North Carolina's Newest Growth Opportunity

Recently, Opportunity for NC Board Member Drew Heath hosted the Danish Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen, Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business & Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov, and state legislative leaders in a discussion about one of the most dynamic international partnerships in the United States.  

From Idea to Impact

North Carolina has quietly become one of Denmark’s closest business partners in America. Danish companies have invested billions of dollars here, creating more than 6,500 jobs across the state. Those investments aren’t just numbers — they represent communities revitalized, careers launched, and industries transformed.

From biotechnology to clean energy, Danish innovation has taken root in North Carolina’s fertile business ecosystem. The partnership is helping both sides build resilient, sustainable industries ready for the future.

Conversations That Spark Change

During the visit, Danish and North Carolina leaders came together to discuss how to take this partnership to new heights. Among them were Senators Benton Sawrey, Buck Newton, and Tim Moffitt and Representatives Hugh Blackwell and Karl Gillespie, whose leadership has been key in making the state a magnet for global investment and talent.

The meetings reflected a clear message: when business, government, and academia collaborate across borders, big things happen.

Innovation in Motion

The delegation also toured some of the state’s most innovative sites:

• Novonesis, home to North America’s largest enzyme factory, where sustainability meets world-class science.

• Novo Nordisk, whose Durham facilities are a testament to the future of biotech and advanced manufacturing.

• The Alexandria Center for AgTech, where the conversation turned to how agriculture and biotechnology can grow hand in hand.

The trip culminated with the opening of Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ new facility in Holly Springs, modeled after its flagship site in Hillerød, Denmark. It’s a perfect symbol of this collaboration — two regions learning from each other, advancing technology, and creating opportunities together.

More Than a Partnership

What’s happening between Denmark and North Carolina goes beyond economic ties. It’s about shared purpose — a belief that business can be both innovative and responsible, that progress can be sustainable, and that collaboration across continents can make communities stronger.

As Minister Bødskov put it, this is just the beginning. The relationship has energy, momentum, and a sense of possibility.

The next chapter of transatlantic innovation is being written right here — in labs, factories, and boardrooms across North Carolina and Denmark. And from the look of things, it’s going to be an inspiring story.