Helix Lab - Kalundborg

Five Years of Connections, Collaboration, and Impact This June, Helix Lab celebrated its first five years in Kalundborg. To mark this milestone, we spoke to members of our network Axel William Larsen, Krist Gernaey, and Emmanouil (Manolis) Papadakis to hear how Helix Lab has created value and made an impact on their professional and personal journeys. Three themes stood out in our interviews: 1. Talent Pipeline “I can think of several examples where the collaboration with Helix Lab has made a difference for Novo Nordisk. One important contribution has been the talent pipeline. Helix Lab has helped create strong connections with students who later continued their careers within Novo Nordisk or in other industries in the Kalundborg area.” Emmanouil (Manolis) Papadakis, Scientific Academia Specialist at Novo Nordisk 2. A reference point for collaborations “Looking back on the past five years, I am particularly impressed by how quickly Helix Lab has become an established and recognized part of the ecosystem in Kalundborg. It has evolved from an idea and a building under construction into a national and international reference point for collaboration between universities, students, and companies. Few would have imagined such extensive development from the beginning.” Krist Gernaey Professor of Industrial Fermentation Technology at DTU Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Chair of the Helix Lab Board of Directors 3. A strong local network “Even though I have been employed for several years, Helix Lab is still an important part of my CV and something that is recognized locally in Kalundborg. When I applied for positions at Novo Nordisk, I listed Thomas Bartholdy F. Neergaard (former Scientific Director at Helix Lab) as a reference, without knowing that he had previously been the manager of the person who eventually hired me. That was, of course, a coincidence, but it also illustrates how strong the Helix Lab network really is.” Axel William Larsen Larsen, former Fellow and Process Scientist at Novo Nordisk. A huge thanks to all three of you for putting your thoughts into words! The interviews can be read in full on our website (link in comments).

ON BIRDS AND TEAMS How do you stay focused on teamwork when a giant bald eagle is heading straight for your arm, claws first? That was one of the challenges during our team exercise at Falkecenter Samsø this week. Working with eagles, hawks and owls required us to pay attention to the birds, the wind, and each other. To keep the birds moving safely between us, everyone had to be ready to receive, ready to let go, and aware of what was happening around them. In this process we learned more than facts about falconry. Our instructor, Louise, observed that we seemed to know each other well as a team. People gave each other space. Nobody tried to dominate. We paid attention to each other's signals and adjusted when needed. There was a natural flow between us. We don't think that is something you build during a single team-building exercise. Rather, exercises like this reveal what is already there. After two days together on this beautiful island in the Kattegat, we are returning with an even stronger sense of connection and a deeper understanding of how each of us approaches change, uncertainty and challenges. And, as some of the photos demonstrate, we have also learned exactly what your expression signals, when an eagle is about to land very close to your face.  

THE POTENTIALS OF INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS FOR STUDENTS Congratulations to our talented Fellow Emil Thorsbjerg, who has finished his MSc Thesis Project from DTU - Technical University of Denmark in collaboration with NNE. Emil holds a BSc from Professionshøjskolen Absalon in Kalundborg, and decided to return to the town to become a Helix Lab Fellow, because of the potentials of industry collaboration 🚀 We wish you all the best!

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 – 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 2026 Helix Lab is excited to announce a call for three collaborative PhD research projects between industry partners in Kalundborg and Danish universities. The program supports research collaborations that combine strong academic environments with industrial relevance and application. The PhD students will become part of both a university research environment and the interdisciplinary innovation ecosystem in Kalundborg, while spending approximately half of the project period at Helix Lab and the collaborating company in Kalundborg. The PhD projects are fully financed through the Helix Lab PhD Program, covering PhD salary, tuition fees, and some project-related operating costs. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 Applications must be submitted jointly by: • A main supervisor from a Danish university • A co-supervisor from an industrial partner in Kalundborg The main supervisor must be an associate professor, professor, or equivalent senior researcher eligible to supervise PhD students at a Danish university. Follow the link in comments to read more on our website.

How do you build strong collaborations between universities and industry, while also attracting talent to areas outside the larger cities? Yesterday, Helix Lab Director Anette Birck gave a presentation on how we work at Helix Lab at a science cluster lecture at Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster. The full lecture is available on their website!

