Earlier this year, Copenhagen Capacity led a Danish delegation to the MIT European Career Fair in Boston, as part of the ‘Talent to a Green Denmark’ project. Copenhagen Capacity has participated in this MIT career fair every year since 2015 as part of our efforts to attract highly skilled international talent to Denmark. We spoke with dozens of MIT students and alumni about their career prospects in Denmark and offered them a chance to win a trip to Denmark. Erin, a 22-year-old mechanical engineering student passionate about robotics, won the competition.
Denmark: a perfect fit for Erin’s ambitions
Erin has a strong interest in Scandinavia’s large marine robotics industry and its commitment to sustainable technologies. Throughout her bachelor’s degree, she conducted research in ocean engineering and marine robotics, which inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in marine robotics and autonomy.
Due to the established ocean engineering market, Erin sees Denmark as an ideal place to kickstart her career. At the fair, representatives told Erin all about the opportunities in the Odense Robotics cluster, sparking her interest in Denmark even more.
“This specific industry is only just beginning in the U.S., which has convinced me that Denmark would be a great place to start my career after my master’s degree in an ocean engineering company that has an established market.”
Erin Menezes, a graduate student at the MIT
Erin at the “Vor Frelsers Church”
Denmark through Erin’s eyes
As part of her prize, Erin recently visited Denmark, and her journey gave her an in-depth look at what the country has to offer, both professionally and culturally. During her visit, Erin got to meet with CLIIN Robotics and Copenhagen SubSea—two companies at the forefront of Denmark’s robotics and marine engineering industries. For Erin, it was very exciting to see firsthand how these companies operate. She was genuinely impressed by the innovative technologies being developed.
The professional culture Erin experienced in Denmark was notably different from what she was used to in the U.S.
“In the U.S, it can sometimes feel like work is life, but people in Denmark really embrace the “work-life balance”. They value family time and their lives outside of work and are encouraged to take about double the vacation time than in the U.S.”
Erin Menezes, a graduate student at the MIT
Erin and Thomas Jørgensen, Director at CLIIN Robotics
At CLIIN Robotics and Copenhagen SubSea, she felt a sense of trust and autonomy in the workplace—employees were given the freedom to manage their tasks independently without the need for constant oversight.
Beyond the professional insights, Erin also got a taste of the Danish culture. She noticed the emphasis on family time, which was a refreshing change compared to the U.S. Erin enjoyed seeing families spending time together, particularly during the student holiday she witnessed.
Will Denmark be part of Erin’s future after graduation?
This cultural and professional experience left a lasting impression on Erin. The balance between professional ambition and personal well-being made Denmark feel like a place where she could see herself building a future. Her trip not only solidified her interest in pursuing a career in Denmark’s robotics industry but also gave her a deeper appreciation for the Danish way of life.
“Working in Denmark would give me exposure to cutting-edge technology, as well as let me contribute towards sustainable solutions, which is so necessary for the present and future.”
Erin Menezes, a graduate student at the MIT
Erin and Christoffer Højberg Raaby, Interim CEO and Peter Nielsen, R&D Engineer at Copenhagen SubSea
We at Copenhagen Capacity are very happy having made this trip come true for Erin allowing her to experience Denmark’s high quality of life and work first-hand. Our Senior Talent Consultant, Merete Sandager, arranged and accompanied Erin’s meetings with Danish robotics and engineering companies.
We look forward to showing Denmark’s beauties to more ambitious international students.
Want to connect with ambitious students like Erin? Then explore more and join our delegation to the MIT European Career Fair 2025 here. Early Bird price until December 1st.
The ‘Talent to a green Denmark’ project is co-funded by the European Social Fund and The Danish Board of Business Development.