Thank you for your warm words of welcome. Thank you, Mr. McKeon, President & CEO of Texas Medical Center - for your hospitality and engagement in exploring the potential opportunities for life science collaboration between Texas and Denmark.

We are facing common challenges that are both large and complex.  And with such challenges we must look to collaboration and the sharing of knowledge, expertise and know-how.  Medical science and innovation are essential in our quest for long and healthy lives and in protecting us from genetic, infectious and chronic disease.

One of our greatest challenges is our aging populations. We live longer (and that is good), but longevity comes with a price. For example, that an increasing number of people are facing and suffering life style and chronic diseases.

Today, many such conditions can in ever increasingly sophisticated ways fortunately be managed and treated.

This creates tremendous expectations from patients. And at the same time, it creates coping challenges for our healthcare systems, our hospitals, our communities and our medical workers. Not least in terms of cost and opportunity.

The Texas Medical Center – which today is the largest medical center in the world - was built on its’ Founders vision to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of people. In Denmark, we share this vision.

The Danish ambition is a healthcare sector that delivers innovative solutions to promote healthy lives for all and high-quality treatment to those who need it. Naturally, our approaches vary, which allows us to look at our common challenges from new and different perspectives. When we do that, we look beyond what we know and open up for new ways of thinking and new ways of doing.

We discover new, innovative and better solutions.

Denmark – is a country of only 5.8 million people – and yet, Denmark has emerged as a world leader in life sciences and health care:

We have increased patient satisfaction of healthcare services and have improved quality and productivity, while at the same time keeping healthcare expenditures in check.

Actually, Denmark is among the EU countries with the highest patient satisfaction and lowest GDP spend on health care.

We have a strong, high quality life science cluster throughout the value chain.

Measured by market size per capita, the medical device industry in Denmark is the second largest in Europe. Measured in drugs per capita, Denmark has the largest commercial drug development pipeline in Europe.

We rank first in the world on digitalization and we are a global leader in the deployment and use of Health IT systems.

Furthermore, Denmark is widely known for quality patient data and one of the best and most unique data collection systems in existence.  

Danish life science exports account for 17% of Danish exports, which is a clear indication that the quality of Danish healthcare solutions is recognized throughout the world. It is the industry’s goal to double this by 2025. And in support of this The Danish Government has issued a Strategy on Life Science.

We have a lot of knowledge, know-how and expertise and on the basis of this strong foundation, we aim to further strengthen

Danish life science by cultivating stronger international collaboration. This is the reason why we are here. We have a lot to offer, as does Texas and we see an enormous potential in a strategic collaboration between your state and our country. 

And today we take the first steps in exploring the possibilities and opportunities of such a collaboration and the benefits it can bring to both our life science eco-systems and the people of the world.

Thank you.