The DNRF’s Objective

Who are we?

The Danish National Research Foundation is an independent organization established by the Danish Parliament in 1991. The foundation’s endowment secures its independence and a long-term commitment to the best Danish research. The annual funding amounts to about 470 million DKK on average.

What do we do?

The DNRF has three active funding instruments:

• Centers of Excellence – the foundation’s flagship and the primary funding mechanism. A center grant can be used to cover all types of research expenses and has a lifetime of up to 10 years. The DNRF expects a center to deliver groundbreaking results.
• The DNRF Chair Grant – Launched in 2020, the instrument aims to help Danish universities attract and recruit outstanding researchers from abroad, including Danes wishing to return from an international position. The objective is to support and boost start-up research activities.
• Pioneer Centers – a strategic basic research initiative launched in 2019. The centers will operate within the scientific fields of energy/climate and artificial intelligence and will be co-funded by four private Danish foundations.

How do we decide whom to fund?

Funding decisions are based on three core values:

• Excellence – We strive for excellence in every aspect of the research endeavor.
• Transparency – We strive for transparency in the assessment and selection processes.
• Risk-taking – We acknowledge that groundbreaking research requires taking risks.

How do we support our grantees?

Grant support is based on three core values:

• Freedom – We strive to provide freedom and flexibility to grantees.
• Trust – We strive to support our grantees and trust in them.
• Engagement – We engage with and learn from each grantee.