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October 10th, 2013

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The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Denmark has named biotechnology company Biogen Idec as its 2013 ‘Foreign Company of the Year’.

The award is given annually to the company that has exhibited outstanding success in criteria such as company growth, corporate social responsibility and making a positive impact on Danish society. Biogen Idec accepted the award at Copenhagen City Hall at a reception on Wednesday.

A three-person jury comprised of Sten Scheibye (chairman of the Danish Trade Council), Steen Thomsen (a professor at Copenhagen Business School) and Lars Nørby Johansen (chairman of the Danish Growth Council) selected Biogen Idec on the strength of its investment in Denmark, among other factors.

“In a period of outsourcing and manufacturing decline, it’s remarkable and encouraging that a large international company has chosen Denmark as its base for its European production,” said Thomsen in a press release.

Biogen Idec specialises in developing drugs for patients suffering from cancer, haemophilia and autoimmune disorders. The American Fortune 500 Company has two offices in Denmark, including its international production site in Hillerød.
AmCham executive director Stephen Brugger said the goal of the award is to highlight the importance of foreign companies in Denmark.

“It’s important to tell good stories, and this year there were many good stories to choose from – with Biogen Idec as the best,” Brugger said.
Biogen Idec looked at the award as validation of their efforts to expand into Denmark and add jobs.

“We see [the award] as recognition from AmCham and the jury of the importance of Biogen Idec’s growth in Hillerød,” said Andy Stober, Biogen Idec’s site operations director. “We are pleased that in the last 20 months we’ve been able to employ more than 350 highly-skilled and dedicated workers.”

Previous winners include:
• McDonald’s (2012)
• Siemens (2011)
• Crown Plaza Copenhagen Towers (2010)
• Iron Mountain (2009)