Participants gather for Northern Jutland business summit amid productivity concerns

Seven hundred participants gathered to discuss the future of Northern Jutland’s business sector, showcasing satellites, space vehicles, robots, and locally developed racing cars. Mads Duedahl, the chairman of Region North Jutland, emphasized the urgency of addressing declining productivity, which has fallen over the past five years in the region while increasing across Denmark. He warned that if changes are not made, future generations may be less inclined to settle in Northern Jutland.

Local businesses are finding it challenging to attract qualified employees necessary for growth. Thomas Leander, a department head at Man Energy Solutions, remarked that traditional working hours from 7 AM to 3 PM hinder their ability to appeal to workers seeking flexibility. He stressed the need for businesses to adopt more innovative approaches.

Line Dissing Mønster, a board member at Logster, a company producing district heating pipes, also underscored that companies in remote areas must rethink their strategies to remain attractive. She advocated for moving away from conventional office concepts tied to specific locations.

Digitalization Minister Marie Bjerre noted that Northern Jutland’s firms are lagging in adopting digital solutions, a situation that must change to boost productivity. She highlighted the potential of digitalization and artificial intelligence, stating that companies embracing technology tend to grow and improve their revenues.

However, Duedahl pointed out that local businesses cannot tackle these challenges alone. He urged for political support from the national government, emphasizing that cuts to education and university funding, especially at Aalborg University, would jeopardize the development of a skilled workforce essential for enhancing productivity in the region.