I veckan samlade TechBBQ över 10 000 deltagare i Köpenhamn. Det som 2013 började som en informell sammankomst i en park är i dag en av Europas större startup-konferenser, med fem scener och teman som spänner från AI och fintech till kapitalförsörjning och dual use-teknik. Life science har funnits med som eget fokusområde sedan 2023 och i år breddades det till att även omfatta deep tech-bolag som möjliggör life science-innovation.
Innan konferensen avrundades fick BioStock möjlighet att prata med Jan Thordsen, Senior Project Manager, Life Science & Deep Tech på TechBBQ, om hur satsningen vuxit fram, varför den är strategiskt viktig för Danmark – och vilken roll TechBBQ vill spela i det europeiska ekosystemet.
Jan Thordsen om TechBBQs life science-satsning
Why did you choose life science as a key focus area for TechBBQ this year?
– Life science has been a dedicated part of TechBBQ since 2023 and has grown organically year by year alongside the ecosystem. What initially started as a more focused initiative has gradually expanded to cover both human health and planetary health, and this year we are taking another step by putting greater emphasis on technologies such as AI and quantum as key enablers for the life science sector.
– This allows us to look at life science across a much broader spectrum, from healthcare and biotechnology to food, agriculture and sustainability, as well as the emerging technologies that will help shape the next generation of life science companies.
Why is life science an important focus area to cover?
– Life science is one of Denmark’s strongest industries and a major contributor to the Danish economy. In 2025, the sector accounted for approximately 22 per cent of Denmark’s total goods exports, illustrating both its economic importance and Denmark’s strong international position within the field.
– However, our ambition increasingly goes beyond Denmark and the Nordics. We want TechBBQ to contribute to strengthening the European life science ecosystem by connecting founders, researchers, investors, corporates and other key stakeholders across borders. Europe has world-class research, talent and companies, but strengthening the connections between our ecosystems is essential if we want to build greater European resilience and remain competitive with other global regions and superpowers.
What part has life science as a field played at TechBBQ throughout the years? And how does that compare to this year’s focus on the field?
– Our engagement with life science goes back several years. In 2021, we conducted a mapping of the Danish life science startup ecosystem to better understand its strengths, challenges and opportunities. In 2023, we took the next step by establishing life science as a dedicated focus area at TechBBQ.
– Since then, its role has grown significantly year by year. What started as a dedicated initiative has developed into the largest thematic area at TechBBQ today, with an increasing share of our programme, exhibition and international activities dedicated to the sector.
– This year represents our most ambitious life science effort to date, both in terms of scale and international reach. And we see that development continuing. Life science has become a long-term strategic focus for TechBBQ rather than simply an annual theme.