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰! As a Helix Lab Fellow, you'll have the opportunity to work on your MSc thesis in collaboration with a company located in the Biotech City in Kalundborg, the largest biotech cluster in Scandinavia. Read more about specific thesis projects below. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲? Work on an exciting, real-world thesis project Excellent career opportunities Build a strong professional network Be part of a dynamic and supportive academic environment Enjoy free housing during your stay Helix Lab Fellows live rent-free at Kalundborg Collegium and become part of a vibrant community through the Helix Lab Fellows Program, which includes: Social activities Networking opportunities Mentorship and career support Possible projects available for students from University of Copenhagen (Starting September 2026): Cleaning-in-Place in the Pharmaceutical Industry - an experimental approach (Fall semester 2026) Company: Novo Nordisk University: Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen Contact: Professor Serafim Bakalis bakalis@food.ku.dk Cleaning in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Modelling approach (Fall semester 2026) Company: Novo Nordisk University: Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen Contact: Professor Serafim Bakalis bakalis@food.ku.dk

Tech Talk: Danish Wine on the World Map! The Danish wine industry is growing rapidly. Just a few years ago, the phrase “excellent Danish wine” seemed unthinkable. Today, however, improved growing conditions and increasingly skilled winemakers have made high-quality wine produced on Danish soil a very real and exciting reality. On June 3. Qian Janice Wang MW, who is both a Master of Wine and associate professor at Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen will give a Tech Talk on the state of Danish wine - where it's headed and what the potentials are for this industry in our Northern corner of the world. When and where: June 3., 4-5pm Helix Lab, Campus Kalundborg 3, 4400. It's free, and coffee and cake is on us! Sign up via link in comments.

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 2026 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 - 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 🍾 This spring marks five years since the beginning of Helix Lab. It has been an amazing journey that we have shared with 82 Helix Lab Fellows, several hundred supervisors, professors and experts from all Danish universities and the Kalundborg industry. Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Nordisk and Novonesis have generously been funding Helix Lab since 2021. As we proudly announced earlier this week, they have decided to grant us another five years of funding and sponsorships for 2026-2031. We would like to celebrate the news of our grant renewal with all of you on the day of our traditional Gallery Walk, where the Helix Lab Fellows, Class of 2026, present the outcome of their collaborative thesis projects with Kalundborg Industry, to supervisors and key stakeholders. For full program and sign-up, see link in comments.

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐊𝐊 118 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬. Five years ago, an ambitious idea was put to the test in Kalundborg: Could a research and education center create strong collaborations between universities and local industry by attracting talent and research to the area? Today, the answer is clear: yes. Since opening its doors, Helix Lab has welcomed 82 Fellows from all Danish universities in collaboration with 11 companies in Kalundborg. Many have chosen not only to study and conduct research here, but also to stay and build their careers and to live in the municipality after graduation. Among the Fellows who had graduated by September 2025, 50 percent are now employed in the Kalundborg industry, and the vast majority of these have moved permanently to the area. Over the past five years, Helix Lab has also played an important role in building strong student communities by helping establish initiatives such as the youth house Luma and a growing alumni network. That is why we are both proud and grateful that Helix Lab has received renewed support totaling DKK 118 million from Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Nordisk, and Novonesis for a five-year period. As Christopher Bettinger, Vice President of Biotechnology at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, says: “Helix Lab is an excellent example of how bridges can be built between universities and industry in a way that both strengthens the development of the research environment and makes it easier for local companies to access qualified talent. It is a model with relevance far beyond the borders of Kalundborg and Denmark.” In the next five years, Helix Lab will focus on attracting more Danish and international graduate students, strengthening the interdisciplinary research environment, and further developing its PhD program, while also supporting the overall strategy of Campus Kalundborg to create even stronger links between talent development and industry needs. Thank you to Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Nordisk and Novonesis for your trust and support. And thank you to all of our partners, Fellows, PhDs and community for your support. We look forward to the next five years! Read more on our website - link in comments.

Tech Talk at Helix Lab! Simon Sjökvist, PhD at Det Kongelige Akademi will present the establishment of the architecture programme in Kalundborg and share insights into projects developed by the students. Based in Kalundborg, the programme works closely with the city, its landscapes and materials to explore how architecture can respond to real-world challenges through collaboration with industry, educational institutions and public authorities. Kalundborg holds a unique position as both rural, urban and globally connected, making it an ideal setting for exploring new approaches to urban development and the future of the built environment. The event is free of charge, and coffee, cake and fruit will be served! When: Tuesday, May 19, from 4:00–5:00 PM. Sign up via link in comments.