Developing scientific talent is essential to accelerating innovation in food, human, and planetary health. The California–Denmark Innovator Fellowship was created to give early-career researchers firsthand experience navigating the intersection of research, entrepreneurship, and commercialization through an international exchange between California and Denmark.
On June 15–16, IIFH Faculty Director Justin Siegel, Director of Programs Kim Fisher, and Talent Development Coordinator Dana Hughes traveled to Copenhagen to co-host the inaugural California–Denmark Innovator Fellowship Colloquium. Held in partnership with the BioInnovation Institute (BII), DTU National Food Institute, and the START Network, the event brought together more than 60 leaders from academia, industry, startups, and investment to celebrate the first fellowship cohort and explore the future of food, human, and planetary health.
Across two days, discussions explored emerging trends in food technology investment, commercialization, and research spanning sensory science, livestock health, and bioprocessing. Fellows from UC Davis and Denmark reflected on their experiences navigating two world-leading innovation ecosystems, sharing insights into scientific entrepreneurship, venture creation, and translating research into real-world impact.
“The colloquium was a meaningful experience that reminded me of the broader purpose of research: to generate knowledge, create impact, and help move ideas from discovery toward change”. It also gave me valuable insight into my own work by showing how research in sensory science can guide product innovation and empower businesses”
— Lik Xian Lim, Ph.D., California–Denmark Innovator Fellow
“Seeing the breadth of research represented in one room reinforced how much the path from invention to innovation depends not only on great science, but on the people behind it. It was very validating for me as a scientist to present about investing and entrepreneurship and made me realize how much I have learned over the course of the program.”
— Emma Hoch-Schneider, Ph.D., California–Denmark Innovator Fellow
The colloquium also highlighted the strength of the California–Denmark research partnership. UC Davis faculty Jean-Xavier Guinard and Fabio Lima joined Wender Bredie (University of Copenhagen), Mogens Krogh (Aarhus University), Peter Jensen, and Jette Jakobsen (Technical University of Denmark) to share research advancing food systems, human health, and planetary health. Panels featuring leaders from Novo Holdings, The March Group, UC Investments, Food & Health Angels, Mars, BII, and DTU Skylab explored what it takes to move promising discoveries from academia to the marketplace. Attendees also experienced innovation firsthand during a startup showcase featuring products and technologies from Tasira, Etiquette, EvodiaBio, SOVS, Wren BioSciences, Rivalz, and Vine2Bar.
Representatives from organizations including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novonesis, 21st.BIO, Mars, and leading venture investors joined researchers and entrepreneurs in conversations that underscored a shared commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem. More than a showcase of research, the colloquium demonstrated the value of investing in people—equipping emerging scientific leaders with the networks, entrepreneurial mindset, and cross-sector partnerships needed to translate discovery into meaningful impact.
As the California–Denmark Innovator Fellowship continues to grow, so too does a transatlantic community committed to developing the next generation of innovators and accelerating evidence-based solutions for food, human, and planetary health.
