Food inspections and differentiated VAT, tariffs, and trade barriers, AI’s impact on the labour market, and SMEs' exports to the United States.

These are all business economics topics that have, to varying degrees, dominated public debate in Denmark over the past year, with researchers and analysts from CEFAU contributing to the discussion through research briefs, opinion pieces, and media appearances.

Led by economics professors Michael Svarer and Philipp Schröder, and supported by a donation from the Salling Foundations and Aarhus BSS, the centre was established in the autumn of 2025. The centre will now officially open with presentations and a panel debate on the current situation and framework conditions for the business community.

Programme

• Welcome by Philipp Schröder and Michael Svarer (Directors of CEFAU)
• Jørgen Vig Knudstorp (Nike, Starbucks): Why are Danish companies successful?
• Panel debate: Including geopolitical and trade policy uncertainty, AI in Danish companies, and modern industrial policy. Participants: Marianne Dahl (Telenor, Teito, DTU), Jens Bjerg Sørensen (Schouw & Co., Danfoss, the Salling Foundations), and Brian Bech Nielsen (Aarhus University). Moderator: Laura Hay Uggla
• Nina Smith (Aarhus University): How can Danish companies' access to qualified labour be strengthened?
• Michael Koch (CEFAU): How does AI affect Danish companies?
• Allan Sørensen (CEFAU): What characterises successful export companies?