Twin City Hub explores the Øresund cross-border innovation ecosystem
The project’s consortium conducted a three-day fact-finding mission to the Øresund region. The Denmark-Sweden innovation ecosystem blends talent, capital, infrastructure, and innovative ideas. The Twin City Hub project aims to develop a similar interconnected manufacturing ecosystem between Vienna and Bratislava.
Key to success – joint approach by the public and private sectors in priority areas
During visits to trade associations, government agencies, universities, science parks, start-up incubators and research institutions, participants sought to identify the key to success – in cooperation between the public and private sectors, infrastructure development, and the financing and recruitment of talent to drive innovation in the cross-border region.
The discussions highlighted the value of a joint approach by the public and private sectors to overcoming challenges, finding win-win options for ecosystem stakeholders, and focusing on priority areas in the long term. The agreed priority areas always benefit society. This also includes coordinated awareness-raising, often using success stories and use cases.
Impressions
Intensive cooperation and a needs-based approach
Denmark and southern Sweden are developing strong, interconnected ecosystems. Participants expressed interest in the close collaboration between universities and businesses, the extensive joint research activities, and the ways in which industry clusters facilitate the connection between universities and SMEs. Other areas that attracted attention were the close collaboration between industry and young people, including teacher training, and the ‘test before you invest’ concept in SME digitalisation.
A well-developed infrastructure attracts talent, while government-supported high-risk projects facilitate groundbreaking innovations, forming the basis for a successful future for the entire society.
