Denmark In New York

What a night we had yesterday ? Wrapping up another incredible day at the?NVIDIA GTC25 conference, we hosted an exclusive afterparty at the residence of?Consul General & CEO of Innovation Centre Denmark Silicon Valley, Jesper Kamp, bringing together brilliant minds from across the AI community. A huge thank you to?Alexander Young of NVIDIA?for sharing key takeaways from?Jensen Huang’s GTC keynote, giving us insights into the future of AI and how we can expect the technology to grow in the future. Side by side with Jensen Huang and HRH King Frederik of Denmark,?Nadia Carlsten, PhD of Danish Centre for AI Innovation (DCAI)?last year launched Gefion, one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputers. Denmark plays a vital role in AI innovation and quantum technology, and we believe it’s crucial to continuously support the development in the area and bring together professionals in the area to create more opportunities for Denmark in the area. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event, and to our colleagues at Denmark In New York and Invest in Denmark for all your support in making this happen.

Today is International Day of Happiness ?? This day is an opportunity to learn more about the factors that contribute to the fundamental human goal of happiness. Every year, the day is marked by the publication of the World Happiness Report. Looking at data from over 140 countries, the report is published by Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Denmark and our Nordic neighbors in Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Norway frequently come out on top of the report’s happiness ranking. There are many factors contributing to the high levels of happiness in the Nordic region: from the welfare systems, to the access to free education, to the relative lack of crime and corruption. This year’s report a special focus on benevolence in the form of sharing and caring for one another. The high level of trust often associated with the Nordic countries shines through in the report’s ranking of expected benevolence. Asked if they would expect their wallet to be returned by a neighbor or a stranger, the Nordic countries are all on top of the ranking. Another interesting take away from this year's report is that people are much kinder than we expect. When wallets were dropped on the street by researchers, the proportion of returned wallets was far higher than anticipated. “People’s fellow citizens are better than they think they are, and to realize that will make you happier, of course, but it’ll also change the way you think about your neighbors,” said John Helliwell a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, to CNN. Read more insights from John Helliwell the CNN article linked below ?? #InternationalDayofHappiness #Happiness #WorldHappinessDay

From local roots to global reach ?? Community-based, non-profit organizations play a key role in fostering social justice, equality, democracy, and inclusion for women and girls. Last night, the consulate general hosted a high-level panel discussion in partnership with the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement and AskovFonden to spotlight the impact of community-driven organisations. The Riis Settlement and the AskovFonden operate on different sides of the Atlantic, but they share their Danish heritage as well as the commitment to promoting social justice, inclusion, and basic human rights. Among the key points from our panelists were: ??Community: It is essential that initiatives stay community-driven and focused on the cause. ??Partnerships: Having a wide network of partners creates opportunities to learn from other organizations across the globe. ??Funding: Long-term, reliable funding that is not tied to only one project is in high demand and could be more readily available. ??Heterogeneity: It is important to remember that the people in focus, whether women or young people, are not homogeneous groups and have a variety of interests. The panel discussion was followed by a keynote from Andre Dzikus, the Director of UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) New York Office, who spoke about the tendencies of urbanization and the importance of securing housing rights for women. Thank you to our partners and speakers for making the subject approachable and bringing interesting perspectives from both Denmark, New York, and the rest if the world ?? Martin Kruse | Jeppe Bach Lerche | Caroline Lundholm | Nikolaj Fredsted

The future of our cities take center stage ??? Last week, colleagues from the consulate participated in New York’s largest construction and design show: New York Build Expo. Drawing in 35,000+ visitors, the event set the stage for key discussions on future-proofing our built environment. Topics like the utilization of AI and sustainable construction featured prominently at the conference, but also social perspectives were in high demand. There were multiple Danish companies and experts in attendance and on stage. Architecture firm Henning Larsen brought together architects and policy makers for a panel discussion on the impact of climate policy and an empathy-focused approach to architecture. This was followed up by another panel discussion on solutions to the issues of housing shortage in New York City. Both of these panels were organized by our Senior Commercial Advisor Garette Johnson. Meanwhile, our Commercial Advisor Lisa Mallner was on stage moderating a discussion on socially sustainable construction practices and the importance of thinking holistically when it comes to our urban development.

