Overview of foundations

Augustinus Foundation

The Augustinus Foundation is one of Denmark's largest cultural foundations, and the emphasis of philanthropic work is primarily within art and culture, but the foundation also supports research and social initiatives in Denmark and internationally.

Beta.Health

Beta.Health innovation grants aim to boost innovation projects at Danish hospitals.

Boehringer IngelHeim Fonds - PhD Scholarship

Please note that the foundation is under-funding Danish PhD scholarships. Co-financing is therefore mandatory for this option to be feasible. The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships to European citizens working in Europe or overseas and to non-European citizens pursuing their PhD projects in Europe.The PhD projects must be experimental, in the field of basic biomedical research, and aimed at elucidating basic biological phenomena of human life and acquiring new scientific knowledge.

Carlsberg Foundation - Conferences

The Carlsberg Foundation supports international conferences in Denmark with up to DKK 60,000. The grant is specifically intended to support the participation of leading international researchers and young postdocs or outstanding PhD students. The Carlsberg Foundation supports expenses for accommodation and travel related to the participation of leading international researchers, postdocs or outstanding PhD students. The foundation does not support expenses related to catering, fees, gifts for presenters or salaries for student assistants. Visit Calrsberg Foundation’s page

Carlsberg Foundation - Fellowship Oxford

This fellowship is for a two-year postdoctoral visiting fellowship at the University of Oxford. The aim of the fellowships is to provide the most promising Danish research talents with experience of an elite university that they can later apply in Denmark to the benefit of Danish research and their own future career.

Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science - Fellowship MIT

PhD students and post-doctoral canditates now have the opportunity to apply for a fellowship stay at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA. Visit Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science’s page

Ministry of Higher education

Danish Cancer Society - Postdoc

The aim is to support younger researchers, with a PhD or equivalent degree, who have not yet acquired a permanent position but can document research experiences to conduct an independent cancer research project in Denmark or abroad. Postdoctoral fellowships abroad are allocated to Danish researchers who go abroad to conduct an independent cancer research project and obtain knowledge and experience in an international research environment, but who is not employed at a Danish hospital, university or company during the stay abroad. Visit the Danish Cancer Society’s page

Danish Data Science Academy (DDSA)

Danish Data Science Academy (DDSA) invites applications for ten three-year PhD fellowships of DKK 1,800,000 (+ 5% administrative costs) to visionary and ambitious young data scientists who want to pursue their own research ideas in collaboration with a Danish research environment. Applications can be within any field of data science aligning with the DDSA research scope. DDSA welcomes applications from candidates eligible for a Danish PhD programme (the 3+5, 4+4 and 5+3 models). It is a requirement that the applicant has a well-defined project proposal as well as an agreement with a principal supervisor at a Danish university.

Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy - 1/3-PhD scholarship

The Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) invites applications for two co-financed 1/3 PhD scholarships of 550,000 DKK each (covering salary and tuition fee) over a period of three years. At least 1/3 of the remaining funding of the PhD scholarship must be covered by a private life sciences company. The last 1/3 may be covered by other funding sources, e.g. hospitals, universities, the Danish regions or private foundations . The DDEA does not cover already ongoing projects. Visit DDEA’s page

Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy - 2/3-PhD scholarship

The Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) invites applications for four 2/3-financed PhD scholarships of 1,100,000 DKK each (covering salary and tuition fee) over a period of two years. Applications can be in any research field within diabetes, metabolism or endocrinology.

DDEA - Clinical Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023

The Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) invites applications for two 50%-financed two-year postdoctoral fellowships of 600,000 DKK (covering salary) over a period of two years in 2024-2025. At least 25% of the remaining 50% funding must be covered by a private life sciences company. The other 25% remaining funding can be covered by e.g. hospitals, universities, the Danish regions or private foundations. The DDEA does not cover already ongoing projects.

DDEA - Postdoctoral Fellowships with co-funding from industry

The Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (DDEA) invites applications for two 50%-financed two-year postdoctoral fellowships of 600,000 DKK (covering salary) over a period of two years in 2024-2025. At least 25% of the remaining 50% funding must be covered by a private life sciences company. The other 25% remaining funding can be covered by e.g. hospitals, universities, the Danish regions or private foundations. The DDEA does not cover already ongoing projects.

