New report: Life science industry’s biggest technological challenges

The report maps 'Technological needs and challenges in the life science industry in Denmark'. It is published with the Danish Life Science Cluster, Lægemiddelindustriforeningen LIF, Medicoindustrien, DI Life Science, Knowledge Hub Zealand, Medicon Valley Alliance and Life Science Fyn. 

The report's results indicate that green transformation and digitalisation are significantly higher on the sector's agenda than when the first survey was conducted three years ago.

At the same time, the report indicates that recruitment difficulties are the biggest challenge for the entire industry and individual companies. When asked directly, 51% of the responding companies say that recruitment is their biggest challenge, and among the medium-sized and large companies, the number is roughly 70%. 

Green transformation and digitalisation higher on life science sector agenda 

The report documents that life science companies have a strong focus on green transformation, as 78% respond that green transformation is either important or very important. This figure was below 50% in 2020.

Correspondingly, there is also a high focus on digitalisation, as 85% now consider the area important or very important – in 2020, the number was 87%.

"The report paints a clear picture of a Danish life science industry running at full steam ahead with the twin transition - the work with digitalisation as a means towards a greener and more sustainable future. In every way, the right development is underway, helped along the way by new technologies, data and broad innovation collaboration with actors from the entire life science value chain. We are experiencing great demand for technological skills, and the report emphasises even more clearly how much companies both want and can move in favour of sustainability," says Hanne Christensen, CEO, FORCE Technology. 

Sustainability and digitisation follow the spirit of the times 

The increased focus on the green transition is shown, among other things, by the fact that a considerably larger proportion of the companies have now started or advanced with initiatives such as implementation of ESG reporting, conversion of production towards less waste and energy consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions, improvement of products' environmental footprint, a transition to more sustainable materials, etc.

The companies also reply that data in 2023 has a higher value. This is evident by the fact that data is now being used to a much greater extent throughout the entire production chain, from using data to optimise manufacturing processes to utilising usage data in product development to use in documentation and reporting. This represents a significant development compared to 2020.

Increasingly, companies are using simulation, robotics, AI and machine learning – but are still struggling to reap the full benefits of these technologies.