Novozymes Partners on Scientist Exchange Program Between India and Denmark

Novozymes has a significant business in India with over 400 employees. In recent years the company has invested to develop a state-of-the-art R&D facility in Bangalore.

14 Aug 2012 --- Novozymes and the Holck-Larsen Foundation have joined forces to work with Danish universities to set up a scientist exchange program – the first of its kind – between India and Denmark.

“With many, many excellent universities, India has a large population of talented scientists," says Per Falholt, Executive Vice President and head of R&D at Novozymes. “At the same time Novozymes has a need for talented scientists with a global mindset. Denmark also educates excellent biotechnologists, who could benefit from going on an international assignment to give them a more global perspective. My dream is to connect Indian and Danish science in the field of biotechnology."

Per Falholt continues: “This is why we're establishing this scientist exchange program to provide funds to send scientists off on an educational international assignment. I'm sure the program will benefit both our countries and Novozymes.”

Novozymes has a significant business in India with over 400 employees. In recent years the company has invested to develop a state-of-the-art R&D facility in Bangalore. The new exchange program will also help to attract scientists with an international mindset and develop Novozymes as an attractive career opportunity in India’s scientific community. 

Per Falholt elaborates: “Our global R&D organization allows us to work across borders and cultures to foster innovation. In-depth knowledge of regional markets and opportunities is very important, but collaborating with colleagues from the other side of the globe often brings a new perspective, which can leapfrog the technology.”

The new exchange program, which is the first of its kind between India and Denmark, is funded to the tune of DKK 2 million a year by Novozymes and the Holck-Larsen Foundation. The program will run from 2013 to 2019, and each year it will allow approximately 25 scientists to participate in exchange visits between India and Denmark. The funds will be managed by the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University.

The new exchange program contracts are officially signed by Novozymes, the Holck-Larsen Foundation and representatives from the participating Danish universities at 11 a.m. on August 13 at Asia House, India Kaj 16, Copenhagen. 

The Holck-Larsen Foundation was established by the Danish-Indian engineer Henning Holck-Larsen who, together with fellow engineer Søren Toubro, founded the Indian company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in 1938. Today, Larsen & Toubro is an international company with multibillion-U.S. dollar revenue.