Press release 12-05-2015 Copenhagen Metropolitan Area - A growing Metropolis The Danish Government has released its “Capital Area Strategy” in order to improve conditions for growth in the capital area. The aim is to gain a greater cut of the international growth. The strategy includes 32 initiatives that aim at strengthening the Capital's opportunities for economic development and prosperity. Cooperation is a key word as several initiatives seek to improve cooperation between stakeholders in municipalities, regions and the government. Also across the Sound to Sweden there is a need for increased cooperation. Good cooperation improves the possibilities of retaining and attracting investments and thus generating growth throughout the metropolitan area for the benefit of Denmark as a whole. Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior, Morten Østergaard says: “There is a strong competition between metropolises such as Stockholm, Hamburg and Copenhagen, when it comes to attracting investments, companies, highly skilled labor, knowledge, students and tourists. As the metropolis of Denmark, it is necessary that the Greater Copenhagen area makes use of its full potential and does its best in this competition. Denmark has a high degree of internal economic integration, which causes growth in the Capital area to spread to the rest of the country. The Capital Area Strategy, and the 32 initiatives presented, should be viewed as a first step to enhanced cooperation between the government and the regional efforts in Denmark with a coherent and cross-cutting strategy.” All municipalities and regions in the Zealand Region and the Capital Region have already begun collaborating on growth-issues brought together under the headline "Greater Copenhagen". The Scania Region in Sweden and the municipalities in Scania welcome closer cooperation and currently discuss the establishment of an organization consisting of all 79 municipalities and the three regions. Chairman of Greater Copenhagen cooperation-network and The Local Government Regional Council, mayor of Municipality of Albertslund Steen Christiansen, says: “Each of us is too small to really make our mark in the international competition. Together, however, we can reach a size that is essential for competitiveness. We can put ourselves on the world map as a metropolis with highly skilled labor, good infrastructure and world class industry clusters such as cleantech and medtech. This requires close cooperation - not only among municipalities - but also among municipalities, regions and the Central Government. Therefore, I am delighted that the government will work on creating better conditions for growth in the Capital Area and supporting the work already initiated with the Greater Copenhagen-network”. The Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, says: “It's great that the government has put forward a thorough and constructive strategy on how to get even more growth in the capital area. At the same time, we must ensure balanced growth throughout Denmark. When the capital area is growing, the whole country will benefit from it For example 173,000 Danes from other municipalities daily commute to Copenhagen Municipality and bring back taxes worth 59 billion DKK to the municipalities they live in.” Telefon 72 28 24 00 Fax 72 28 24 01 [email protected] www.oim.dk An important element of the Capital Area Strategy is the development of a good research environment which it is essential to many new businesses. With the construction of one of the world's most advanced microscopes, European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, and the associated data center in Copenhagen, the number of visiting scientists per year is estimated to be between 2000 and 3000. Therefore, a strategy for ESS is made to ensure stronger cooperation between education, research and business. Minister for Higher Education and Science, Sofie Carsten Nielsen, says: “ESS is a huge investment which enables Denmark to take part in the upcoming fourth industrial revolution. With the ESS Denmark will be at the forefront when it comes to developing new materials. New materials will lead to major technological breakthroughs. For example, the development of new, strong and ultra-light fiber materials can create wind turbines producing significantly more electricity and cars using very little energy. And we can get safe medicines tailormade to the individual patient. The potential is huge. Businesses and researchers in Copenhagen - and the rest of Denmark – now have the opportunity to be at the forefront of the development. It is crucial in order to create jobs, wealth and prosperity.” Find more here (in Danish) Further information: Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior, Chief of Press, Sigga Nolsøe,+45 22 26 95 07, [email protected] Greater Copenhagen, President Steen Christiansen, +45 43 68 60 04, [email protected] Copenhagen Municipality, Chief of Press, Rikke Egelund, +45 31 47 94 97, [email protected] Ministry of Higher Education and Science: Chief of Press, Jesper Langergaard, +45 72 31 80 20, [email protected] 2