Novozymes named 2012 Transatlantic Company of the Year

American Chamber honours biotech company for its alliances and investments in the US

Danish biotech company Novozymes has been recognised as the Transatlantic Company of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark.

“They have won this year’s prize due to its strong alliances based on innovation as well as its substantial investments in the US,” jury member Sten Scheibye, chairman of the Danish Trade Council, explained. He added that Novozymes is exceptionally well integrated in American industry. “They have partnerships with major US corporations such as Procter & Gamble and POET, which is the world’s largest producer of biofuel. These strong strategic alliances are based on continuous product development and innovation.”

 

AmCham Denmark’s Transatlantic Company of the Year is awarded to an AmCham member company with business interests in the US that has demonstrated significant achievements in several areas, like investments in the US or strategic partnerships.

 

Novozymes president and chief executive Steen Riisgaard was grateful for the prize, noting that Novozymes is the world leader in the development and production of industrial enzymes. 

 

“We’ve had sales in the US for many years, and in the late ‘70s, we established production and research in North Carolina,” Riisgaard told The Copenhagen Post. “Today we have operations in several states with about one thousand employees in North America, and soon we will open a new enzyme plant in Blair, Nebraska. North America means a lot to us, and, of course, it is nice to get recognition for our success.”

 

AmCham’s executive director, Stephen Brugger, added that it’s important to remain focused on improving the transatlantic trade. “Although there is considerable focus on the BRIC countries [Brazil, Russia, India and China] these days, it is worth noting that the US and EU together still represent the world’s largest single economic relationship with a value of approximately $5 trillion American dollars,” he said.