Already one of Europe’s top countries for clinical trials per capita, Denmark has further strengthened its position in recent years. The number of active trials in the country rose from 410 in 2022 to 450 in 2023, backed by increasing citizen participation and a healthcare ecosystem built on trusted health data and advanced digital infrastructure. Denmark now aims to maintain and expand this leadership through new government initiatives and public-private collaboration as part of the newest iteration of its national life science strategy.
Leading Europe in Trials Per Capita
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According to Lif, Denmark’s association for innovative pharmaceuticals, this positive growth trend in trials represents not only a strong commitment to life science innovation locally but is also a sign of strong global interest in conducting research in the country.
Meanwhile, citizen engagement in clinical research is on the rise. An IQVIA report published in 2024 showed that the number of Danish trial participants grew from 5,822 in 2022 to 6,036 in 2023—marking the first significant uptick in participation in years.
What has enabled this small country to pack such a punch in clinical research? Danish stakeholders credit this success to a combination of factors: the country’s unparalleled health data infrastructure and advanced digitalisation, strong government incentives to foster high-value research activities, and the latest strategic commitments under Denmark’s Life Science Strategy Towards 2030, which identifies clinical trial competitiveness as a key pillar for the future.
World-Class Data & Digital Infrastructure
Denmark’s leadership in clinical research is deeply rooted in its robust health data infrastructure and high level of trust from the public in how health data is used and safeguarded for high-quality research. Specifically. the country’s person registry (CPR) system creates a lifelong health record for every citizen, integrating personal data with disease-specific registries and biobanks. This uniquely Scandinavian system enables authorised researchers to access some of the world’s most complete and cohesive healthcare data.
“Denmark has long distinguished itself through the depth, quality, and cohesion of its national health data infrastructure. Anchored by a personal identification number assigned to every citizen, this centralised system enables the seamless integration of health data across all sectors,” explained Nils Falk Bjerregaard, Director General of the Danish Medicines Agency (DKMA) in a PharmaBoardroom interview. “Combined with the country’s high degree of digitalisation, this infrastructure forms the backbone of Denmark’s leadership in data-driven healthcare and regulation.”
Indeed, the European Commission recognised Denmark as having the EU’s most advanced digital infrastructure in its 2021 Digital Economy and Society Index. This positions the country well for the next wave of clinical research: decentralised clinical trials (DCTs).
Denmark is moving fast to become a global DCT frontrunner. The Danish DCT Dialogue Forum and national DCT guidelines were launched in 2021, helping to ensure transparency, harmonisation, and accessibility across member states according to a report published by Healthcare Denmark.
As the country was among the first EU members to fully operationalise the Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS), the new European platform for trial applications, Bjerregaard affirms that, “national guidelines have been developed to support this shift, and the response from clinical researchers has been overwhelmingly positive.”
An Ecosystem Powered by Collaboration & Government Support
Success in clinical research is not only about data. Denmark has fostered a supportive ecosystem through proactive government action and public-private partnerships.
“DKMA has made the enhancement of Denmark’s clinical research environment a strategic priority,” says Bjerregaard. “Central to this effort is a regulatory culture rooted in openness, dialogue, and responsiveness.”
One key initiative is Trial Nation, launched in 2018 to make Denmark more attractive for global companies seeking clinical trial opportunities. Trial Nation acts as a single-entry point and connector between companies, clinical environments, and research partners.
“Close coordination and private-public partnerships are a stronghold for Trial Nation and Denmark,” explained Marianne Pilgaard, CEO of Trial Nation in a 2021 interview. “Ensuring well-functioning clinical trials is a key aspect in attracting collaborations to uncover future medical solutions.”
Denmark’s 2030 Strategy to Stay at the Forefront
Despite Denmark’s strengths, global competition is intensifying. Countries like Spain are setting new records in clinical trial volumes, and the need to adapt is top of mind for Danish stakeholders.
While the total number of ongoing trials in Denmark grew in 2023, the number of newly started trials declined according the same Lif report. Only 68 new trials were launched last year, down from 106 in 2022. Policymakers recognise that continued investment and reform are essential to maintaining Denmark’s leadership.
Hence, the prioritisation of clinical trials is a key pillar of Denmark’s Life Science Strategy Towards 2030, led by the country’s Ministry of Industry in collaboration with three other ministries. The strategy aims to ensure Denmark remains a prime destination for clinical trials and life sciences innovation.
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As part of this effort, the government is launching several targeted measures including the establishment of a Medical Research Ethics Committee to fast-track phase 1 trial approvals within 14 days, further developing Trial Nation as a bridge-builder for clinical research, offering a permanent 120 percent R&D tax deduction, and allocating DKK 788.1 (EUR 105.6) million in the health and life science research reserve, including DKK 210 (EUR 28.2) million to strengthen clinical and independent research.
With these steps, Denmark aims reverse the slowing tide of newly initiated trials while remaining among Europe’s top countries for clinical trials per million inhabitants by 2030.
