Here the Nordics, the trick will be for us to specialize, focus our efforts, and develop selected strongholds based on existing competences, expertise and technology. In this way, the Nordics, spearheaded by Denmark and Sweden, can continue to be a world-class life science region in our own right while also contributing more broadly to European competitiveness and innovation.This will be how we can actually compete head-to-head with substantially larger clusters such as Boston in the US or the Golden Triangle in the UK.

Medicon Valley Alliance initiated what was probably the first women’s health network in the Nordics back in 2022, and many others have followed since then.

One promising area where the Nordics already has a head start is in women’s health, including but not limited to women’s diseases. Medicon Valley Alliance initiated what was probably the first women’s health network in the Nordics back in 2022, and many others have followed since then. The need to specifically address women’s health stems from the under-representation of women in clinical studies (cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, etc.), and thus a lack of knowledge about symptoms, late and incorrect diagnosis, wrong dosage of medicine, wrong treatment, and prevention. It also includes such things as the lack of medical equipment, implants etc. designed for women’s bodies, specific female conditions (endometriosis, infertility, osteoporosis, menopause etc.), and the general lack of knowledge, focus, research funds, entrepreneurs/start-ups, and investors within the entire area.

The prime minister of Denmark explicitly highlighted this issue in her traditional televised New Year’s speech, and justified the recent decision to invest DKK 160 million (EUR 21.5 million) to launch a national center dedicated to raising our knowledge of women’s health. This welcome decision is the result of intense lobbying by (predominantly female) politicians, scientists, patient organizations, and industry representatives.

With the establishment of the new Danish National Centre for Research in Women’s Health, it will be possible to coordinate research efforts nationally, strengthening research in areas where knowledge is currently lacking.

With the establishment of the new Danish National Centre for Research in Women’s Health, it will be possible to coordinate research efforts nationally, strengthening research in areas where knowledge is currently lacking. The center will also be instrumental in educating the next generation of scientists specialized in women’s health research through an increased number of PhD positions.

Medicon Valley Alliance hopes that this new initiative will not only be a center of excellence nationally, but also help connect top-notch scientists from both academia and industry with investors and business executives from all over the Medicon Valley region, the Nordics, and the rest of Europe. The  ultimate purpose is of course to address unmet needs in women’s health, including specific female diseases and conditions such as endometriosis, infertility, and symptoms resulting from menopause, and make sure that gender inequality in health is addressed scientifically, commercially, and from a regulatory perspective for the benefit of all of mankind.

About the author

Niels Abel Bonde is the Chairman of Medicon Valley Alliance (MVA). He is a recurring columnist in NLS magazine. This column was originally published in NLS No 01 2026, out February 2026.