Kalundborg is internationally recognized as the world's leading industrial symbiosis. Here, companies, utilities and the municipality collaborate to share resources and create concrete solutions that support both green transition and growth. Kalundborg is also home to Denmark's strongest biotech cluster, which is already attracting global investment. "Kalundborg is a living example of how green transition and industrial development can go hand in hand. A national industrial park status will allow us to scale the solutions we've already proven to work - and create even stronger interaction between industry, supply and research. This will not only strengthen Kalundborg, but the whole of Denmark," says Michael Hallgren, Production Director at Novo Nordisk and Chairman of the Board of Kalundborg Symbiosis.
World-class investments
The members of the Kalundborg Symbiosis have already put massive investments behind their ambitions. Novo Nordisk is currently investing DKK 65 billion in Kalundborg, while other companies have followed up with a further DKK 15 billion. New areas of over 700,000 m² have been purchased for future expansion. A national designation as an industrial park will strengthen the framework for new investments and maintain Kalundborg as one of Denmark's most important industrial powerhouses. "We invest here because the collaboration and infrastructure create value - both for our production and for Denmark as an industrial nation. Industrial park status will provide an even better framework for continued growth and innovation," says Michael Hallgreen, Production Director at Novo Nordisk in Kalundborg.
Resource optimization and sector coupling
Kalundborg stands as a beacon for industrial symbiosis, where companies, utilities and the municipality work closely together to optimize resource utilization. When we succeed in developing symbiosis flows in Kalundborg, these experiences can be scaled up and used to benefit both nationally and internationally. The activities and experiences created here should not only be seen as a local or regional gain, but also as an opportunity for scaling up across the country. This will not only strengthen Denmark's position in sustainability, but also put the country on the world map as a leading player in industrial symbiosis. An industrial park status will be crucial to secure the necessary contiguous areas to further strengthen collaboration on water, energy and materials. Better framework conditions and less bureaucracy will also promote collaboration between players and reduce the time from idea to implementation - central to the so-called Kalundborg model. "Kalundborg's strength lies in collaboration - across sectors and companies. For APM Terminals, this means that we can support the industry with efficient and sustainable logistics solutions that follow growth. A national industrial park will create a coherent framework where industry, transportation and supply can be developed in a common direction," says Mikael Gutman, Nordic Director of APM Terminals.
Innovation, education and global competitiveness
In Kalundborg, innovation is a joint project. The collaboration between industry, utilities, municipality and educational environments has already led to new solutions. With Campus Kalundborg, Helix Lab and the international school, education and research are closely linked to industry - for the benefit of both companies and young talent. Designation as an industrial park will make it possible to scale this model further and ensure attractive education and career paths that strengthen cohesion throughout the country.
Kalundborg Symbiosis and its members are united behind the ambition to make Kalundborg a national industrial park. "The synergies, investments and experience are already here - and the potential is enormous," says Bjarke Skaanning, Head of Secretariat for Kalundborg Symbiosis. With better industrial framework conditions and less bureaucracy, Kalundborg will put Denmark on the map as the world's leading hub for life science and biotechnology - for the benefit of the entire nation.