The document summarizes Denmark's entrepreneurship policy, which focuses on promoting good framework conditions for entrepreneurs and SMEs, removing barriers to growth, and enhancing key sectors. It outlines a pilot program to invite talented international growth entrepreneurs to Denmark through a 5 million DKK EU tender, granting them a 12-month residence and work permit. The specific elements of the program are still to be determined, and its goals are to ensure good conditions for entrepreneurs, promote Denmark as an entrepreneurial nation, and have at least 15 individuals stay and work in Denmark through the program.

1. Tendencies in Danish growth
entrepreneurship policy
Nordic Growth Entrepreneurship
Helsinki
13 September 2012

2. Taking the big leap to start up a new firm?
Or falling into the abyss of desperation?

3. ”The Government
will pursue an active
entrepreneurship policy”
(Government work program, 2012)

4. Danish business- and growth policy
rests on three principles
Promote good framework conditions in general
For all entrepreneurs and SME’s.
Remove barriers to growth
Support reallocation of ressources from less productive to
more productive business activities.
A focused effort for key sectors
Enhance the opportunities for firms to develop and spread
new technologies and solutions. Not least in key sectors
where Denmark has particular potential to be top performing.

5. International opportunities
 ”… an open country that takes
advantage of the opportunities
of globalization”.
(Government whitepaper, 2011)
 ”Highly skilled foreigners may
possess specific expertice and
can thus help to increase
Danish companies’ value
creation and presence in export
markets”.
(Government work program, 2012)

6. Pilot program: Talented international
growth entrepreneurs to Denmark
 Invite talented entrepreneurs with a proven growth
potential to Denmark – and make them stay!
 Increase awareness of the opportunity to obtain
residence- and work permit in Denmark to operate as
a self-employer.
 Acquire knowledge about what kind of program –
which elements – provides the best possible results.

7. Facts about the EU tender
 The maximum contract with one team is 5 million
DKK. The maximum contract value of the tender is
10 million DKK
 The call is at 15 October 2012
 Program period is 18 months – the entrepeneurs are
granted residence- and work permit for 12 months
 Cooperation with the Danish Agency for Labour
Retention and International Recruitment and a panel
of specialists

8. What will be the specific elements
of the program?
We’ll have to wait and see
 Success of the program from A-Z
 Good conditions for the entrepreneurs from the day they
become participants in the program until they leave it
 Promoting Denmark as a cool and attractive
entrepreneurial nation
 Minimum 15 individuals (solo or in teams) obtain a permit
to stay and work for one year.

9. What will happen after the program?
We don’t know yet, but…
 The entrepreneurs can apply for extension of the residence-
and work permit but they will no longer be supported by the
program
 The tale about Denmark as an entrepreneurial nation has been
told all over the world and more growth entrepreneurs will in
the future consider Denmark an opportunity
 There is a proven concept of a program which has been found
effective in order to develop the growth potential of
international entrepreneurs in Denmark

10. Thank you for your attention.
Dorte Heegaard Johansen
dohejo@erst.dk