DFF - International postdoc

DFF-International Postdoctoral Grant aims to strengthen the international mobility of younger talented researchers, and to develop the competencies of researchers in the beginning of their research career. The intention is to enable the grant recipient to consolidate their individual research profile by independently managing a concrete research project at a research institution outside of Denmark.The grant amounts to a total of up to DKK 1,500,000, excluding overhead/administration expenses, distributed over a 2-year period.

EIC Funding

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has been established under the EU Horizon Europe programme. It supports game changing innovations throughout the lifecycle from early stage research, to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale up of start-ups and SME’s.

EMBO - Postdoc Salary for 2 years

The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to two years and support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe and the world. International exchange is a key requirement. Now awarding grants for employment contracts in EMBC countries, EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships also support the career development of the fellows through leadership courses and networking opportunities

EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie - Postdoc Fellowship

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors. There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships: European Postdoctoral Fellowships and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Harboefonden

Harboefonden yder et 3-årigt Ph.D stipendium på 390.000 DKK årligt. Næste stipendium uddeles maj/juni 2022. Stipendiet udloddes til Ph.D. projekter ved danske forskningsinstitutter, der medvirker til at forbedre cancer diagnostik til gavn for patienten. Der vil især fokuseres på hurtigere diagnoser med forbedret diagnostisk sikkerhed for patienten. Stipendiets ansøgningsfrist samt forventet projektstart vil blive meddelt i de relevante institutioner samt oplyst på denne hjemmeside.

InnoExplorer Grant

The Innoexplorer is a grant to employees at public research and educational institutions and hospitals who have created a research result with commercial potential. The result should still be at a pre-commercial stage where clarification or maturity is required to establish whether it can be further developed in preparation for commercial or societal exploitation.

Innovation Fund Denmark - Industrial PhD in the private sector

An Industrial PhD project is a business-oriented research project carried out in collaboration between a private company in Denmark, an Industrial PhD student and a university. Innovation Fund Denmark invests in Industrial PhD projects within three thematic focus areas.The funding is for a collaboration between a private company in Denmark, a university and an Industrial PhD student. The amount is up to DKK 17,000 per month of the Industrial PhD student's salary. Up to DKK 100,000 for the company's expenses for the student's travel and participation in courses. Fixed amount of 360,000 DKK (incl. Overhead) to the university.

Innovation Fund Denmark - Industrial PhD in the public sector

Industrial PhD projects create news and utility value for organizations, strengthen the universities' relationship with the public sector and give the student the opportunity to see their research applied in real life.The fund is for a collaboration between a public organization, a university and an Industrial PhD student. The amount is up to DKK 17,000 per month of the Industrial PhD student's salary. Up to DKK 100,000 for the organization's expenses for the student's travel and participation in courses. Fixed amount of 360,000 DKK (incl. Overhead) to the university. Visit Innovation Denmark’s page

Innovation Fund Denmark - Industrial Postdoc in the private sector

An Industrial Postdoc project is a business-oriented research project that is carried out in collaboration between a private company in Denmark, a postdoc and a research institution. Innovation Fund Denmark invests both in Industrial Postdoc projects within three thematic focus areas and in Industrial Postdoc projects outside the three thematic focus areas. The fund is a collaboration between a private company, a public research institution and an Industrial Postdoc candidate. The amount is up to DKK 22,000 per month of the Industrial Postdoc's salary and up to DKK 2,500 per month for the company's expenses for the postdoc's travels. Up to DKK 10,000 (incl. overhead) for each month during the project period to cover the research institution's project-relevant expenses.

Innovation Fund Denmark - Industrial Postdoc in the public sector

Industrial Postdoc projects develop research talents, contribute to business-oriented research, development and innovation in Denmark and strengthen the collaboration between organizations in Denmark and research institutions at home and abroad. The fund is for a collaboration between a public organization, a research institution and an Industrial Postdoc graduate. The funding amount is up to DKK 22,000 per month of the Industrial Postdoc candidate's salary and up to DKK 2,500 per month for the organization's expenses for the candidate's travel. Up to DKK 10,000 (incl. Overhead) for each month during the project period to cover the research institution's project-relevant expenses.

