Denmark bridges continents within cellular agriculture
QUICK OVERVIEW:
NETWORK:
- Through ICAN, Denmark has positioned itself at the center of global cellular agriculture.
- The network links researchers and companies across continents, sparking new projects, partnerships and international visibility.
Through the International Cellular Agriculture Network (ICAN), Denmark has acted as a bridge-builder in the global development of cellular agriculture. The initiative has connected researchers, companies and ecosystem actors from Europe, North America and Asia to share knowledge, build trust and drive innovation.
The cultivation of meat, milk or other foods directly from cells instead of animals or plants (cellular agriculture) is one of the most disruptive technologies shaping the future of food. With the International Cellular Agriculture Network (ICAN), Denmark has positioned itself as a central hub for collaboration on this development.
Connecting continents
For the last year and a half the ICAN network has connected research institutions, companies and ecosystem actors from Denmark, the US and Singapore. The network has been managed by Food & Bio Cluster Denmark with funding from the Global Innovation Network Programme (GINP) under the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science (UFS).
GINP is designed to strengthen Denmark’s research and innovation ecosystem through strategic international networks. By providing neutral facilitation, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark has paved the way for ICAN to become a trusted platform where participants can exchange knowledge, explore collaboration opportunities and build long-term partnerships across borders.
“The real value of ICAN is not only the projects launched but the lasting trust we have built. Partners now know each other well, and they take the ball and run across borders and sectors. As a cluster, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark has acted as a neutral catalyst and ensured momentum.”
- Louise Krogh Johnson, Food & Bio Cluster Denmark and ICAN Network Lead
The real value of ICAN is not only the projects launched but the lasting trust we have built.
A core element of ICAN has been the exchange of knowledge and expertise across continents.
Through conferences, workshops and keynote lectures, the network has created opportunities for participating researchers and companies to gain new perspectives on both science and commercialization strategies. This has included insights on regulatory frameworks , infrastructure and scale-up experiences and research advances.
The engagement of internationally recognized experts has further underlined the network’s value. For example, Professor David Kaplan from Tufts University, one of the world’s most renowned researchers in cellular agriculture has become affiliated with Aarhus University.
This affiliation illustrates how ICAN not only creates dialogue but also lays the foundation for long-term academic and industrial collaboration both across borders and within the respective national ecosystems.
Examples of concrete collaborations emerging from the network:
- Planet Dairy and Aarhus University secured funding from AgriFoodTure for MilkNoids, a project developing mammary organoids to produce cell-based milk.
- Tufts University (Deco Labs) partnered with Danish startup Nordic Virtual Pastures after meeting in Denmark and together won a Good Food Institute grant.
- DTU & NC State University began planning joint research on plant-microbe interactions.
- Danish Technological Institute & NC State University submitted a joint proposal to the Danish Plant Fund with support from North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the Danish Trade Council in New York.
- A Gordon Research Conference on the “Foods of the Future” will be co-organized in California in 2026 by by network members from Aalborg University, Tufts University and Good Food Institute with speakers invited from NC State University and Aarhus University.
Industry benefits
One of ICAN’s key strengths has been its cross-sectoral focus, ensuring that commercial actors as well as research institutions could benefit from the network.
Among these is the Danish company Planet Dairy, a food tech startup dedicated to developing climate friendly hybrid dairy alternatives through precision fermentation and cell-based technologies.
With a vision to combine traditional dairy know-how with cutting-edge biotech, the company aims to deliver sustainable products that meet the growing demand for nutritious and climate-friendly foods.
Paul Cornillon, Chief R&D Officer at Planet Dairy, highlights the impact of joining ICAN:
“Being part of ICAN has given us credibility when engaging with biotech partners, as they can see that we are anchored in a strong network of international experts in the field. We have gained new connections in North Carolina and Singapore, valuable insights into Novonesis’ approach and increased visibility by being associated with leading experts. For us, this has been a door-opener that could also help raise new funding for our projects.”
Strategic impact
Beyond individual projects, ICAN has elevated Denmark’s role in the global cellular agriculture ecosystem. Tufts University has so far been invited by Food & Bio Cluster Denmark to join advisory boards in two Horizon Europe applications, ensuring a strong transatlantic voice in shaping the future direction of cellular agriculture and strengthening international collaboration in this emerging field.
The Innovation Centre Denmark in Boston also played a pivotal role by leveraging its in-depth local knowledge and networks. Their ability to open doors and connect Danish actors to the US ecosystem was highly valued by participants.
Looking ahead
Even after the funded period, ICAN partners have committed to quarterly informal online meetups to keep momentum alive, share updates and quickly mobilize around new opportunities.
Funding and infrastructure remain major hurdles in the field, but the trust and the ties established through ICAN ensure that Denmark will remain at the heart of the global conversation.
About ICAN
- Project period: January 2024 – July 2025
- Supported by: Global Innovation Network Programme (GINP), Uddannelses og Forskningsstyrelsen
- Lead: Food & Bio Cluster Denmark
- Participants: 8 research institutions, 3 industry partners, 5 ecosystem actors from Denmark, USA and Singapore
- Results: New partnerships, joint projects, global visibility through:
- Workshops and webinars
- 2 international conferences with delegations
- Researcher exchanges between AU and Tufts University
- Joint grant applications (EU Horizon, DTU Skylab, Plantefonden, AgriFoodTure)
- Affiliation of Prof. David Kaplan to Aarhus University
- Future: Ongoing quarterly online meetups
Learn more about the ICAN network and see recorded webinars below.
ICAN members
A*Star
Agrifood Futures
APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
Danish Technological Institute - Biosolution Technology Center
DI Fødevarer
Enterprise Singapore
Good Food Institute
National University of Singapore
NC Biotechnology Center
North Carolina AgTech Cluster
North Carolina State University
PlanetDairy
Protein Frontiers
Technical University of Denmark - National Food Institute
Tufts University
Aalborg University - Dept. Of Chemistry and Bioscience
Aarhus University - Dept. Of Food Science
Flere nyheder fra Food & Bio Cluster
Denmark bridges continents within cellular agriculture
Through the International Cellular Agriculture Network (ICAN), Denmark has acted as a bridge-builder in the global development of cellular agriculture.
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