Business Region Aarhus is situated in East Jutland, in the heart of Denmark. With a total of one million inhabitants, we are the largest growth region outside of the nation’s capital, Copenhagen. Our cooperation is rooted in a strong political partnership whose overriding ambition is the realisation of East Jutland as a national centre of growth and a coherent, functional city region. Forging stronger ties is in our mutual interest, which is why we have established a formal partnership comprising 12 municipalities. Business Region Aarhus looks after the interests of East Jutland when it comes to framework conditions and competitiveness, ensuring that the East Jutland metropolis maintains a strong and visible profile, both nationally and internationally. We are committed to growth and development, and Business Region Aarhus speaks with one, powerful voice that provides us with a stronger platform in a competitive, global world. Our cooperation comprises the following municipalities: Favrskov, Hedensted, Horsens, Norddjurs, Odder, Randers, Samsø, Silkeborg, Skanderborg, Syddjurs, Viborg, and Aarhus.

Aarhus is Jutland’s capital and has more than 300,000 inhabitants. It is the centre of "Greater Aarhus", which has a population of approx. 1.2 mill people. Aarhus is a city of students. Aarhus University is no 63 on the top 100 of the world’s 17,000 universities. Aarhus is a city of business. International businesses have established or expanded their activities. The Port of Aarhus has continuously expanded and is an important container hub to the Baltic sea region. Aarhus is a city of culture. A visionary media library as well as other cultural projects are ready to launch their building phases. Aarhus is a city of renewable energy. The wind power industry has a strong presence in and around Aarhus, and Aarhus wants to be Denmark’s number one energy city. The city wants to be CO2 neutral by 2030. Aarhus is a city of development. Over the next 20 years the city must continue to grow – 75,000 new inhabitants, 20,000 new homes, 50,000 new jobs and 10,000 extra students.

Food & Bio Cluster Denmark is a globally acting association in the food and bio-resource sector with nationwide service and international cooperation with companies and knowledge institutions within the group of members. We are the direct entry point for Danish and international companies and knowledge institutions for networking, business development, innovation and financing. We promote increased cooperation between research and business and offer our members one-stop-shop access to networks, funding, business development, projects and facilities. We have in-depth experience and can draw on national and international resources to realize new, innovative ideas.

Viborg Municipality is one of Denmark's largest agricultural municipalities. A significant number of companies and jobs in Viborg Municipality are directly or indirectly related to agriculture, including the production of agricultural machinery, knowledge and technology, food and service industry. Furthermore Viborg Municipality is home to Agro Business Park and Aarhus University’s department in Foulum, where most of Aarhus University’s research into food, agriculture and bioeconomy is carried out. Viborg Municipality has a double interest in contributing to new development and business opportunities for the agricultural sector and at the same time contributing to more climate and environmentally friendly solutions. Bioeconomy is an important part of the answer on how to create new business opportunities and more climate friendly solutions at the same time. Therefore, Viborg Municipality is an active part of and supports various activities that contribute to the development of the bioeconomy. European BioEconomy Venture Forum is one of these activities and Viborg Municipality is proud to be the meeting place for new solutions, companies and potential investors.

The Danish Green Investment Fund is an independent state loan fund with the purpose of co-financing economically viable projects that facilitate and support the sustainable development of our society. Privately held companies, non-profit housing associations and public sector companies and institutions (with budgets separate from the municipalities, regions and the state) can apply for a loan from the fund. The Danish Green Investment Fund seeks to bridge the gap between traditional bank financing and equity capital. The individual loans have a maximum maturity of up to 30 years, and the fund is generally able to finance up to 60 per cent of the total costs associated with the given project. The fund was established as part of the agreement “Et Grønnere Danmark” (“A Greener Denmark”) from 2014 and has a net capital of up to DKK 200 million as well as a state guaranteed lending limit of up to DKK 5 billion in capital to co-finance projects within following areas: Environmental savings Renewable energy sources Resource efficiency

The Danish Growth Fund is the Danish state’s investment fund. We are an independent fund governed by an independent legal act and an independent board of directors. The act concerning the Danish Growth Fund stipulates that the fund must promote growth and renewal for small and medium-sized enterprises in order to achieve a greater socio-economic return. We contribute to the creation of new companies by providing capital and expertise. Since 1992, The Danish Growth Fund has together with private investors co-financed growth in more than 6,600 Danish companies with a total commitment of more than DKK 20 billion. The Danish Growth Fund invests equity and provides loans and guarantees for small as well as medium-sized enterprises in collaboration with private partners and Danish financial institutions. In 2016 these companies had over 53,500 employees in total.