Did you know that Denmark and Switzerland are collaborating closely on innovation and research?💡

Denmark and Switzerland are globally recognised for their cutting-edge research and groundbreaking innovations. Nobel laureates Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr paved the way for a strong culture of creativity, and this has since been coupled with strong supportive government policies.

Proactive European government policies and funding programs are providing the necessary support for tech entrepreneurs to thrive. One of the latest examples is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Denmark and Switzerland emphazising the two countries strong collaboration in innovation and research.

The Danish government offers robust funding programs like EIFO, supporting research projects and startups. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Innosuisse provides grants and support for startups and research projects, encouraging groundbreaking innovations.

In a joint collaboration, the Danish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Danish Business Angels (DANBAN) and UBS will invite industry experts and thought leaders to give us an introduction on what is going on in the Danish and Swiss start-up scene. One thing is for sure: It’s a world of new opportunities.

As always there will be great network opportunities at the following aperó for everyone attending.

Speakers

Karim Cherif is the Head of Alternatives Investments at the UBS Chief Investment Office and is a member of the Global Asset Allocation Management Committee. In this capacity, he oversees the asset allocation of Alternatives within UBS Wealth Management discretionary and advisory portfolios. He is also responsible for the UBS House View on alternative strategies, providing tactical and strategic guidance, as well as thematic investment and portfolio recommendations on hedge funds, private equity, private debt and real assets. Karim is a regular contributor to numerous financial media and meets with UBS clients around the world. Prior to joining UBS in April 2015, Karim worked at the CIO office of Credit Suisse where he held several positions including Head of Derivatives, Risk & Flows and senior energy strategist. Karim holds a Master of Science in Communication Systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).

Nikolaj J. Wædegaard is Senior Vice President of International Affairs & Digital Policy at Dansk Erhverv. Previous roles include being Chief of Staff for Microsoft European Affairs, based in Brussels. He also has a past in diplomacy and the Foreign Ministry, where he among other things was Deputy Tech Ambssador and one of the founding fathers of Denmark’s (and the World’s) first tech-embassy and the Danish TechPlomacy initiative. Nikolaj has also been posted at the Danish embassy in Washington DC.

Stine Mølgaard Sørensen is partner at Alliance VC and vice-chair at the Innovation Fund Denmark’s investment panel. In 2020 she won the KPMG award as the “Scandinavian Entrepreneur of the Year”. She is also a best-selling author with her book “F*ck It, Ship It” which is all about experimenting with new technology.

Program:

17.00:  Registration and networking.

17.30:   Welcome by H.E. Mauro Reina, Ambassador of Switzerland to Denmark, and opening remarks by DSHK Chairman Jeppe R. Stokholm, Mette Holmgaard (UBS) and CEO Thomas Marschall, Danish Business Angels.

17.45:   Alternative investments in your portfolio:  By Karim Cherif, Head of Alternative Investments, UBS.

18.15:   Why a strong and growing start-up ecosystem is crucial. By Nikolaj Juncher Wædegaard, Senior Vice President, Dansk Erhverv.

18.45:   Break and networking

19.00:   Panel discussion: What is going on in the start-up scene? Moderator: Stine Mølgaard Sørensen (Partner, Alliance VC). With panelist Charlotte Rønje (jamii.one), Morten Rongaard (pixelpai.com), Amit Luthra (phasetree.ai) and Gina Perier  (lapee.dk).

19.45:   Flying dinner and networking

21:00:   End of event

Event is sponsored by: