Medicon Valley - the geographical denomination for the Life Science sector in the Öresund region – is an internationally strong area; however, it is threatened by global competition. Furthermore, the region suffers from the fact that no collective vision exists, nor is there a conscious strategy in place to orchestrate cross boarder efforts. In January 2011, the initiators of this project, i.e. Invest in Skåne and Medicon Valley Alliance, attended the presentation of “Regional Biotechnology”, a report provided by PwC on behalf of the EU-commission. The report categorises MV as a “mature cluster” and presents its recommendations for bringing it up to a “world class” level. The partnership shares the view that this task simply isn’t achievable through any unilateral action. Therefore Swedish and Danish sides must join forces in order to fulfil their long term goal of moving MV towards “world class cluster” status by 2020.

The purpose of this project is to increase MV’s attractiveness, competitiveness and to reposition it amongst the world’s leading bioregions; and thus improve sustainable economic growth in the Öresund region. The partnership aims to achieve this through the two processes described below.

Process 1: will identify and prioritise common scientific strongholds and create a new vision for how MV is to be promoted in the future. More specifically, this will include an analysis of the regions scientific strongholds and challenges, a description of the chosen strongholds and a compilation of a communication and marketing strategy.

Process 2: will increase MV’s Life Science organisations’ international relations, business opportunities and partnerships; as well as their exposure on the international scene. This will be done by increasing local stakeholders’ knowledge of the international market and preparing them for the internationalisation process. It will also be achieved by promoting regional SMEs’ and organisations’ international connections and by attracting international companies, organisations, and venture capital to MV.

The long term effects of this project are to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of MV on a global level which will eventually bring it closer towards becoming a Life Science world class cluster. It will also have the effect of bringing the Öresund region closer together and hopefully be a model for future trans boarder collaborations.

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