The government will soon designate five industrial parks that will be crucial for business development in Denmark. Here is a suggestion on who it will be.
Minister for business Morten Bødskov during his visit to the joint proposal for an industrial park by Vordingborg and Næstved municipalities.
When the government points to the five industrial parks in a few weeks, it is not just about business development. It is about politics, signals, and balances. The municipalities that make it through the eye of the needle will gain access to faster regulatory processing, a unified state contact point, and - most importantly - a stamp from the state indicating that this is where they want to invest.
The suitors are many, and when the deadline expired in the spring, there were 31 bids. There has been criticism that only five industrial parks are being selected, and Venstre has left the door slightly open for more to be appointed. In Central Jutland, for example, they believe they could take all five spots alone.
It is worth noting that in addition to the Ministry of Business, the Ministry for Cities and Rural Districts is also part of the agreement to designate industrial parks. This signals that growth should occur away from the big cities and universities.
I am putting my head on the block here and trying to identify the five winners. And mention a couple of wildcards - call it a half-hedge.
Kalundborg: The industrial favourite
Press photo
If one name is certain, it is Kalundborg. Novo Nordisk is at the centre of a unique industrial cluster that can do something few other places in Denmark can: combine large-scale production, green energy, and international attraction. It was no coincidence that the Minister of Business, Morten Bødskov, held the first press conference here - it was a clear signal. Kalundborg is not just a favourite, but almost a given. It would be a business policy own goal to overlook Denmark's strongest industrial brand.
Aalborg (Nordjyllandsværket): Power-to-X and regional balance
North Jutland must have a place. Not just for the sake of balance, but because Aalborg genuinely has a strong card. The area by Nordjyllandsværket has access to a port, district heating, green electricity, and Power-to-X. Several investors have already shown interest.
An industrial park here will give the government the opportunity to link growth to green energy and ensure that industrial policy does not drown in eastern and central Jutland projects.
Fredericia (Taulov Dry Port): Logistics and pace
If the state wants quick results, Fredericia is an obvious choice. Taulov is one of Denmark's logistical hubs, where motorway, railway, and port meet.
Here, there is no need to wait for local plans or site development. The state can place an industrial park in the heart of Danish logistics at a stroke. The argument for Fredericia is simple: pace and volume.
Lolland (Rødbyhavn): There are 67 billion good reasons
The plan for the industrial park in Rødbyhavn
An industrial park with a red carpet is coming to Rødbyhavn. Lolland represents the investment the state has already made with the Femern connection. 67 billion (the budget is 55 billion in 2015 prices) is being spent on infrastructure - now a commercial return must be created. The location at Rødbyhavn has a port, motorway, and green energy. The weakness is the workforce. The region lacks skilled workers and specialists. But the Femern connection opens up a new labour market in northern Germany. If the government wants to show that the periphery is not forgotten, Lolland is the obvious choice. It is politically very difficult to overlook.
Skive (GreenLab): The energy model of the future
GreenLab Skive might be the most visionary proposal. Here, wind and solar are directly connected to businesses. Work is being done with sector coupling, circular economy, and green production on a full scale.
For the government, Skive is the opportunity to show the world that Denmark not only talks about green transition - we experiment with it. GreenLab is not just a business area. It is an international beacon that can attract both investments and attention.
Joker 1: The border region - access to labour and the EU market
If the government wants to tackle Denmark's biggest business policy challenge - the lack of labour - the answer might lie in the border region. Aabenraa (Padborg/Kassø) and Tønder (Bredebro) offer industrial parks that can draw on the German labour market just south of the border.
Here, the benefit is double: Danish companies can recruit qualified labour across the border, and the industrial parks are placed directly in the EU's energy corridor. Politically, a border park will also send a signal that foreign labour is not a necessary evil, but an active part of Denmark's growth strategy.
Lolland is the favourite, but Vordingborg and Næstved have an argument that is hard to overlook: Tappernøje/Bårse is located on the motorway, by the railway, and close to the Femern connection. If the state has invested 55 billion in a tunnel, why not support the development of the entire southern Zealand hinterland?
At the same time, Vordingborg/Næstved has an advantage that Lolland struggles with: access to a larger labour market. The commuting distance to the capital area is shorter, and thus there is easier access to the skilled workers and specialists that the industry is crying out for. A park here could become the government's pragmatic alternative if Rødbyhavn is deemed too vulnerable.
Joker 3: Odense/Lindø - Funen volume and export
Funen is absent among the five obvious favourites, but Odense/Lindø Industrial Park can change that picture. Here, a business area is already ready with Vestas, Fayard, and a strong offshore and robotics cluster. There is a port, infrastructure, and room for expansion.
The advantage of Lindø is that the state gets an industrial park that can deliver from day one. It is not about visions on the drawing board, but about an existing industrial base that can be scaled up. If the government wants to show that the whole country is included - also Funen - Lindø is an obvious joker.
Joker 4: Esbjerg - energy metropolis with hydrogen and offshore
The argument for Esbjerg is obvious: if the state wants to reward existing strength and export, there is no stronger card. But precisely the strength can also be the weakness - because perhaps the government would rather use the industrial parks to boost areas that need more of a push. Therefore, Esbjerg is the classic joker: strong enough to get in - but perhaps too strong in itself.
