MIT-Denmark & Scandinavia Program (MISTI)

The MIT-Denmark program brings MIT students, faculty and community members together with Danish innovators in the fields of life science, sustainability, technology, and more. The goal of the program is to increase the collaboration between MIT and Denmark by making connections between Danish companies, research labs, universities and talented MIT students and faculty, bringing valuable benefits to each party involved.

MIT students interning in Denmark report that their experiences have opened their eyes not only to hands-on experience in their field of interest, but to a new way of thinking about work and life. There are opportunities for students across courses of study, particularly for those interested in the fields of biotechnology, energy, computer science and AI.

The program, which falls under the umbrella of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), has been thriving since it launched in 2018 in collaboration with the Confederation of Danish Industry. The program has facilitated internships for approximately 100 MIT students, with students interning in more than 50 Danish companies, startups, and institutions. The program's strong track record has made it increasingly popular with both students and companies.

The MIT-Denmark program has received a grant of DKK 10.3 million (over US$1.5 million) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to support its expansion. MIT-Denmark provides MIT students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in Danish companies, startups, and research institutions. The program aims to bolster innovation in key research and technology areas in Denmark and at MIT by increasing collaboration between the country and the Institute.

The grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will help MIT-Denmark increase its focus on internships in startups that are researching and developing solutions for sustainability, including sustainable agriculture and food systems, renewable energy, and carbon capture technologies, as well as startups within quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The program will do this with existing collaborators, such as the Confederation of Danish Industry, and new ones, such as the BioInnovation Institute (BII) Foundation and Odense Robotics Cluster.

The grant will also allow the MIT-Denmark program to increase the number of internships offered and connect students with innovation across research and industry, benefiting both students and host organizations. Students can contribute to innovative research in Denmark, gain valuable hands-on experience in cutting-edge projects and initiatives, and expand their global network. They will also have the opportunity to experience local culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and build relationships. The host companies, on the other hand, will utilize and learn from the students' knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and strengthen their workforce for the duration of the internship.