The aim of this article is to investigate the possible competitive advantages common to enterprises in more than one of the Nordic countries, and at least to some extent to explain them from specific societal or economic aspects common to the Nordic welfare states. Pharmaceutical production and export is chosen as the case study, as this is one example of an international competitive success common to most of the Nordic countries. To some extent the source of competitive advantage is the sophisticated demand for pharmaceuticals, represented by the advanced Nordic health care systems. The so-called Scandinavian welfare model may in this context be considered the source of competitive advantage generally, and the Nordic market as an advanced home market for the development of what are called welfare technologies and products.