Independent Research Fund Denmark is a public fund, that finances research of the highest international quality and strengthens pioneering, curiosity-driven research in Denmark.
The Fund makes risk-willing investments in research based on researchers’ own best ideas within and across scientific fields. Furthermore, the Fund aims to promote the internationalisation of research and to support both early-career and established researchers. Each year, the Fund also allocates resources to strategic initiatives within politically determined themes, such as green research, research on children and young people, and clinical research through its thematic committees.
In addition to its core task of funding research, Independent Research Fund Denmark provides scientific advice to the minister, the Danish Parliament, and the wider Danish and international research landscape. This is grounded in the expertise and disciplinary diversity of the Fund’s board and council members, all of whom are recognised and active researchers.
Independent Research Fund Denmark consists of a Board, five research councils, and a cross-council committee, comprising a total of 84 permanent members. In addition, a number of ad hoc members are appointed to distribute politically determined thematic funds. All members are recognised and active researchers.
The Board of Directors of Independent Research Fund Denmark consists of nine recognised researchers appointed by the Minister for Higher Education and Science through an open call. Since 2024, Professor Søren Serritzlew has served as Chair of the Board. The Board represents Independent Research Fund Denmark at the political and strategic level and, together with the research councils, provides scientific advice to the Minister for Higher Education and Science, the Danish Parliament, and the Government. The Board appoints members of the research councils, the cross-council committee and the thematic committees. The board also decides on the allocation of the Fund’s resources among the research councils, and does not itself hold grant-awarding competence.
The five research councils of Independent Research Fund Denmark hold grant-awarding competence and support specific research activities initiated by researchers. They also contribute to the Fund’s scientific advice within their respective disciplinary domains. Each council is responsible for the interdisciplinarity inherent in its subject area.
The members of the councils are appointed by the Board through open calls, ensuring that the five councils collectively cover all areas of scientific research.
