Denmark needs more entrepreneurs, but many foreign students who take the Danish-paid courses are asked to leave the country at the end of their education

Every year, foreign students come to Denmark to study innovation and entrepreneurship . Every year, successful graduates are being denied extensions to their residence permits so that they can continue to work and live in Denmark.

Some think that this is harming Denmark's chances for developing entrepreneurship in the country. 'All of our work here is spoiled if we can't help the foreign students become good entrepreneurs in Denmark,' said Finn Kjerulff Hansen, a career consultant with Copenhagen Business School to Politiken newspaper.

Copenhagen Business School educates 20 students a year in innovation and entrepreneurship courses. Highly educated entrepreneurs may remain in Denmark if they already have a good entrepreneurial idea, but that idea is judged by lawyers at the Immigration Service.

Experts are also questioning whether the Immigration Service has the ability to decide who should stay in Denmark, as the authorities have strict rules about what is a good idea. It has to fit the criteria of innovation, future job possibilities and financial base.

"What can a legal caseworker know about categorising a highly innovative product?" said Hansen.Christian Vintergaard, head of the Øresund Entrepreneurship Academy , told Politiken that it is very hard to judge a company's innovative potential if it is just starting out and many of the best companies often have a deficit in the beginning.

Last year the Immigration Service granted two residence permits to foreign entrepreneurs, while 18 were rejected. This year five were granted and 10 people were turned down. (kr)