Lundbeck Foundation

The purpose of the grant is for the Lundbeck Foundation to attract larger international meetings and conferences to Denmark thereby encouraging collaboration and exchange of ideas and resources between Danish researchers and their international peers. To be eligible for a grant for scientific meetings or conferences it must be international and taking place in Denmark. The event must be organized by Danish-based researchers affiliated with Danish universities or hospitals or arranged in a close collaboration such Danish partners. Granted amount is 300 000 kroner.

Novo Nordisk Foundation - Conferences, Symposia and workshops

The objective of the Conferences, Symposia and Workshops programme is to promote knowledge sharing and networking activities. These grants facilitate this by providing leading researchers as well as younger ones and students with opportunities to present and discuss the newest research and innovation activities within their fields. The aim is to support medium-sized events with a duration of 1-3 days typically. The event must be held in Denmark. The main applicant can be either a researcher at a high international level, a younger researcher, or a student representative for a student organisation, or be engaged in development of STEM teaching. Visit Novo Nordisk Foundation’s page

Novo Nordisk Foundation - Postdoctoral Fellowships at MIT

The Novo Nordisk Foundation invites promising young, ambitious researchers to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT in interdisciplinary research at the highest international level. The fellowship offers an opportunity for promising young, ambitious researchers to carry out a research project in which about three years are dedicated to work at MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by about one year at a Danish university or other public or non-profit research institution. Visit Novo Nordisk’s page

Novo Nordisk Foundation - Postdoctoral Fellowships at Oxford

The Novo Nordisk Foundation invites promising young, ambitious researchers to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at university of Oxford in interdisciplinary research at the highest international level. The fellowship offers an opportunity for promising young, ambitious researchers to carry out a research project in which about three years are dedicated to work at University of Oxford, followed by about one year at a Danish university or other public or non-profit research institution. Visit Novo Nordisk’s page

Novo Nordisk Foundation - Visiting Postdoc Fellowships at Stanford Bio-X

The Novo Nordisk Foundation invites promising young, ambitious researchers to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford Bio-X in interdisciplinary research at the highest international level. The fellowship offers an opportunity for promising young, ambitious researchers to carry out a research project in which about three years are dedicated to work at Stanford Bio-X, followed by about one year at a Danish university or other public or non-profit research institution.

Odense Robotics Startup Fund

The Odense Robotics StartUp Fund supports ambitious robotics and drone entrepreneurs from Denmark and abroad by providing access to founder-friendly investment and cutting-edge know-how.

Pioneer Innovator Grant (NNF)

The Pioneer Innovator Grant are aimed at supporting novel academic science-based discoveries with a commercial potential. The grant aims to stimulate the evaluation of ideas and to support experiments and activities leading to proof-of-concept or beyond.

Salling Fondene

The Salling Fondene support projects and initiatives within arts and culture, church, sports, education, research, innovation and worthy causes.

SDU Climate Cluster

The PhD programme in the SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) aims to attract or retain research talent to/at SDU and to contribute to new interdisciplinary research collaborations that support SCC's mission to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. 15 MDKK has been allocated to the PhD instruments. The instruments covers 15 half PhD positions, while the other half must be funded by someone else than the SCC.

Spark Denmark

SPARK Denmark is a mentoring program that supports academic inventions in life science with tailored mentorship from industry experts, education within innovation, and financial support.

Spin-outs Denmark

The Spin-outs Denmark grant is targeted junior researchers that want to commercialize their research, create more impact and make a research-based company (a spin-out). Main scientific areas are industry 4.0, technical and natural sciences, social science and humanities.

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

The ideal applicant for a Branco Weiss Fellowship leverages the freedom offered by the fellowship to design a surprisingly novel and scientifically rigorous research project. The fellowship addresses junior researchers with a record of outstanding scientific achievement and a passion for venturing into new territory. A Branco Weiss Fellowship amounts to max. CHF 500,000 for up to five years. It may be used to cover all legitimate costs of research (i.e. salary and/or equipment, travel expenses, consumables, personnel, etc.).

The Independent Research Fund Denmark

The Independent Research Fund Denmark gives researchers the opportunity to test their ideas. It supports independent research in all parts of the scientific world for the benefit of society as a whole.

The Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF)

The Independent Research Fund Denmark gives researchers the opportunity to test their ideas. It supports independent research in all parts of the scientific world for the benefit of society as a whole. Visit The Independent Research Fund Denmark’s page