livet from Vejle Municipality. The presentations were followed by round-table discussions in which participants shared experiences and perspectives.
According to Kurt Espersen, Group CEO of the Region of Southern Denmark, future innovation must be based on the needs of the healthcare system.
– We have every reason to be proud of the Danish healthcare system. But if we are to make it even better, we need to strengthen innovation further. This must be based on the needs of the healthcare system and developed in close interaction with clinical practice and other stakeholders, including the new National Centre for Health Innovation in Odense, he says.
– Fortunately, the Region of Southern Denmark has a long history of public-private collaboration, and we need to build on that history to develop even better solutions for the benefit of our patients and hospital staff.
From input from Southern Denmark to a shared narrative
In the afternoon, participants worked on developing an internationally focused core narrative about Danish healthcare and life science. The day concluded with a joint discussion of initiatives that could strengthen the international promotion of healthcare and life science in Southern Denmark.
The input from Southern Denmark will form part of a wider process. The meeting was the first of Healthcare Denmark’s regional dialogue meetings in 2026, and the contributions will help shape and strengthen a shared international narrative about Danish healthcare and life science.
– What I will particularly take away from Southern Denmark is how trust and a strong ecosystem can be translated into tangible innovation close to patients and clinical practice. Denmark must not only be good at developing new solutions – we also need to become better at scaling them and bringing them into use internationally. This applies to technologies, methods and ways of organising the healthcare system. If we succeed, Danish experience can help address some of the major healthcare challenges facing many countries, says Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Chair of Healthcare Denmark.
