New organisation of the research support unit at SUND

SUND Research Support is the name of a new unit that, from 1 January 2026, will provide strategic, professional and efficient support to researchers at the Faculty of Health Sciences – from the initial idea to research projects with societal impact.

The background for this initiative is that the Region of Southern Denmark has decided to terminate the current co-funding agreement for Syddansk Forskerstøtte. The agreement will expire at the end of 2025.

What is SUND Research Support?

SUND Research Support is rooted in the faculty’s research strategy and aims to help realise the ambition of providing first-class research support.

The unit works closely with the faculty management and heads of department to deliver on both SUND’s research strategy and SDU’s funding strategy.

SUND Research Support will provide researchers with strategic and targeted support in key areas of the research process:

• External funding: Researchers receive guidance on funding opportunities – primarily in relation to EU programmes and major national foundations such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) and Innovation Fund Denmark. These are applications that require specialised expertise and insight.

• Quality and strategic advice: The unit offers early-stage feedback, enabling strategic prioritisation and thorough quality assurance of applications. The goal is to increase the likelihood of success by matching project ideas with the right calls and ensuring a high level of academic and communicative quality.

• Innovation and societal impact: Researchers are advised on partnerships, public engagement and communication. The aim is to make research relevant and applicable – also beyond academia – through clear pathways to impact.

• Interdisciplinary collaboration: The unit works closely with SUND’s finance, HR and communications departments to ensure efficient and well-coordinated processes around applications and project management.

Three functions – one unified service

SUND Research Support is made up of three functional teams that cover the full research process:

1. Back Office: Specialists in specific funders and large grants. They advise on complex applications and keep researchers informed through initiatives such as Funding Fridays and Training Tuesdays.


2. Frontrunners: Advisors with broad knowledge of funding types, societal impact and project development. They are affiliated with individual departments and work closely with research environments and other advisors in the unit.


3. Innovation & Impact (currently being established): Will focus on strengthening work with impact, innovation, partnerships and new forms of collaboration between research and society.

Collaboration and prioritisation

Support is developed in close collaboration between researchers, advisors, heads of department and the Vice-Dean for Research. Projects are prioritised based on the idea, researcher profile and relevant funding calls.

Close cooperation with Odense University Hospital and the regional hospitals will continue in cases where the research grant is administered at SDU.

There will also be continued attention to potential challenges related to transferring funds for project activities at regional hospitals – for example, salary for research nurses or reimbursement of patient transport costs. This also includes legal issues concerning data processing. These kinds of challenges may arise in applications and projects where a hospital cannot be included as a formal partner or affiliated third party to SDU as coordinator.