As part of the Danish–American Research and Innovation Network on Carbon Removal and CCUS, we at Clean, together with INNO-CCUS and the Innovation Centre Denmark Silicon Valley, had the pleasure of hosting a week-long Danish–US California Delegation on Carbon Removals mid-November. This visit marks an important milestone in expanding scientific collaboration between Denmark and the United States on carbon capture, utilisation, storage, and carbon dioxide removal.
Why Delegation Trips Matter
Delegation trips are a vital tool in international research and innovation partnerships. While virtual meetings build the initial connections, it is through in-person engagement that trust, shared understanding, and long-term collaboration truly take shape. Delegation visits allow researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to experience technologies first-hand, meet the people behind pioneering solutions, and explore the local ecosystems that drive climate innovation.
For a field as dynamic and complex as CCUS and carbon removal, these exchanges are particularly important. They create the space for deep technical dialogue, reveal opportunities that cannot be spotted from afar, and help align research and policy ambitions across borders. This delegation trip is one of the core elements of the network’s structure—designed to accelerate progress towards Denmark’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals, while strengthening ties with leading American institutions.
A Week Showcasing Danish Excellence in Carbon Removals
Our delegation from Stanford University joined us for an intensive programme highlighting Denmark’s research strengths, industrial capabilities, and emerging innovation pathways in carbon removal. The programme placed particular emphasis on two fast-advancing areas: biochar and enhanced rock weathering.
Throughout the week, we benefited from insightful presentations and discussions with a wide range of Danish experts and organisations, including GEUS, Rock Flour Company, Roskilde University (RUC), DTI, The University of Copenhagen (KU), Aarhus University (AU), Novonesis, and Stiesdal.
Participants also visited key facilities across the country, gaining valuable insight into how Danish science and industry are working together to scale credible carbon removal solutions.
Highlights from the Delegation Week
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Exploring the potential of rock flour for carbon capture, soil remediation, and agricultural co-benefits
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Participating in the CORC Forum, hosted by the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center
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Visiting the world-leading Stiesdal SkyClean facility for an in-depth look at scalable biochar-based carbon removal, led by Henrik Stiesdal and Jesper Ahrenfeldt
These activities underscored Denmark’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the strong complementarity between Danish and Californian research environments.
Laying the Groundwork for Long-Term Collaboration
This delegation trip forms part of a broader initiative that brings together top research institutions and innovation clusters from both countries. On the Danish side, the project is anchored by INNO-CCUS (DTU Chemistry) and Clean, while the US partners include the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
The network supports a structured pathway for ongoing collaboration—ranging from researcher exchanges and funding applications to participation in key conferences such as the INNO-CCUS Annual Conference and the West Coast CDR Conference. The project also explores new joint funding avenues, including CET Partnership, the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, and EU Horizon programmes.
Moving Forward Together
We are delighted by the engagement, curiosity, and ambition shown throughout the delegation visit. The week has clearly demonstrated the significant potential for deeper cooperation with our American partners, and we look forward to transforming these shared insights into concrete, long-term research and innovation activities.
This project is co-funded by the Danish Agency of Higher Education and Science under the GINP programme.
