Denmark has a strong digital infrastructure, but the implementation and commercialisation of artificial intelligence in Danish companies is lagging behind. A new initiative, AI Lab, aims to change that, with DKK 60 million in funding from the Danish Industry Foundation to BioInnovation Institute (BII). 

AI Lab will be a new innovation platform where early-stage AI startups gain access to funding, expert knowledge and testing environments in close collaboration with industry. The goal is to shorten the path from research to market and ensure that Denmark realises the significant potential of AI.

At the same time, AI Lab will place strong emphasis on bringing together industrial companies, startups and researchers to collaboratively develop and implement new AI solutions that can strengthen both innovation capacity and competitiveness in Danish industry.

“AI is no longer just a tool; it is an infrastructure that shapes how companies operate and compete. If Denmark is to remain competitive in this space, it requires a shift in how we collaborate across academia, startups and industry. AI Lab is a step in that direction. Here, we are creating a platform where ideas can be developed into solutions with real value for businesses and society,” says Thomas Hofman Bang, CEO of the Danish Industry Foundation.

Scientific-based companies must reach the market faster

AI Lab will be operated by BioInnovation Institute (BII), which since 2018, with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, has helped more than 140 startups primarily within life sciences, quantum technology and biosolutions mature their solutions and bring them closer to market.

By building on a well-established innovation platform that has already delivered results in other research and technology areas, BII is well positioned to expand its focus to AI and help early-stage startups commercialise new solutions and attract external capital.

“Denmark has a unique foundation to build on. We are a highly digitalised country with large amounts of publicly available data, strong research environments and companies that are well equipped to adopt new technologies. With AI Lab, we at BII aim to create a hub where the right stakeholders can meet and collaborate to turn advanced AI into solutions that make a tangible difference in industry,” says Jens Nielsen, CEO of BII, and continues:

“The goal is quite simply to shorten the path from a good idea in an academic environment to implementation in the market. At BII, we have proven that we are good at this in other areas, and we hope the same will be true for AI,” he adds.

The innovation platform will officially launch 1 June, 2026.

What startups gain from AI Lab: 

• Financial support without giving up equity, helping selected startups address the four key factors that most often cause AI startups to fail: data, compute, the right network and access to customers. 
• Access to unique datasets from Danish companies and institutions, which is essential for attracting external investments. 
• Direct access to paying customers through BII’s network, enabling startups to launch pilot projects in weeks rather than months. 
• Access to the necessary computing power and expert guidance, helping startups make the right technical decisions from the outset. 
• An AI-driven accelerator program tailored to each individual startup, with the aim of making them investment-ready. 

About the Danish Industry Foundation:

The Danish Industry Foundation’s mission is to promote the competitiveness of Danish businesses. Competitiveness as a concept should be interpreted broadly. The foundation is particularly concerned with strengthening companies’ ability to add value and create employment, thereby benefitting Denmark as a whole.

Competitiveness is crucial to the future success of Danish companies. The industry and business communities are key elements to growth, prosperity and job creation. In collaboration with the scientific and educational institutions, these key elements can create, market and export innovative business concepts and technologies, which will lead to sustainable growth, economically as well as environmentally. Read more here.

About BioInnovation Institute (BII):

At BioInnovation Institute (BII), we accelerate world-class innovation to benefit people and society. Through our programs, Venture Lab, Bio Studio and BII Quantum Lab, we support life science and deep tech start-ups with knowledge, network, infrastructure and funding of up to 3M EUR per project and 1.8 M EUR per start-up. With our expertise, network, funding and infrastructure, we empower early-stage startups and translational research projects to succeed and believe in the transformative power of innovation. Read more here.