Executive Summary (English version)

Experimentarium Symbiosis (working title) is a new science and educational attraction in Kalundborg in Western Zealand. It is directly connected with Kalundborg Symbiosis and the city’s strong culture of collaboration, resource efficiency, and industrial innovation. The center aims to make symbiosis, sustainability and natural science tangible and hands-on for children, young people and adults through sensory, interactive, and inquiry-based experiences.

Building on more than 35 years of experience with sensory and experiential learning, Experimentarium Symbiosis is rooted in Kalundborg’s existing ecosystem, where industry, education, and the civil society already work closely together. The center will serve as a regional beacon and year-round hub for families, schools, students, and professionals, while also attracting national as well as international visitors, professional communities, and science-oriented tourism.

The attraction is structured around three interconnected forms of symbiosis as a conceptual framework for its experiential universes: biological, industrial, and human symbiosis. Together, these perspectives enable visitors to explore how systems, resources, knowledge, and relationships interact — and how new possibilities emerge when connections are actively cultivated.

An analysis from 2025 indicates a strong local support with an estimated number of annual visitors of 194,000–235,000. Experimentarium Symbiosis is expected to generate a lasting impact by strengthening science capital – people’s confidence, curiosity, and ability to engage with science – while enhancing regional attractiveness and increasing international visibility of Kalundborg’s symbiosis-based solutions.

The total construction budget is estimated at DKK 835–1,112 million (excluding VAT), based on a new building of approximately 12,000 m² and around 10,000 m² of outdoor areas. Financing is planned as a two-part model with separate but coordinated tracks for the building and the experiential content. Operations are expected to be funded primarily through ticket revenue supplemented by partnerships, events, and potential public co-financing.

The project will be developed in a responsible way with a clear governance, phased implementation, and robust risk management. The project depends on strong partnerships between foundations, public actors, and private contributors who wish to invest in a project with long-term societal value for learning, sustainability, and regional development.

The ambition is for Experimentarium Symbiosis to open its doors in 2030.