CMSS
Government Decision Affects CMSS: The Centre Closes at Year-End
It is with great regret that we announce the closure of the Centre of Maritime Health and Society (CMSS) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). This decision stems from the government’s annual budget negotiations.
As part of the finance act, the government has decided to reduce public administration by 1,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by 2025. CMSS, which is funded through a basic allocation in the finance act, will lose its funding as of 1 January 2025, as communicated by the Ministry of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs. Consequently, the centre will be shut down, and we must bid farewell to several colleagues in Esbjerg.
Efforts to Prevent the Closure
In the lead-up to this decision, significant efforts were made to keep CMSS operational. Internally, we worked tirelessly at SDU with support from departmental, faculty, and university management to explore alternative solutions.
Externally, we garnered support through letters of endorsement and increased awareness of the centre’s importance among various stakeholders, including politicians, industry partners, and representatives of Denmark’s maritime sector.
CMSS’ Contribution to Research
For 32 years, CMSS has provided research-based sectoral expertise, focusing on improving workplace environments, health, safety, and environmental economics within Denmark’s maritime sector. Its interdisciplinary team has comprised experts from health, social sciences, and technical disciplines. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all current and former CMSS staff for their immense contributions. We are also deeply grateful to the Danish Maritime Authority, the CMSS board and our collaborators for their steadfast support over the years.
While the closure of CMSS is a significant loss, efforts will be made to establish a smaller research unit to continue SDU’s ongoing research obligations. This unit will also seek new funding opportunities for further maritime research. Operating under the same department, the new unit will be relocated to Odense.
A sincere thank-you goes out to everyone who supported the efforts to save CMSS. Although the outcome remains unchanged, these efforts have underscored the centre’s impact and the importance of its research.