The stars of tomorrow set the direction for 2026
On stage were Thomas Holm Pedersen, CEO of NMD Pharma, Anders Søndergaard, CEO of COANA, and Mathias Brink Lorenz, Director at Delphinus Venture Capital. They were joined by Camilla Gustafsen, Chair of ALBA – Aarhus Life Science and Biotech Alliance and VP Biology i Draupnir Bio, and Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Chair of Security Tech Space. All are part of INCUBA’s environment and ecosystem in their daily work.
Across the presentations, one message stood out clearly. Future growth is created through the interaction between knowledge, capital, companies and strong communities. And if Aarhus is to succeed in making even more stars shine in 2026 and beyond, the right conditions must be in place.
Jacob Doktor Mogensen, INCUBA, Mathias Brink Lorenz, Delphinus Venture Capital. Anders Søndergaard, Coana, Camilla Gustafsen, Draupnir Bio, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Security Tech Space & Thomas Holm Pedersen, NMD Pharma
Turning knowledge into growth
For knowledge intensive companies, the journey from idea to scalable business is rarely straightforward. It is shaped by complex choices, new demands and first time decisions that can determine whether a company stays on course or loses momentum. Too many promising scaleups never reach their full potential. Not because the idea is lacking, but because access to capital, experience, advisory support and the right networks is missing.
This challenge was a recurring theme throughout the New Year briefing. Whether the focus was life science, software, investments or security, the message pointed in the same direction. Ambitions are realised only when environments exist where people can meet, share knowledge and move forward together.
A shared responsibility for the next step
At INCUBA, we work every day to support knowledge intensive companies that are ready for serious scaling. Not only through facilities and physical frameworks, but through people, relationships and a community where connections are formed in everyday interactions, and where experience and networks are close at hand when needed.
As Jacob Doktor Mogensen, CEO of INCUBA, puts it:
“Too many knowledge intensive companies have the potential to become far greater than they end up being. Not because ambition is missing, but because the path from knowledge to growth is complex. That is why it is crucial to create strong environments where companies, research and capital can come together and lift each other forward.”
The New Year briefing at Aarhus City Hall was a clear illustration of this shared responsibility. The stars of tomorrow do not emerge on their own. They grow when the right conditions are in place, and when the city, companies and the wider ecosystem take the next step together.
2026 calls for collective action, clear ambitions and the willingness to invest in one another.
Advance, together.