As Scandinavia’s largest life science park, Medicon Village in Lund brings together over 180 organisations and 2,800 professionals to drive innovation across biotech, pharma, medtech, and healthcare. Through the Cross-border Talent Bridge, the park is expanding its role as a connector across the Øresund region. In this interview, they highlight how cross-border collaboration, shared infrastructure, and community initiatives help attract international talent, strengthen regional mobility, and position Greater Copenhagen as a leading hub for life science innovation.

Why did you join the Cross Border Talent Bridge?

- Talent attraction and development are at the heart of Medicon Village’s mission, says Francesco Bez, PhD. Innovation Manager at Medicon Village Innovation. The Cross Border Talent Bridge offers a timely and strategic opportunity to enhance collaboration across the Oresund region, helping organisations find the right talent while offering individuals new ways to connect within the life science and tech sectors.

- By joining this collaboration, Medicon Village aims to support its members in accessing a broader talent pool, increase regional mobility, and strengthen the area's position as an attractive destination for international professionals.

Addressing talent challenges through collaboration

What challenges do you face in attracting, retaining, and developing talent in your industry, and how can cross-border collaboration help address these?
- Many organisations at Medicon Village face common challenges: finding skilled professionals, navigating recruitment across borders, and offering long-term career growth opportunities, Francesco continues. Through initiatives like the Cross Border Talent Bridge, Medicon Village seeks to address these issues by opening new pathways between academia and industry, and between Sweden & Denmark to the rest of the world.

- Cross-border collaboration helps break down silos, allowing companies to tap into the full potential of the Greater Copenhagen region and fuel the innovation ecosystem where Sweden and Denmark are regional and global leaders.

What opportunities do you see in collaborating across borders within the Greater Copenhagen region?

- Medicon Village sees great potential in working more closely across borders, not just to meet talent needs, but to foster innovation, knowledge exchange, and a more resilient life science sector, Francesco explains. The combined strengths of universities, hospitals, life science companies, and startups across southern Sweden and Denmark offer a unique platform for sustainable growth.

By connecting people and organisations the project contributes to long-term competitiveness and supports the global ambitions of the region.

Playing an active role

What role can your organization play in driving change in talent attraction and skills development within the region?

- As a central hub in the regional life science landscape, Medicon Village is committed to driving progress in talent attraction, skills development, and entrepreneurship, according to Francesco. Through community events, mentoring programmes, and support for early-stage ventures, it offers a living example of how infrastructure and culture can support innovation.

Medicon Village also works closely with regional stakeholders to promote Greater Copenhagen Region internationally and support a vibrant and future-proof talent pipeline.

This project offers the vision of a truly integrated, cross‑border life science talent ecosystem across Denmark and Southern Sweden; effectively transforming the Oresund region into one unified labor market, Franceso elaborates.
Long-term regional gains include:

• Sustainable talent inflow and retention, with more international professionals choosing to study, work, and stay in the region.
• Evolution in recruitment practices, particularly for SMEs, who will benefit from more adaptive, region‑wide talent strategies and easier mobility for specialized workers.
• Higher global awareness and attraction, positioning Greater Copenhagen as a leading European hub in medtech, biotech, and food‑tech thanks to coordinated branding, policy impact, and shared strategies.
• A robust long‑term talent strategy, built around a cross‑border cooperation model and shared best practices—ensuring the region can adapt to evolving labor market demands in life sciences and deep tech.

A wide range of event formats and professional networks

Are there any initiatives or best practices from your organization that could inspire others in the network?

- One of our core initiatives to foster the connection of businesses and talent is through a wide range of event formats, such as seminars, networking sessions, and innovation days, says Francesco. These events promote interaction, knowledge exchange, and community-building across the life science ecosystem. They not only enable companies to expand and thrive, but also provide valuable touchpoints for attracting top talent and showcasing the region's unique strengths and innovation potential.

- Reaching both businesses and talent requires clear, targeted communication. Our approach has proven effective in facilitating collaboration between businesses, startups, and international talent, offering a platform where both can grow together. We believe that using a mix of professional networks like LinkedIn, industry events, academic outreach, and media partnerships is a great way to highlight the opportunities in the region. To the same degree, showcasing real stories, career paths, and successful collaborations is key to building trust and interest, Francesco concludes.

Get in touch with Medicon Village

Main contact persons for Cross-border Talent Bridge at Medicon Village:

Francesco Bez, PhD. Innovation Manager at Medicon Village Innovation

Send an e-mail to Francesco Bez francesco.bez@mediconvillage.se

Sarah Lidé, Deputy CEO Medicon Village Innovation

Send an e-mail to Sarah Lidé sarah.lide@mediconvillage.se

Learn more about Medicon Village