Can Denmark become the Hollywood of Europe?

Government sets up growth team to boost creative industry

Could Denmark really become a mecca for European cinema production in the future? The Danish government certainly seems to hope so.

The business minister, Brian Mikkelsen, has established a growth team charged with increasing turnover and employment in the creative industry.

“The creative industry is one that is storming ahead globally, but in Denmark we are not taking advantage of the massive growth potential,” Mikkelsen told Børsen newspaper.

“We need to become better at utilising our strengths and the question is why we aren’t the Hollywood of Europe? The growth team needs to investigate whether there are barriers preventing that growth.”

READ MORE: Boss in translation: the foreign filmmakers who make movies in Danish

Capitalising on success
More specifically, the growth team will look into uncovering solutions that will help generate growth in companies that work with film, TV, gaming, design, fashion, advertisement and architecture.

Currently the create industry employs around 80,000 people and yields an annual turnover of about 230 billion kroner. Additionally, exports have risen from about 60 billion kroner in 2009 to 86 billion in 2015.

Having produced hit series like ‘The Bridge’, ‘The Killing’ and ‘Borgen’, Denmark is well-known for its TV series production abroad, but that doesn’t always translate into solid profit. Mikkelsen pointed out that an example of an area in which Denmark could improve.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs