Background: Clusters have risen as an industrial organizational construction where companies in proximity are suggested to have greater possibilities and opportunities compared to single firms operating in isolation. One of the main advantages is suggested to be spread of knowledge, and while there has been much prior research within the area of knowledge transfer this research aims at investigating the interesting Medicon Valley cluster, where research has been somewhat limited the last decade.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to get a deeper understanding how companies in the Medicon Valley cluster engage in knowledge transfer and also what role the institutions located within the cluster has on the transfer of knowledge. 

Method: To answer the purpose of the study, a qualitative study was conducted with an exploratory research design in which data has been gathered from in-depth semi-structured interviews. In total nine interviews were conducted. Six with firms and three with different institutions in the Medicon Valley cluster located in Greater Copenhagen. The data was then interpreted through a thematic analysis resulting in five themes. Networks, collaboration, funding, geographic location, cross border struggles.

Conclusion: This study has found that firms engage in knowledge transfer mainly through their formal and informal networks, combined with different types of collaboration. The institutions main role is to support the environment where the knowledge transfer is spread. Universities provide the cluster with expertise and then there are institutions that focuses much on enhancing the network and collaborations mechanism.