On 16 December 2022, H.E. Mrs. Sirilak Niyom, Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark, as the Chairperson of the ASEAN Committee in Copenhagen (ACC), led a delegation of ASEAN Ambassadors to Denmark, namely Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as diplomats from the respective Embassies including Vietnam, for a site visit at Medicon Valley Alliance (MVA) to learn more about the promotion of life science sector. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Davis Zepernick, Director of Member Engagement and Communication, who provided a briefing on MVA, a bi-national member-based not-for-profit organization that focuses on the promotion of advancement and growth of life science sector in Denmark and Southern Sweden. According to Mr. Zapernick, MVA achieved its mission by hosting networking events between member organizations which comprised of more than 300 members in both Denmark and Southern Sweden, including companies in life science sector, universities, science parks, public organizations, and several Embassies in Denmark.

The ACC exchanged opinions and expressed interest in the model utilized to create an ecosystem of life science between public, private and academic sectors in Denmark, as well as the bi-national partnership between Denmark and Sweden, which could be applied to the development of life science clusters in ASEAN at both national and regional levels. Moreover, both sides also conferred about the channel to connect MVA’s network to life science organizations and businesses in each of the ASEAN member country, and the process to apply for MVA membership in order to encourage the sharing of knowledge and innovations in the fields of life science and medicine which would further be commercialized and beneficial to the general public.