Novozymes breaks ground for new innovation campus in Denmark
Date:11-09-2016
Novozymes broke ground for its new innovation campus in Lyngby, 13 kilometers north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The 30,000 square meter campus will initially employ 800 scientists and business developers and is expected to open in 2019. A learning center open to the public will also be part of the site.
“The construction teams are now moving in, but this is about much more than bricks and steel. This is a long term investment in our future,” says Peder Holk Nielsen, CEO of Novozymes. “Here, researchers will find biological answers to the challenges of a growing and warming world by exploring new frontiers in nature."
Groundbreaking biological solutions
The ground breaking ceremony will be attended by approximately 100 guests including Novozymes’ partners and neighbors in Lyngby. Together with Sofia Osmani, the mayor of Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality, and a group of pupils from local schools, Novozymes’ CEO will break first ground.
“There are around 50 billion microbes in just one tablespoonful of soil found on this ground here. Every single one of them can be used for developing new biological solutions,” says Peder Holk Nielsen.
Strengthen growth
Approximately 14 % of Novozymes’ revenue is reinvested into research annually, and the company has launched 100 new products since it went public 16 years ago.
Novozymes uses biological solutions to replace harsh chemicals, lower temperatures and pressure, and reduce waste and energy consumption in its customers’ industrial processes. In agriculture, microbes found in nature enable farmers to grow more and better quality crops from the same acreage with fewer pesticides and fertilizers, expanding access to food. In laundry detergents, enzymes enable efficient stain-removal in cold water washes.
“There is still so much to learn from nature. This is why we partner with our customers to discover more about what biology can do. The journey gathers more speed here today. The innovation campus will work to strengthen our growth by developing pioneering biotechnology,” says Peder Holk Nielsen.
Novozymes plans to establish a learning center in connection with the campus , where students and visitors are invited to discover and learn about the magic of nature and biology.
The construction is expected to last until late 2018 with opening to take place early 2019. The low rise buildings will be designed to house open, modern workspaces, and will be surrounded by a park, which will be open to the public.