Circular hub

From farm to future: A strategic location for circular production of food and biomaterials

- powered by green energy and waste heat

Urban and vertical farming

Efficient year-round food production with low footprint solutions

Aabenraa is fostering the future of sustainable food production with a circular hub for synergetic urban and vertical farming. With access to surplus heat utilisation, renewable energy, and circular water resources, producers can run high-yield cultivation while optimising land use, reducing resource waste, and strengthening food security.

Green and circular energy

Turning waste streams into energy value through industrial symbiosis

Aabenraa is leading the way in integrating renewable energy and circular resource use for sustainable production hubs. With large-scale Power-to-X facilities, surplus heat utilisation, and circular water supply, the municipality turns sidestreams and waste into energy value—supporting decarbonisation and strengthening synergies across the value chain.

Plant-based foods and materials

A strong base for circular production in the sustainable food and bio value chain

Aabenraa offers a dynamic hub for plant-based protein production, plant-based food innovation, and circular materials production, matching synergetic actors in the sustainable food and bio value chain. With access to surplus heat, shared green energy and technical water resources, and strong export routes, Aabenraa enables circular material production with minimal environmental impact.

An ideal investment environment for scaled food & bio production - powered by waste heat

Aaabenraa’s Food Innovation Hub is redefining the future of food production. Located at the crossroads of Europe, this initiative aims to combine Denmark’s strong agricultural tradition and ability to collaborate, with cutting-edge food technology, reducing the farmed land area, leveraging green energy and circular resources, and building synergies into the hub's value chain to create a sustainable food system.

Synergies across sectors and life cycles

At the heart of the hub is synergy thinking. With large-scale Power-to-X facilities generating excess heat utilisation and facilities generatin excess heat utilisation and technical water from waste water, Aabenraa is ideally suited for vertical farming, alternative protein producers, and innovative food processing companies. Businesses benefit from reduced operational costs, access to green infrastructure, and a market-driven ecosystem.

A strategic location for exports across Europe

With the German market - one of Europe’s most dynamic for plant-based food innovation – on the hub’s doorstep, and a multi-modal transport system designed for international exports, the Aabenraa location is ideal. To enhance innovation and drive synergies between members, the food hub will be backed by both municipality, research institutions involved and the Danish Food & Bio cluster.

Are you a scale-up ready for full-scale production? Work with us to access funding and realise your project

Fuel your food & bio innovation with funding opportunities

Denmark offers extensive funding opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups in the food and biotech sectors, ensuring access to the capital needed for breakthrough innovations. Whether you’re developing plant-based protein production, advancing fermentation technologies, or innovating in sustainable food production, multiple funding programs can help accelerate your growth. With strong public and private investment, Denmark is a leading hub for sustainable food innovation.

Grants and investments from leading foundations

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is a key player in funding food and bio innovation, supporting research and commercialization. Through initiatives like Plant2Food, with €27 million in funding, the foundation fosters open collaboration on plant-based food development. Other grant programs focus on sustainable agriculture, alternative proteins, and health-related food solutions, providing both early-stage and scale-up funding.

Government-backed financing for growth

Denmark’s Innovation Fund Denmark (IFD) offers grants and co-financing for companies working on groundbreaking food and biotech solutions, helping start-ups move from concept to market. Meanwhile, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) provides growth capital, loan guarantees, and export financing to support scale-ups looking to expand internationally. These programs ensure that companies have the financial backing needed to scale sustainably.

Contact us now for further guidance