The above snapshot of Nordic alternative protein research hubs highlights some of the leading research institutions across the Nordic countries that are driving progress in alternative proteins. While not exhaustive, it captures a dynamic and growing ecosystem of R&I activity in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland.

Several Nordic institutions have developed distinctive areas of expertise, such as the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and the Swedish Agricultural University, which focus their research on the plant-based pillar and serve as hubs with high research outputs in their particular area. Other institutions host research groups looking at all pillars, such as the University of Helsinki in Finland or the Norwegian Nofima, which is running research projects like GreenPlantFood (plant-based), ARRIVAL (fermentation, cultivated meat), and Food4Cells (cultivated meat).

Alternative protein research in the Nordics is spread across a range of institutions – from technical universities and applied science institutes to life science hubs – and reflects the region’s long-standing excellence in fields critical to alternative proteins. These include fermentation and bioprocess engineering, cell and tissue biology, food chemistry, metabolic engineering, and agricultural sciences. Researchers are often adapting tools and insights from these foundational disciplines to solve the technical challenges facing alternative protein development.

Research centres

Besides research hubs, the Nordics are also home to a host of research centres that either focus specifically on alternative protein research and development or have it as part of their core mission. Click on the drop-downs below to find out more about some of these centres.

Meet some of the leading alternative protein researchers in the Nordics:

The Nordic alternative protein community: networks and events

Click on the drop-downs below to find out more about key networks and events in the region.

What we need more of: building stronger, long-term networks to drive impact

Science thrives on collaboration, and for the Nordic alternative protein sector to reach its full potential, stronger and more enduring research networks are essential.

For plant-based research, which is relatively well-established, the focus should be on alignment: minimising redundancy, sharing best practices, and strategically directing resources to maximise impact. In contrast, fermentation and cultivated meat, still emerging fields, need stronger collaboration to pool expertise, share infrastructure, and attract funding. Building tailored research communities across these categories will help the region solidify its leadership and accelerate innovation in sustainable food systems.

The field needs more stable, long-term networks and hubs that bring together research projects, short-term collaborations, and cross-industry initiatives into a cohesive community. These networks should complement broader sustainability platforms, ensuring that alternative proteins remain a visible, distinct priority while benefiting from cross-sector collaboration. The field must move beyond scattered, short-term collaborations – instead securing government investment in lasting communities that foster innovation, share knowledge, and drive the Nordic region’s leadership in alternative proteins. The Nordic Alternative Protein Knowledge and Innovation Network (NAPKIN), funded by the NKJ in 2025, is one example of major alternative protein stakeholders from each Nordic country working towards a more coherent and interconnected alternative protein ecosystem.

The Nordic patent landscape

“Researchers are often closest to the latest scientific advances and in tune with the technical bottlenecks that still need to be solved. Pairing that insight with an entrepreneurial mindset creates a powerful engine for innovation. In the Nordics, our greatest strengths are our strong public research institutions and a culture of innovation that go hand in hand. By bridging research and entrepreneurship, we can tackle the toughest challenges in sustainable protein production and bring forward real impact – faster.”

Professor Mette Lübeck, Vice Head of Research at Aalborg University’s Department of Chemistry and Bioscience

GFI Europe’s patent landscape analysis gives an overview of the state of the European alternative protein patent and IP landscape from 2015 to 2024, finding that patent publications in the field grew by 960% over this period.

The Nordic region plays a significant role in the European alternative protein patent landscape, especially on a per capita basis. Denmark, Finland and Sweden all rank within the top 10 for total unique patent families, placing third, fourth and sixth, respectively. This demonstrates that the Nordics are not only contributing significantly to alternative protein R&I but are also efficient in translating research to intellectual property.

Innovation across plant-based, fermentation and cultivated meat

Country	Patent families	Patents	Plant-based patent families	Fermentation patent families	Cultivated patent families
Sweden	63	291	49	12	1
Denmark	61	315	52	7	0
Finland	50	377	38	9	1
Norway	1	4	0	1	0

When analysing field-specific patent activity, the Nordics exhibit distinct strengths:

• Plant-based: This is the region’s strongest field, with Denmark contributing 52 patent families (fifth overall), followed by Sweden with 49 and Finland with 38. In the private sector, Denmark’s Chr. Hansen emerges as a key player, reflecting its strong focus on fermentation solutions for plant-based foods. Sweden’s Oatly also plays a major role, underscoring Sweden’s leadership in plant-based dairy.
• Fermentation: Nordic activity in this field is also notable. Sweden leads the region with 12 fermentation-related patent families, followed by Finland with nine, and Denmark with seven. In the private sector, Sweden’s Promyc is a significant contributor, while Finland’s Solar Foods stands out for its innovative fermentation processes using CO₂ to create sustainable protein ingredients.
• Cultivated meat: There is relatively limited Nordic patent activity in this emerging field. Finland is the only Nordic country with recorded patent activity, holding one cultivated meat patent family. However, promising developments are underway. Aarhus University hosts the CellFood Hub, a dedicated centre of excellence for cultivated meat research, focusing on addressing key challenges in cultivated meat and seafood production.

The role of open innovation in advancing the Nordic landscape

A recurring challenge in the alternative protein sector is the dominance of private-sector research, which can hinder collaboration and slow progress. Universities and applied research organisations are generally underrepresented in the IP landscape – an exception being VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. As a leading public institution, VTT holds five patent families spanning plant-based, fermentation, and cross-cutting technologies, reinforcing its role as a key driver of Nordic innovation and aligning with Finland’s strategic focus on fermentation. However, this broader coordination gap must be addressed to accelerate innovation and bring solutions to market faster.

The Plant2Food project, hosted by Aarhus University, exemplifies efforts to support Open Innovation in Science. Under this framework, research results are publicly accessible, promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing, while still allowing private industry to pursue Intellectual Property-protected follow-up projects. This balance between openness and intellectual property generation fosters a more collaborative ecosystem, crucial for accelerating innovation and overcoming common industry challenges.

A look to the future

With strong public and philanthropic funding, merging top research with entrepreneurial drive, and a growing network of collaborative initiatives, the Nordics are already making outsized contributions to building a more sustainable food system.

But the work is far from over. To fully realise its potential, the region must deepen cross-border collaboration, expand long-term infrastructure, and ensure that funding is directed where it can unlock the greatest scientific breakthroughs. By aligning its strengths and bridging gaps between countries, disciplines, and sectors, the Nordic ecosystem can shape the future of food — not just in Europe, but worldwide.

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