ACCIÓ – the agency for business competitiveness under the Department of Business and Knowledge, through its ACCIÓ Foreign Trade and Investment Office in Copenhagen, has signed an agreement with Odense Robotics, Denmark’s leading robotics cluster. The objective is to foster collaboration between both organizations to create synergies and share knowledge between the Catalan and Danish ecosystems in the field of robotics.

Odense Robotics brings together over 130 companies employing 13,900 workers, as well as 8 educational centers focused on robotics and automation. The cluster aims to accelerate the growth and innovation of the sector in Denmark by connecting businesses, entrepreneurs, research centers, educational institutions, and all ecosystem stakeholders.

Under this agreement, ACCIÓ and Odense Robotics will promote the development of cooperative technological projects between companies from both regions and encourage the introduction of automation and innovative technologies into various industries. The agreement also includes organizing seminars, workshops, and missions. In fact, a delegation of companies from Odense Robotics plans to visit Barcelona in 2021.

According to Irmelin Ipsen, Director of the ACCIÓ Office in Copenhagen, “Signing this agreement is a very important step in the collaboration between Catalonia and Denmark, as the goal of the ACCIÓ Office in Copenhagen is to promote collaboration between the Nordic countries and Catalonia in trade, innovation, and investment for the mutual benefit of both regions.” Ipsen adds, “The robotics sector is essential for the future, and driving innovation in this field can be a great benefit to our industries. We want to actively support the bilateral exchange of technology and innovation, and we believe that the collaboration between Catalonia and Odense Robotics will be strengthened by this agreement.”

On the other hand, Mikkel Christoffersen, Cluster Director of Odense Robotics, highlights that “The main mission of Odense Robotics is to bring innovation to the entire Danish industry.” “It is very important for Danish companies with an international focus to be able to connect with relevant clients in the industry. The ecosystem in Denmark mainly consists of small, young, and highly innovative companies, and it is crucial that they meet the right clients at the right stage of their development, which is one of the reasons why we are so pleased to announce this agreement with ACCIÓ,” he adds.

ACCIÓ Foreign Trade and Investment Office in the Nordic Countries
ACCIÓ established its Foreign Trade and Investment Office in Copenhagen in 1991 with the aim of boosting trade relations between the two territories and promoting the development of joint projects in innovation. Specifically, the office specializes in supporting projects in the sectors of smart cities, life sciences, ICT, and robotics. From the Copenhagen office, in addition to Denmark, the Nordic and Baltic countries’ markets are also covered.

In this regard, at the end of 2019, Matilde Villarroya, Director-General of Industry, participated in the opening event of the new collaborative robotics hub established by Danish companies Universal Robots and MiR in the 22@ district of Barcelona. These 1,500m² facilities aim to foster innovation in the field of robotics and mobile robots, as well as the creation of synergies between developers, distributors, and manufacturers. According to ACCIÓ data, there are currently 117 Danish companies established in Catalonia, while Catalonia’s exports to Denmark totaled nearly €365 million in 2019.