Denmark: a robot enthusiastic nation
For a country without an active automobile industry, this ranking is impressive. In fact, if one compares countries without an active automobile industry, only Singapore surpass Denmark on a global scale in terms of the number of robots per employee according to the World Robot Statistic Report 2017.
A strong robotics and automation cluster in and around the Danish city of Odense and several knowledge institutions and universities focusing on research and education within this industry including the Technical University of Denmark and Aalborg University supports Denmark’s top position in the World Robot Statistic Report 2017.
Denmark has a long tradition of being at the forefront in regards to adopting digital solutions as part of daily life and work. This positive and open attitude towards digital technology is one of the key elements when it comes to an increased use of robotics and automated solutions in companies in Denmark. Of course also the need for companies to stay competitive on a global marked is of great relevance.
Danes welcome robots
The International Federation of Robotics expects an average growth rate of 20–25% in the robotics industry worldwide from 2018 – 2020.In Denmark, the robotics ecosystem is already well equipped for the future. According to a new survey, conducted among all EU countries, the Danish population has one of Europe’s most open and positive attitudes toward using robots and digital solutions in both their work and everyday life.
Furthermore, this is supported by Denmark’s top raking on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2017, highlighting an outstanding use of digital technologies by companies and citizens.
For example, while 30% of the average populations in the EU belief that it will take more than 20 years before it will become normal for robots to do housework, 27% of the Danish population expect this to happen within the next five years.
Mikkel Christoffersen, Business Manager at Odense Robotics, point to the existence of a well-educated workforce in Denmark to be among the reasons for the positive attitude towards robots.
In Denmark, we welcome changes due to our high educational level. Another important factor, one need to take into account in order to understand the widespread positive attitude in Denmark, is the fact that the Danish labour unions are positive towards robotics. They acknowledge that robotics can increase the number of jobs in Denmark.
Among these are Aalborg University and the Technical University of Denmark offering university degrees with a specific focus on robotics.
In addition to this, the University of Southern Denmark just expanded their robotics research field to include medical robot technology and robot welfare technology and at the Danish Centre for Robot Technology, which is part of the Danish Technological Institute, where robot experts work on research and development on a daily basis.
Our focused investments in robotics research and education is supported by the Danish governments new ‘Digital Growth Strategy’, which allocates 134 million EUR to secure and enhance Denmark’s position as an attractive digital hub. It will provide a boost to the Danish tech ecosystem and improve conditions for businesses to be able to utilise the full benefits of new technologies.
Denmark – a dense robotics centre in Europe
The ecosystem is facilitated by the Danish cluster organisation, Odense Robotics, who work to develop and support it by delivering platforms and tools for rrecruitment, business development, start-ups, market insight and investor relations.
There are a wealth of reasons as to why Odense has the strongest robotics ecosystem in Europe. The opportunities for start-ups to create a commercial success, a unique tradition for collaboration, the presence of already well-established companies severing as role models, an increasing interest from investors and a joint effort to attract talents are just some of the highlights of our world-class high-tech cluster eco-system.
In 2017, Odense Robotics received the Cluster Management Excellence Label GOLD as the first robotics cluster in the world.