Welcome to Central Denmark Region

Welcome to Central Denmark RegionCentral Denmark RegionRegional DevelopmentSkottenborg 26DK- 8800 Viborgwww. ru.rm.dk

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Welcome to Central Denmark Region, thelargest of the five Danish regions – covering13,000 square kilometres. The regionhas a population of 1.2 m people. Thereare landscapes and cultural sights to suitevery taste all the year round. The regionalso has a thriving business communitywith specific strengths within sustainableenergy production, processing of foodstuffs,information technology and advancedmanufacturing industry.In addition, the university and researchfacilities are of a high international standard.The region is well served by a digital andphysical infrastructure that covers highwaysas well as two international airports andDenmark’s largest container harbour.The region stretches from coast to coastacross Central Jutland Peninsula. It offersa wide range of experiences. From theuntamed North Sea in the West with endlesskilometres of sandy beaches for nature lovers,swimmers, windsurfers and kite surfers tothe hilly lake district in the heart of Jutlandwith its Himmelbjerget and on to city life inÅrhus, the second largest city in Denmark.Djursland lying even further to the East has awide variety of landscapes and presents threeexperience centres with marine, domestic andexotic animals.Come and see a part of Denmark where aninteresting experience is never more than ashort walk away – whether you are a tourist, abusiness traveller, an international partner, ascientist or a student.1 The highest points of Denmark are to be found inthe Central Denmark Region. One of them beingHimmelbjerget close to Silkeborg with its 147metres. Though not particularly high, it is a verypopular destination because of its highly attractivesurroundings.The monument at the top was erectedby the Danish people in 1849 to commemorateKing Frederik VII’s decision to grant them their freeconstitution.2. The Danes call the part of the North Sea closest to thewestern coast of Denmark “Vesterhavet” (WesternSea). There are endless, white sandy beacheswhich are freely accessible to all. In fair weatherVesterhavet is a paradise for sunbathers, swimmers,windsurfers and anglers, and not forgetting buildersof sandcastles. At other times, Vesterhavet can beferocious with meter high waves crashing onto thebeach – to the delight of those who revel in the forcesof nature – and later for those who like to hunt for thecoveted lumps of amber thrown up upon the shore.3. If you are interested in marine life, a visit to TheKattegat Centre is a must. Situated close to GrenåHarbour on the eastern coast of Jutland this giant saltwater aquarium contains tropical sharks, seals, rays,jellyfish and a wealth of other sea creatures.4. Djursland in the very East of the region offers a widevariety of landscapes, lush nature, beautiful sceneryand gorgeous deciduous woodlands inviting to hikingand picnicking. From Djursland there is a ferry tothe Isle of Anholt which boasts the only desert inNorthern Europe as well as a rich bird and animal life.

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The regional administration of Denmark iscomprised of five regions. They are primarilyresponsible for the health sector includinghospitals and general practitioners, butalso the social care and psychiatry sectors.Also, of major importance is the area ofRegional Development covering business,education, culture, natural resources, energy,environment and public transportation.Each region has its own Development Forum,which consists of representatives from theregional and municipal level, the businesssector, the educational institutions and thesocial partners.The 20 members of the forum preparebusiness development strategies and play anactive role in allocating EU structural funds.The Development Forum of Central DenmarkRegion has decided to focus particularly oneducation and training, the developmentof skills and competencies, innovationand research as well as entrepreneurialinitiatives. The Development Forum iscontinuously supporting and assisting newinitiatives within the aforementioned focusareas.These initiatives must also have a relation toone or more of the following sectors wherethe region sees itself as being particularlystrong: energy and the environment,health-related business and foodstuffs.The region has world leaders like Vestas,Siemens and Grundfos in the energy andenvironment sector as well as many smalland medium-sized businesses specialising indeveloping their own products or operatingas sub-contractors.The growing political awareness concerningclimate changes and safety of energy supplyhas added pressure on the global market todevelop efficient and sustainable solutions in5. The Central Denmark Region is especially strong inthe energy and environment sector. New initiativesfocusing on sustainability are launched every year.The world’s largest test plant of biogas was openedin October 2007 at Research Centre Foulum eastof Viborg. The purpose being to improve utilisationof biogas as well as lessening the impact on theenvironment and climate.6. In Brædstrup near Horsens 8,000 square metres arecovered with solar panels that produce inexpensivepower and sustainable heating for the local districtheating consumers. This plant is the largest in theworld and with support from Central DenmarkRegion among others it will begin experimentingwith providing sustainable energy to a future, largehousing estate.7. Samsø, the renewable energy island of Denmark, hasbeen energy self-sufficient since 2003, this includesoffshore and onshore wind energy turbines. Next stepis a more intelligent use of energy resources.Photo: Samsø Energiakademi.