Green synergies in the harbor of New York ?? While visiting New York this week, the Danish Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, had the opportunity to learn more about New York’s focus on future-proofing the city through a visit to Governors Island. Located in New York’s harbor, Governor’s Island is an official hub for green innovation, including energy and environmental protection. The establishment of both a research center and partnerships with private companies and educational institutions are expected to generate new green jobs as well as possibilities for Danish and other international companies. The tour started at the Billion Oyster Project which is restoring the natural oysters reefs, which also help protect New York City from storm damage. With guidance from Lauren Wang, Director of Climate Programs, the minister also got an insight into Governors Island’s plans for expanding the island’s green initiatives and developing new green spaces for the New Yorkers. The tour was completed with a visit to The Exchange, a first-of-its-kind center for developing and implementing climate solutions ??

New York’s robotics industry is booming ?? Last week, tech industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators gathered at a sold-out event by Rockefeller Center: the Drones and Robotics AI Summit. The nearly 400 attending founders, fund managers, and strategic partners all brought their expert knowledge from the frontline of automation innovation. The tech industry is growing in New York with a diverse talent pool and funding availability being some of the city’s key drivers. The event spotlighted opportunities in multiple sectors which are also Danish strongholds, including drones and dual-use. Colleagues from Invest in Denmark participated at the summit and spoke to local stakeholders in the potential partnership opportunities. “It is fascinating to see the fast-paced development of the drones and robotics industry here in New York City. It has been very inspiring to connect with other attendees, founders and investors on possible projects combining the innovative skills found in Denmark and New York,” said Investment Manager, Astrid Kvist Jensen. Check out the video for more of Astrid’s key takeaways! New York Robotics Network | Invest in Denmark | Astrid Kvist Jensen | Lasse Gudnitz | Simone Ruth Flindhardt | Sofie Linnea Romme

Gaining private sector perspectives on the empowerment of women ? Earlier this week, the Danish Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, met with a selection of Danish and American private sector representatives to get their perspective on the progress towards gender equality. Hosted by the Consul General, Helle Meinertz, the aim with this afternoon was to engage in dialogue on ways to accelerate the work, shape policy on the subject, and provide the necessary tools. This is closely related to the discussions taking place these weeks in the United Nations as part of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women. Thank you to the representatives from both Denmark and the U.S. for providing their insights on this important topic. #CSW69

How can we close the period poverty gap? ?? Yesterday, the Consulate General spotlighted the important issue of period poverty at a high-level panel discussion in partnership with Real Relief. Lack of access to menstrual health products is a significant barrier to achieving social and economic gender equality, and raising political awareness of menstrual health is crucial to combating this issue. Period poverty affects everything from attendance and performance at jobs and in school to health issues such as infectious diseases and infertility. Klaus Simoni Pedersen, Chief of Public Funding and Financing Branch, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), stressed the UNFPA’s commitment to protecting and advancing women’s sexual and reproductive rights. “Everybody has the right to bodily autonomy and the ability to care for one’s body while menstruating is an essential part of this fundamental freedom,” he stated. His keynote was followed-up by a panel discussion featuring diverse perspectives on period poverty and menstrual health. From the importance of investing in menstrual health and hygiene to strategies to break taboo around menstruation. Thank you to our speakers for their work in this important field, and to our guests both on and off stage for helping break the stigma around period poverty. #PeriodPoverty #CSW69 Martin Kruse | Jeppe Bach Lerche | Caroline Lundholm | Nikolaj Fredsted

How can we improve the conditions of women’s healthcare, treatment, and wellbeing? ?? While in New York this week, the Danish Minister of Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, and a delegation of Danish parliamentarians visited NYU Langone’s Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health. The center is dedicated to women-specific healthcare, bringing together a wide range of clinical services in interdisciplinary and personal treatment. Home to more than 80 providers from a dozen clinical areas, their services include everything from cancer screenings, over orthopedic programs, to pregnancy care. The center works to minimize the gaps between the genders in health care, through a focus on research on women’s health and medical studies as well as enhancing treatment ability and access to high-quality care. Medical Director Caren Behar explained the importance and advantages of a collective medical center focused on women’s health. The synergies between different departments and specialists facilitate comprehensive treatment that meets the healthcare needs of women. Martin Kruse | Jeppe Bach Lerche | Caroline Lundholm |

HIRING: Join Invest in Denmark in Silicon Valley ?? Invest in Denmark is hiring an Investment Manager/Business Developer for the tech industry. You will be based at the Innovation Centre Denmark Silicon Valley and work closely with colleagues across North America and in Denmark. Denmark is a pioneer within tech and innovation. In this job, you will play an important part in helping Denmark remain a digital frontrunner. You will facilitate and secure innovative and sustainable investments to Denmark in key verticals including robotics, drones, AI, quantum computing, and software. Would you like to be part of a dynamic and international team and work at the forefront of tech development? Send us your application today. Deadline: 17 March 2025. Find the description and application information via the link in the comments ??