Denmark’s robot, automation, and drone industry grew by 9% in terms of employees last year, now employing 18,500 workers, according to new figures from the country’s national robotics cluster, Odense Robotics. Despite facing increasing challenges, companies maintain a positive outlook for the future, with an expected 14% growth in employees going forward. A commendable achievement during challenging times, says CEO.
- Today, there are more than 593 robot, automation, and drone companies in Denmark. They employ 13,700 people in Denmark and 4,800 abroad, totalling 18,500 employees.
- This represents a 9% increase in the workforce in 2023 on the previous year. A stable growth of approximately 14% annually in employees in Denmark is expected going forward.
- The most recent financial figures show that the industry generated a turnover of DKK 27.5 billion / EUR 3.7 billion in 2022, of which DKK 13.1 billion / EUR 1.8 billion was derived from exports.
- The market has become more challenging, say companies, with the exception of supply chain issues, which have improved.
- As in previous years, Germany and the USA remain the most important export markets— now and in the future. Our Nordic neighbours, Sweden and Norway, follow suit.
The figures are published today in Odense Robotics Insight Report 2024, the annual analysis of Denmark’s robot, automation and drone industry conducted by the national cluster. According to the cluster’s CEO, the new data shows commendable growth during challenging times.
“Denmark’s robot, automation and drone industry is growing despite increasing challenges. Companies increased their number of employees by 9% in 2023 and expect a 14% growth in employees in the coming years. An impressive achievement at a time when companies are also facing rising challenges,” says Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics, and continues:
“The industry has an optimistic outlook, I’m pleased to say. However, I am also mindful of the fact that running a robotics or drone company has become more difficult over the past year. In these uncertain times, it’s not surprising that it comes with challenges.”
Increasing challenges
Odense Robotics surveyed over 300 robot, automation and drone companies in Denmark to understand the growth barriers they face and their magnitude. The responses paint a picture of growing challenges:
- 91% face constraints related to limited time, resources and finances for innovation and product development
- 82% struggle with customer awareness regarding the benefits of solutions and technologies
- 81% grapple with a shortage of qualified workforce
- 67% encounter difficulties due to a lack of capital.
Realising potential
The burning question is how to address the challenges faced by the industry. That’s precisely what Odense Robotics is focusing on in a debate at the cluster’s annual meeting tomorrow, March 13, together with Dansk Metal Chairman Claus Jensen, Nordbo Robotics CCO Sabina Kethelz, and Aarhus University Economics Professor Philipp Schröder.
“Automation offers many advantages. Yet many companies have still not taken the first step. At the same time, we have an innovative and successful robotics industry in Denmark that leads the field. It’s important that this significant potential is realised, so we enable Danish manufacturing companies to become more competitive, Danish robotics companies to grow and, most importantly, more robots and drones to be deployed worldwide. I look forward to being part of this debate at Odense Robotics’ annual meeting tomorrow,” says Casper Hansen, Chairman of Odense Robotics and CEO of Technicon.
Download your copy of the report here.