New recruitment methods strengthen Danish companies’ access to international specialists

Recent years of collaboration between Clean, Odense Robotics, and Copenhagen Capacity demonstrate how joint efforts and the testing of new recruitment methods can strengthen Danish companies’ ability to attract and retain international specialists.

How do we ensure that Denmark continues to have access to top talent within green and technological solutions in the years ahead? Experience from this collaboration points to one clear answer: it requires cooperation across companies and key stakeholders.

This is illustrated by the project “Talent to a Green Denmark”, where Clean, together with Odense Robotics and Copenhagen Capacity, has developed and tested concrete formats that bring companies and international specialists closer together. The initiatives have focused on supporting growth and ensuring that development and technological breakthroughs continue to take place in Denmark.

Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics, explains:

“If Denmark is to maintain its position as a world-class robotics nation, we must be among the best in the world at attracting and retaining international talent. Our companies need access to global competencies, and joint initiatives such as ‘Talent to a Green Denmark’ have been crucial. Without access to international skills, we risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive global market.”

The project gave Danish companies access to international specialists

In collaboration with Odense Robotics and Copenhagen Capacity, Clean has worked purposefully through Talent to a Green Denmark on a model that gives Danish companies more and better opportunities to meet potential employees among international specialists.

This has occurred through international attraction campaigns targeting experienced professionals, as well as through physical meetings and company visits, during which international students have gained insight into how their skills are applied in practice within Danish companies.

Sean Pádraig Coogan, Project Manager at Clean, says:

“For our member companies, it has been highly valuable to gain access to the broad international recruitment base reached by these campaigns. Connecting skilled people from around the world with Danish companies is essential — and initiatives such as the ‘A State of Denmark’ campaign have been a significant support in addressing this challenge.”

For some companies, recruiting international students already living in Denmark is a more immediate option than attracting experienced specialists from abroad.

To support this, the project has carried out recruitment activities directly at major industry events such as LOOP Forum, RobotBrag and R-25. Here, students and companies have met in professional settings characterised by knowledge sharing, technology and current trends. For companies, this provides a practical and efficient way to meet relevant candidates; for students, it offers a more inspiring alternative to traditional career fairs.

A different kind of bus tour

One of the project’s additional formats is the so-called Bus Tours, where groups of international students visit three companies in one day, gaining insight into technologies, workplace culture, and concrete job opportunities.

One example was a visit by 40 engineering students from around the world to several companies, including GMT Robotics in Brøndby. Marketing Coordinator Renate Trasune explains:

“Sometimes you need to invest early to achieve long-term success. When the students visited GMT Robotics, we didn’t just showcase our solutions — we also gained energy, new perspectives and a strong dialogue about future technologies.”

Group photo from the international DTU students’ bus tour and company visits, including GMT Robotics.

Collaboration as a strength for Danish companies

Experience from the collaboration shows that Danish companies’ recruitment needs are best addressed collectively — when companies, knowledge environments, and business support actors work closely together.

Asbjørn Overgaard, CEO of Copenhagen Capacity, says:

“If we want to succeed in attracting international specialists, we need to make Denmark an easy, attractive, and meaningful choice. That requires collaboration across sectors. Skills for a Green Denmark shows how shared ambitions can be translated into concrete initiatives.”

The methods and activities tested through the project have contributed to supporting the green transition and developing future skills by attracting and retaining international specialists. At the same time, the experience points to clear potential for similar initiatives to benefit even more companies going forward.