Innovation Centre Denmark

What Innovation Centre Denmark does

Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK) is a Danish government initiative established in 2006 as a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. It operates as a diplomatic and innovation facilitation platform connecting Danish science, companies, and research institutions to global innovation ecosystems, using a triple helix model that unites government, academia, and business. The organisation maintains physical presence across eight strategic locations: Copenhagen (headquarters), Bangalore, Seoul, Shanghai, Munich, Tel Aviv, Boston, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C., selected for their relevance to Danish innovation priorities in green transition, life science, and technology. ICDK delivers its services free of charge to Danish start-ups, SMEs, corporations, researchers, and public organisations, and is funded through Danish government budgets supplemented by foundation grants.

Name

Innovation Centre Denmark

Legal name

Innovation Centre Denmark

Website

https://icdk.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Innovation Centre Denmark is a Danish government-funded initiative that operates eight global centres connecting Danish start-ups, SMEs, researchers, and corporations to international innovation ecosystems in green transition, life science, and technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Innovation Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC), Value Chain Development & Supplier Upgrading (BPADAMAI)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• Tech scouting services
• Market entry advisory
• Research partnership facilitation
• Government innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Services: Innovation Centre Denmark is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Services are provided free of charge to Danish stakeholders including companies, research institutions, and public organizations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Innovation Centre Denmark provides customized advisory, technology scouting, partner matchmaking, and market introduction services to Danish companies, SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and public organizations. Through a network of eight global Innovation Centres (Copenhagen HQ, Bangalore, Seoul, Shanghai, Munich, Tel Aviv, Boston, Silicon Valley) plus a Washington D.C. Science Attaché, ICDK connects Danish innovation stakeholders to international knowledge flows, talent pools, and decision-makers in green transition, life science, and technology.

Product overview

Innovation Centre Denmark is a Danish government initiative offering advisory and intelligence services rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization operates as a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, connecting Danish innovation to global markets through seven innovation centers worldwide. Its core service offerings include Advisory Services (Innovation Camps, Innovation Sparring, Tech Scouting, Partners Match-Making, Market Introduction), Academy and Accelerate programs, the SDG Landing Pad Program for sustainable innovation, and Intelligence Services (Tech Trends, Research Partners, Funding, Outlook Reports). The organization facilitates connections through physical presence in Bangalore, Seoul, Shanghai, Munich, Tel Aviv, Boston, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C., with headquarters in Copenhagen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advisory Services (Innovation Camps, Innovation Sparring, Partners Match-Making, Market Introduction) A bundled advisory offering delivered to Danish companies, SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and public organizations. Includes Innovation Camps, Innovation Sparring, Partners Match-Making, and Market Introduction support to help Danish stakeholders access global innovation ecosystems.
• Tech Scouting A global, neutral, data-driven technology scouting service that connects corporations with technology solutions, leveraging ICDK's local networks and expertise across innovation hotspots. Customers include BMW, Roche, and Infineon Technologies AG.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 6 million IT specialists in India available through partnerships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Danish Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDK is a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The Ministry provides funding and strategic direction for ICDK's global operations.
• Danish Ministry of Higher Education and SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDK is a collaboration between the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry provides funding and strategic direction for ICDK's operations connecting Danish science with global innovation ecosystems.
• Tech BBQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTech BBQ is a major Nordic tech and startup event where ICDK participates to promote Danish innovation.
• Asia HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAsia House is a partner organization facilitating Asian business connections for Danish companies.
• Digital Hub DenmarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital Hub Denmark is a partner organization supporting digital innovation in Denmark.
• DTU SkylabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDTU Skylab is the innovation hub at Technical University of Denmark partnering with ICDK for startup support.
• BloxHubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBloxHub is a Copenhagen-based partner organization focused on sustainable urban solutions.
• Danish Life Science ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SDG Landing Pad program, Danish Life Science Cluster collaborates with ICDK to advance sustainable innovation in life sciences.
• CLEAN (Danish Cluster for Energy and Climate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SDG Landing Pad program, CLEAN collaborates with ICDK to drive green and sustainable innovation.
• DigitalLeadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SDG Landing Pad program, DigitalLead partners with ICDK for digital innovation initiatives.
• Rethink (SDG Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRethink specializes in SDGs and collaborates with ICDK on the SDG Landing Pad program to help Danish companies work strategically with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
• BMWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMW partners with ICDK for Tech Scouting services to find smart and innovative solutions for production and logistics improvement.
• RocheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoche has a partnership program with ICDK Munich for tech scouting and innovation collaboration.
• Infineon Technologies AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfineon Technologies AG partners with ICDK Munich for Tech Scouting activities to find technology solutions.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDK Munich collaborated with TUM to organize the Train-The-Trainer programme on entrepreneurship, innovation and technology in Southern Germany.
• UnternehmerTUM AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnternehmerTUM Academy for Innovators delivered entrepreneurship modules for the Train-The-Trainer programme organized by ICDK Munich.
• BioM (Bavarian Biotech Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioM, the Bavarian Biotech Cluster Development, co-hosts the Bavarian-Danish Biobuilder Camp with ICDK Munich. The initiative brings together students and researchers from Bavaria and Denmark in business, biotech and life sciences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): Germany's publicly funded academic exchange organization that brokers international research and education partnerships. Comparable to ICDK in facilitating international research collaboration, though with a stronger academic rather than commercial focus.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization with a global network, partnering with industry on R&D and innovation. Comparable to ICDK's Munich/TUM-driven research collaboration work, though Fraunhofer is much larger and primarily an applied research operator rather than a matchmaking facilitator.

Direct peers

• Swissnex: Switzerland's global network for education, research, and innovation, with locations in major innovation hubs (Boston, San Francisco, Shanghai, etc.). Closely analogous to ICDK in being a government-linked global innovation facilitation platform.
• Business Finland: Finland's national innovation and export promotion agency, funded by the Finnish government with a global network of offices. Directly comparable to ICDK as a Nordic government-backed entity that helps domestic companies and researchers access international innovation ecosystems.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency funding R&D and connecting UK businesses to global innovation networks. Comparable to ICDK in its government-backed role of brokering innovation partnerships and funding research commercialization.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): Japanese government-related organization promoting trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, with offices in major innovation hubs. Comparable in mission and government-backed structure, though broader in scope (trade + investment vs ICDK's innovation focus).
• Netherlands Innovation Network: Dutch government-affiliated network that connects Dutch innovators to international markets and knowledge hubs. Comparable government-backed model for international innovation matchmaking focused on Dutch stakeholders.
• Vinnova (Sweden's Innovation Agency): Sweden's government agency for innovation funding and international collaboration. Highly comparable to ICDK in mission: funding and brokering international R&D partnerships for Swedish companies and research institutions.

Others

• EUREKA Network: Intergovernmental network for market-driven industrial R&D and innovation across Europe and beyond. Comparable as a cross-border innovation partnership facilitator, though operating at a multi-country rather than single-country level.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU-level program funding and supporting breakthrough innovation with global scaling ambitions. Adjacent rather than directly comparable — operates at EU rather than national level and focuses more on funding than matchmaking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovation-centre-denmark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovation Centre Denmark