Odense wants to crack the code: Innovation happens when inventors, tech companies, and hospitals work together
In Odense, collaboration between hospitals and tech companies is a proven recipe for results. Christina Møller Udesen, Senior Consultant at MedTech Odense – an initiative from SDU and OUH/Region of Southern Denmark – works to support employees with ideas that can strengthen operations and be developed commercially. In the long term, the goal is to bring these ideas to market and investors.
Christina Møller Udesen knows what it takes to turn a health technology idea from concept into a commercial reality. As the former founder of the life science company MJJ Biotech, she has been through the very journey she now supports others on as a Senior Consultant at MedTech Odense. With experience in both research and business, she is helping to strengthen the bridge between hospitals, universities, inventors, and tech companies.
“It’s about diagnostic tools, biomarkers, wearables, sensors, medical devices, and robot technology – anything that can be used in clinical practice and has international potential. The goal is to shorten the path from invention to approval, implementation, and scaling,”
20 million Danish kroner
MedTech Odense was established as a joint initiative between SDU and OUH, driven by the ambition to bring more of the university’s good ideas and inventions into the clinical environment.
The Region of Southern Denmark and SDU have earmarked DKK 20 million for the initiative in 2025, with expectations of further funding in the years to come. SDU researchers – regardless of faculty – and employees at the region’s hospitals are eligible to apply. As a result, MedTech Odense has quickly grown into a significant initiative that not only enables concrete solutions but also lays the groundwork for future investments.
“There have been many good research projects across disciplines and institutions in the past, but what is special about this initiative is that the projects must be implementable and commercialisable – and preferably with international potential. This way, the benefits will not only serve the region’s hospitals, but also the rest of the country and abroad,”
Robot revolutionises arthritis treatment
The Odense-based medtech company ROPCA has developed a groundbreaking robotic platform that automates ultrasound scanning of the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. ROPCA was founded in 2019 by rheumatologist Søren Just Andreasen and professor of robotics Thiusius Rajeeth Savarimuthu, and it combines clinical insight with technological precision.
“Both in Denmark and abroad, doctors give the same reason when they show interest in ROPCA: there is a shortage Robot revolutionises arthritis treatment of healthcare professionals and an increase in the number of elderly people. So the healthcare system needs to think innovatively and incorporate technology,”
The robot, called ARTHUR, independently scans 11 joints per hand and delivers the results to the associated AI, DIANA, which analyses the images. The solution is CE marked and already in use at hospitals in both Denmark and Germany.
Investor: Life science fyn makes it easier to form partnerships
Life Science Fyn strengthens collaboration between companies, researchers and public actors in the life science sector on Funen. The strengthened ecosystem also makes it easier for new companies to establish themselves and grow, explains investor and serial entrepreneur Henrik Busch Larsen.
Life Science Fyn has existed for four years, and Henrik Busch Larsen believes it has already strengthened the life science environment on Funen.
Research, startups, established companies and public actors work closely together on life science in Odense. Behind the initiative are both SDU and Investor: Life Science Fyn makes it easier to form partnerships private stakeholders, including investor and serial entrepreneur Henrik Busch Larsen. He has become involved in Life Science Fyn for several reasons.
“Through Life Science Fyn, you quickly gain access to the experience and knowledge needed to get started and grow your business. If a researcher decides to become an entrepreneur, or if a company relocates to Odense, Life Science Fyn provides access to knowhow, commercial networks, and, for example, investors. With Life Science Fyn as a starting point, we are constantly seeing new collaborations and initiatives in the industry. We see that Odense Municipality, company CEOs and knowledge institutions are all looking beyond their own bottom line and continuously contributing to strengthening the industry as a whole,”
Further information
Lone Krogsbøll
Investment Manager - Life Science
I help foreign companies in the biotech and life science industry to establish in Odense and connect them to relevant business partners and opportunities here. My background is in health tech, but I’ve focused on broader life science sectors since 2018.
+45 5177 7344
loak@odense.dk
Connect
