New agreement between foundations and universities will strengthen research

Danish Universities and six private foundations that fund research, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Villum Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Velux Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation and the LEO Foundation, have entered into an agreement that strengthens the transparency of the foundations’ contributions to research at the universities and defines a clear financial distribution key between universities and foundations.

The agreement creates increased transparency about costs, a clear distribution of payments between foundations and universities, as well as more simplified and standardised application and administration processes for the benefit of universities, researchers and foundations.

Sustainable research landscape

Based on the current number of project-financed full-time equivalents from the private foundations that are involved in the agreement, it is estimated that the foundations’ total contribution to covering the resulting costs will be between approx. DKK 700–800 million annually when the agreement is fully implemented.

– It is marvellous that this agreement has been reached. There is no doubt that the ultimate winner is Danish research. We look forward to implementing this agreement at SDU, where the objective has been to create the basis for a sustainable research landscape. Fortunately, the agreement emphasises that the universities and the foundations have a common interest in ensuring the highest possible quality in Danish research, says Rector Jens Ringsmose.

Read more about the agreement on the Danish Universities website: https://dkuni.dk/pressemeddelelser/en-god-dag-for-dansk-forskning-ny-aftale-mellem-fonde-og-universiteter-styrker-dansk-forskning/