The purpose of this section of our website is to give professionals a brief overview of the main biotech clusters around Europe and Internationally that might provide the job and career development opportunities that they are seeking. These are biotech clusters with which Liftstream has client relationships.
Medicon Valley - Denmark and Sweden
- The Life Science Cluster of Denmark and Sweden
Scandinavia has long been one of the most attractive regions for people seeking work in the life sciences. In particular, Liftstream is often asked about the job possibilities that countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland can present, alongside the highly attractive quality of living and diversity that these countries can offer.
In this biotechnology cluster profile, Liftstream has chosen to highlight one of the more established yet burgeoning biotechnology and life science clusters in Europe. Medicon Valley is a cluster that geographically encompasses the greater Copenhagen region and the Skane region of Southern Sweden. This cluster, spanning two countries that have a commitment to life science industries, presents diversity and a unique environment that is highly attractive to research scientists, academics and all people engaged in the pursuit of scientific and medical breakthroughs.
Medicon Valley is a cross-border (Denmark/Sweden) cluster which has been home to companies that have been major contributors in the fight against diseases for cancer, diabetes, inflammation and neurosciences, as well as producing some of the great advances in medical diagnostics and devices. Medicon Valley has attracted some of the brightest talents to work in companies both large and small, as well as contributing significant knowledge and skills to the global market.
When considering a move to any new region to pursue a career, a major consideration is always the onward employment opportunities. Medicon Valley provides an incredibly rich selection of companies with over a hundred biotechnology companies, large R&D pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Lundbeck, Novo Nordisk, exciting innovative companies like Genmab, LEO Pharma, Topotarget, multiple medical technology manufacturers behind innovations in medical devices and diagnostics. These firms are greatly supported by the venture capital and financing community, strong connectivity with medical centres and ready access to service companies.
Liftstream has identified that there are many other strengths to the region such as academic excellence, strong scientific skill-base, local funding, shared scientific resources, good infrastructure for citizens, diversity, employee equality. In fact, the countries of Sweden and Denmark score incredibly well in the studies of gender equality, with women being better presented on executive boards than in any other European country outside Scandinavia.
It is also true that the tax regimes in Sweden and Denmark along with cost-of-living, remain high relative to other European averages. However, each scores incredibly well in quality-of-living surveys, with Copenhagen coming second and Stockholm sixth in the ‘most liveable cities index’ in 2009, something Liftstream recognises is extremely important to many professionals.
Liftstream feels that Medicon Valley presents an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of Europe’s life science industry surrounded by the resources, infrastructure and scientific innovation to be highly successful. The cultures of both Sweden and Denmark are both extremely attractive and the opportunity to find a job in one of these countries and enjoy a prosperous and exciting career while enjoying a quality life, is surely a proposition worth exploring.
Liftstream’s Medicon Valley regional snapshot:
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14,000 square kilometers
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3.4 million people
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14 universities
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140,000 university students
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41,000 people employed in life science industries
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5,000 life science researchers
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26 hospitals (11 university hospitals)
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5 science parks
Medical Centres in Medicon Valley:
•Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy
•Center for Diabetes and Stem Cell Research
•Biomedical Center, BMC
•Copenhagen BioCenter
•Biotech Research & Innovation Center
•SweGene-Proteomics Center
•Clinical Competence Center
•Wallenberg Neuroscience Center
•Steno Diabetes Center
•The Serum Institute
•The Swedish and Danish Cancer Societies
•Malmö Clinical Research Center
http://www.mediconvalley.com
http://www.mva.org