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energy and environment technology.The Central Denmark Region has therefore aunique potential for being able to develop theenergy and environment technology sector.The region will have a prominent place in2009 when Denmark hosts the UN climateconference. A very unique case is the Danishisland of renewable energy, Samsø, whichhas been self-sufficient in energy since 2003.The next goal, however, is a more intelligentuse of energy resources – e.g. using excesselectricity and hydrogen in the transportsector.The region sees great development potentialin the health-related business sector.The research undertaken at the region’seducational institutions is amongst the bestin the world. Based on the health sector,Central Denmark Region aims to furtherdevelop a business which is innovative andglobally oriented. This it aims to achieve byincreasing co-operation between businesscommunities, the health and knowledgesectors and across borders of trade, industryand geography.Central Denmark Region also has a veryimportant foodstuffs sector with largemanufacturing, processing and distributionunits, strong research and developmentactivities, knowledge groups as well as avariety of networking activities. This sector inCentral Denmark Region comprises of smalland medium-sized manufacturers as well aslarge international companies.8. One of the projects in Central Denmark Regiongenerating new health-related business is thenew University Hospital in Århus. Being the largestreorganisation of existing hospitals ever undertakenin Denmark this project offers a unique possibilityto combine the efforts of researchers, developers,manufacturers and the health care sector. This willempower and innovate the business sector as well asprovide the basis for new enterprises. The hospitalis expected to be completed over the course of thenext 12-15 years. The new hospital will have an areaof 400,000 square meters, employ 9,000 people andbe able to accommodate 100,000 admissions and600,000 out-patient visits annually.Photo: DNU-konsortiet9. Every pig carcass from the Danish Crownslaughterhouse in Horsens is automaticallyphotographed and ultrasound scanned and thenthe first carving is done by robots.Technologyhas provided the employees with a less physicallydemanding job.10. The Centre for Pervasive Healthcare at the AlexandraInstitute in Århus has developed a technology whichmakes it possible for patients with external woundsand ulcers to receive remote treatment. This isparticularly relevant for the treatment of elderlydiabetic patients with leg ulcers in their own homes. Avisiting nurse can film the wound with a mobile phoneand the hospital doctor can see it online and planfuture treatment.11. Ejstrupholm Dambrug (fish farm) produces 2,000tonnes of rainbow trout a year and uses the mostrecent technology to benefit the environment. Thisfarm cleanses, filtrates and recycles its own water nolonger having to use water from the nearby stream.

The politicians ruleThe 41 members of the Regional Council meet once a month in the regional council hall in Viborg.The circular hall with a diameter of 30 meter is designed by the Danish architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassenwhile the artist Birgit Østergaard is behind the ceiling decorations that create a map of the 19 municipalities of the region.

The 41 elected politicians in the Regional Council are the highest political authority of theRegion. Elections for the Regional Council are held every four years, with the next due in theautumn of 2009.The council consists of eight parties at present: Socialdemokraterne (the Social Democrats,with 16 seats) and Venstre (Denmark’s centre-right Liberal Party,14 seats) as the largestparties followed by Det Konservative Folkeparti (the Conservative People’s Party, 3 seats),Dansk Folkeparti (The Danish People’s Party, 2 seats), Socialistisk Folkeparti (The SocialistPeople’s Party, 2 seats), Kristendemokraterne (The Christian Democratic Party, 1 seat), DetRadikale Venstre (The Danish Social-Liberal Party, 1 seat), Enhedslisten (The Danish Red-Green Alliance, 1 seat) as well as one member without any party affiliation.Regional CouncilCorporate ManagementAdministrativeDepartmentDevelopmentForumHealthPsychiatry andSocial ServiceRegionalDevelopmentCentral Denmark Region is one of five administrative units in Denmark. The primaryresponsibility of Central Denmark Region is healthcare, involving responsibility forhospital services, including psychiatry, general practitioners and specialist doctors. Inaddition, the region operates a number of social care institutions. Furthermore, the regionensures and coordinates regional development in areas of nature, environment, business andtourism. Approximately 30,000 people are employed at various institutions and organisationsunder the remit of the Central Denmark Region.As shown in the figure above the Development Forum and the Regional Development Unit areconnected.

SkiveCentral Denmark Region covers 19municipalities and is the largest of thefive regions. For more information aboutthe region and its special qualities andactivities, see the following web-address:Central Denmark Region:http://www.rm.dkLemvigStruerViborgRandersNorddjursHolstebroFavrskovSyddjursHerningSilkeborgRingkøbing-SkjernIkast-BrandeSkanderborgÅrhusHorsensOdderSamsøHedensted

Århus is Denmark’s second largest city with more than 40,000 students and an internationaleducational environment providing a sound foundation for lively restaurants, cafés and othermeeting places within the city.Grafisk Service · 4100-08-054