- Half of Danish firms engaged in innovation activities, introducing new products, processes or services – among the highest shares in the EU
- Danish companies are among Europe’s most enthusiastic users of generative AI
- Strong investment activity continues, despite rising economic pessimism
Investment activity in Denmark remains exceptionally strong, with 98% of Danish firms reporting investment in 2025, the highest share across all EU countries, according to new country results from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s annual Investment Survey (EIBIS). Danish firms continue to invest more ambitiously than their European peers, with a particularly high share directing resources towards developing new products, processes or services.
The survey highlights Denmark’s position as one of Europe's frontrunners in innovation and digitalisation. In the past financial year, half of Danish firms (50%) engaged in innovation activities, introducing products or services that are new to the company, the country or even globally. This is far above the EU average of 32%. More than half of Danish firms (58%) already use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bard or Copilot for process improvements, again exceeding the EU average of 37%. The adoption of advanced digital technologies such as AI, the internet of things, robotics or digital platforms is widespread across firm sizes, even among micro and small companies.
Despite the strong investment performance, Danish firms report growing pessimism about the economic outlook. Expectations for future investment have weakened, with a net share of firms anticipating lower investment in the year ahead. At the same time, firms show confidence in their own sector prospects and in access to internal and external finance.
Skills shortages remain one of the most severe obstacles to investment. Two thirds of Danish companies (67%) cite the availability of skilled staff as an investment barrier, a challenge particularly acute in the construction sector where 90% of firms highlight skills shortages. Yet only 6% of investment goes to employee training.
Danish exporters continue to face a fragmented European Single Market. 41% of trading firms report that new rules, standards and certifications across EU countries are a major obstacle to international trade.
“Danish firms are among Europe’s innovation leaders, investing heavily in new products and digital technologies, including generative AI,” said EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “At the same time, Denmark faces challenges, from severe skills shortages to regulatory fragmentation in the Single Market. The EIB stands ready to support Danish companies as they continue to innovate, invest and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.”
Key findings of the investment survey
Innovation and digitalisation
- 50% of Danish firms engage in innovation activities, introducing new products, processes or services (EU: 32%)
- 58% use generative AI (EU: 37%)
Investment trends
- 98% of firms invest (EU: 86%), the highest share in the EU
- 7% of investment goes to R&D, in line with the EU average
Skills, trade and regulation
- 67% cite skills shortages as an obstacle to investment
- 50% of firms engaged in international trade cite complain with new regulations and standards as an obstacle to trade
Climate and sustainability
- 97% of firms have taken action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- 64% monitor their own emissions targets (EU: 47%)
Gender diversity
- 24% report at least 40% women in senior management (EU: 25%)
- 16% report at least 50% female ownership
Download the full survey: Investment Survey Denmark 2025.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in the organisation’s Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB's financing within the EU is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.
The EIB Group is a key provider of finance and advisory in the critical raw materials sector. Through its new CRM strategic initiative, it aims to invest €2 billion annually across the entire value chain, supporting the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act and ensuring a secure, sustainable supply.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.
EIB Investment Survey
The EIB Group Investment Survey (EIBIS), conducted annually since 2016, is a unique survey of approximately 13 000 firms across all European Union Member States, with an additional sample from the United States. The survey collects data on firm characteristics and performance, past investment activities and future plans, sources of finance, financing issues and other challenges, such as climate change and digital transformation. The EIBIS uses a stratified sampling methodology and is representative across all 27 EU Member States and the United States, as well as across four categories of firm size (micro to large) and four main economic sectors (manufacturing, construction, services and infrastructure). The survey is designed to build a panel of observations, supporting the analysis of timeseries data. Observations can also be linked back to data on firm balance sheets and profit and loss statements. Developed and managed by the EIB Economics Department, the survey is conducted in collaboration with Ipsos. More background and technical details can be found at www.eib.org/eibis