Because the solar units over the harbor in Kalundborg, a small city about 60 miles west of Copenhagen, mild streams by way of the glass partitions of Shaun Gamble’s cafe and bathes his afternoon clients in a heat glow. It’s an enviable location — on the water, subsequent to a big playground — apart from the truth that little else is close by.
That’s anticipated to vary quickly because the city advantages from America’s scramble for weight-loss medication.
Close by, at a sprawling manufacturing plant, Novo Nordisk makes practically all of its semaglutide, the energetic ingredient within the firm’s wildly in style diabetes and weight problems therapies Ozempic and Wegovy. The corporate has been in Kalundborg for half a century however prior to now two years introduced it might make investments 60 billion kroner, or about $8.6 billion, into increasing the amenities right here. It’s the largest manufacturing funding in Denmark by an organization, and it’s taking place on this city of fewer than 17,000 folks.
The cash is a part of Novo Nordisk’s world transformation to ramp up manufacturing of its best-selling medication, however maybe nowhere will really feel the affect like this coastal group. Novo Nordisk plans so as to add 1,250 jobs to the prevailing 4,500 staff on the Kalundborg plant. A freeway is being prolonged; traders are snapping up homes and planning new development; universities have begun providing biotech programs to feed Novo Nordisk and close by companies with staff.
Mr. Gamble, who opened his Costa Kalundborg Kaffe 4 years in the past after a job at a close-by Novo Nordisk warehouse, is optimistic. The cafe’s enterprise is unsteady — busy in the summertime when vacationers flock to close by cottages, but money-losing for a lot of the remainder of the 12 months when it’s wet and windy.
However the municipality, bolstered by Novo Nordisk’s increase, plans to open a library and cultural hub subsequent door. Mr. Gamble is investing, too, planning to open earlier and serve extra meals, together with breakfast.
“In 5 years it’ll be a very completely different city,” he mentioned. “That’s what I’m betting on.”
Creating financial winners
Novo Nordisk is already reshaping Denmark’s economic system. The nation’s economic system grew 1.9 p.c final 12 months, among the many quickest in Europe and all because of the pharmaceutical business, led by Novo Nordisk. With out it, the economic system would have stagnated.
Practically all of Novo Nordisk’s income is earned abroad,greater than half in america alone.
There are different, extra tangible advantages for Danes. The corporate is the biggest company taxpayer in Denmark. Final 12 months it paid about 15 p.c of the nation’s whole company tax consumption, greater than different large Danish corporations just like the brewer Carlsberg, the toy firm Lego and the delivery agency Maersk.
Some analysts marvel if this blessing may change into a curse, recalling Finland’s lengthy recession when Nokia misplaced its dominance in cellphones with the arrival of the iPhone and Android smartphones.
Stephanie Lose, the economic system minister, isn’t too involved that Denmark will endure the same destiny. “The pharmaceutical sector just isn’t as interwoven with the Danish economic system,” she mentioned. Novo Nordisk’s staff symbolize simply 1 p.c of the Danish work drive — although it did account for 20 p.c of the roles added final 12 months.
Among the company taxes that Novo Nordisk pays return to the communities the place the corporate operates. Gladsaxe, the municipality on the sting of Copenhagen that features Bagsvaerd, the house of Novo Nordisk’s headquarters, is investing in day care facilities and new sports activities amenities, and is constructing a light-weight rail transit system with different areas exterior the capital.
“Our financial leeway is mostly bigger because of Novo and the numerous different corporations we’ve,” mentioned Trine Graese, the Gladsaxe’s mayor.
Rush-hour site visitors and biotech lessons
Kalundborg is aware of the advantages and dangers of pinning the city’s fortunes to at least one firm. A shipyard briefly dominated the city’s economic system early final century, however was decimated throughout the Nice Despair. Within the Nineteen Sixties, Kalundborg thrived because the manufacturing website for Carmen Curlers, which pioneered electrical scorching hair curlers, inflicting a sensation in america. Then the corporate was bought to the American agency Clairol, fashions modified, 1000’s have been laid off and the plant finally closed in 1990.
“The third time is the fortunate one,” mentioned Martin Damm, the mayor of Kalundborg municipality, which has branded itself “Biotech Metropolis.”
Instructional alternatives are already present process a transformative change. For years, highschool graduates left city to proceed their schooling, and Novo Nordisk struggled to retain scientists and different staff with superior coaching.
Now, three universities supply programs in biotechnology and associated topics on the town, with extra establishments arriving quickly. The Novo Nordisk Basis additionally funds the Helix Lab, the place graduate college students full their grasp’s thesis working with native corporations, together with Novo Nordisk.
The corporate’s funding is anticipated to attract extra folks to the world. Lately, Kalundborg has been in a position to promote plots of land it had beforehand been struggling to shift to personal builders. And there’s speak of opening a world faculty to show youngsters in English to accommodate the drugmaker’s more and more worldwide work drive.
For now, first-time house patrons should compete towards traders in Copenhagen or different locals seeking to lease house to short-term development staff, mentioned Jesper Olsen, an area property agent.
Nonetheless, the adjustments have had a restricted affect for some.
“It’s nice to have new folks to speak to,” mentioned Malte Glad, 19, as he received his hair reduce. However, for folks his age, Kalundborg is “nonetheless a bit of bit gradual,” he mentioned. On the weekend, he typically heads to different cities for leisure.
Justyna Anna Kowalczyk, a 22-year-old pupil from Poland, research engineering at College Faculty Absalon. She works half time throughout the road at Novo Nordisk, and hopes to make it a full-time job after commencement.
“I like little cities,” she mentioned, as a result of she’s from one. Nevertheless it’s the connection between the college and Novo Nordisk that issues: “That’s what introduced me right here.”
