Interning in Silicon Valley
Interning in Silicon Valley
Six months at the intersection of technology, business, research and international politics – in one of the world's most influential innovation ecosystems.
As an intern at Denmark in Silicon Valley, you become part of Denmark's presence on the U.S. West Coast. Depending on your team, you'll work with anything from emerging technologies and foreign policy to sustainability, innovation and international business from our office in Palo Alto, at the heart of Silicon Valley.
What you'll actually do
No two days look the same. You might research developments in AI or climate tech one day, and help prepare a Danish delegation visit or an event the next. From the beginning, you’ll be given responsibility and encouraged to bring your own interests into the work.
You’ll join a team of around 35 colleagues and 5–6 fellow interns each semester, working across:
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Sustainability, Innovation & Policy – clean energy, water, innovation and policy
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Political & Economic Diplomacy – policy, innovation, delegations, communications
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Innovation Centre Denmark – startups, universities and the Silicon Valley ecosystem (AI, quantum, life science)
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TechPlomacy – where technology meets foreign policy
Money, housing and getting around
The Bay Area is an expensive place to live, so it is important to know what to expect before applying:
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The internship is unpaid. You receive a monthly contribution of roughly DKK 5,000–6,000 toward documented expenses like rent.
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Most interns live together in San Francisco and share rent – budget around DKK 10,000/month for your share. Living closer to Palo Alto is an option too, with an easier commute as the trade-off. It’s your own responsibility to find housing, but there’s always support available from current interns.
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Most interns are eligible for Danish SU – check your individual eligibility before you go.
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Many former interns have supplemented their budget with grants and scholarships. We can connect you with previous interns who can share their experiences and tips on where to apply.
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Getting to the office: Caltrain runs straight from SF to Palo Alto, but most intern groups buy a cheap car to share – great for the commute and for weekend road trips.
Good to know
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Our interns come from different universities, study programs and countries.We actively value that mix, and you'll be working alongside people who see things differently than you do.
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Many interns are writing a report or assignment as part of their degree – we build time into your internship for that, planned together with your supervisor.
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On top of various U.S. national holidays, you're granted vacation days during your stay – plenty of room to actually get out and explore California and beyond.
Life outside the office
Interns don't just work together – they explore together. From weekends in San Francisco to road trips to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and Big Sur, six months in California gives you plenty to experience outside the office. Napa, Sonoma, Marin Headlands and the Pacific coastline are all within reach, and many former interns stay close friends long after their internship ends.
Is this you?
You're ambitious, curious and ready to take ownership of your own experience. You don't need to know exactly where it will take you but you should be ready to move far from home, manage your own finances and housing, and roll with a workplace where priorities shift fast when delegations, events or global developments demand it.
Open internship positions in Silicon Valley
