A grant of DKK 10.3 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will support the MISTI MIT-Denmark programme. MISTI MIT-Denmark is a successful internship programme focused on raising the profile of Denmark as a hub for innovation and increasing the potential for talent recruitment and collaboration.
MISTI MIT-Denmark aligns with the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s strategy 2030 – with one focus of the strategy being to boost the life-science ecosystem in Denmark. Furthermore, it fits perfectly with the Foundation’s focus on educational initiatives within innovation for the development of the next generation of translational students, researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders.
“We want to drive and boost the innovation ecosystem in Denmark. A key aspect of this is to bring the best talents to the region,” says Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. “MIT is one of the top universities in the world and so with MISTI MIT-Denmark we get access to a unique pool of students and the possibility of retaining some of these talents once the internship is completed. The programme has established itself as a fertile ground on which industry and research institutions in Denmark can initiate and further build collaboration with MIT, and we look forward to the next phase in the programme’s evolution.”
Since its launch in 2018, MISTI MIT-Denmark has facilitated internships for talented students from the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Danish companies, start-ups and research institutions. Now, with a grant of DKK 10.3 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the expansion of the programme is secured, with up to 100 MIT students to be enrolled over a 5-year period, starting in summer 2023.
The programme falls under the umbrella of MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives), a global scheme that provides MIT students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and innovation through international internships.
The strong track-record of this programme over the last few years, with significant immediate and long-term benefits for the MIT students and Danish hosts, has made it increasingly popular with both students and companies alike.
Expansion and scientific focus
The grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will help MISTI MIT-Denmark increase its focus on internships in start-ups researching and developing solutions for sustainability, including sustainable agriculture and food systems, renewable energy, and carbon capture technologies, as well as start-ups within quantum computing, artificial intelligence and robotics. The BioInnovation Institute (BII) Foundation, an accelerator incubator for start-ups, will help facilitate a number of these internships. The aim is to provide up-and-coming companies with access to a unique workforce of the best talents and to strengthen Denmark’s start-up ecosystem.
Furthermore, to accelerate project development and strengthen infrastructure, the overall number of internships (4-12 months) will be increased significantly over the next 5 years. As MISTI MIT-Denmark is a national programme, internships will be available in host companies across all of Denmark, such as Odense Robotics, an accelerator incubator for robotics based on the Danish island of Funen.
Mutually beneficial
MISTI MIT-Denmark enables students to contribute to innovative research in Denmark. Working with leading researchers in their field of study, they gain valuable hands-on experience in cutting-edge projects and initiatives and expand their global network.
The programme also provides students with the opportunity to experience local culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and build relationships. Students complete their internships with a lasting connection to their internship host company and Denmark, with the vast majority expressing an interest in returning to work in Denmark in the future.
In return, host companies utilise and learn from the students’ significant and valuable knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and strengthen their workforce for the duration of the internship.
“MISTI MIT-Denmark provides a valuable professional, educational and cultural experience for MIT students. It is a unique opportunity for them to work in Denmark, a country which is ranked as one of the most innovative in the world, and grow their international network in their chosen field,” explains Madeline Smith, Managing Director of MISTI MIT-Denmark. “Companies and organisations hosting MIT interns benefit from the students’ knowledge, fresh perspectives and enthusiasm, plus the new connection and collaboration with MIT. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
