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Comprehensive agreement on research funding

All parliamentary parties support the distribution of almost DKK 1 billion to research and innovation as part of this year's Budget.

The Government has secured agreement from the Liberals, the Danish People's Party, the Red-Green Alliance, Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives on distribution of research reserve funds for 2012.

– I am delighted that we succeeded in achieving a common agreement. Denmark needs new knowledge to create growth and welfare. This agreement gives the research and innovation world a clear signal of the broadest possible support from parliament, says Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard.

The agreement means that universities will be infused with DKK 229 million for basic research, thereby increasing the overall level for basic research funds by DKK 15 million between 2011 and 2012 to a total of DKK 8.25 billion. The funding ensures that universities will have better opportunities to carry out basic research and education of a high international quality.

Independent and strategic research are also being funded. The Independent Research Council will get DKK 113 million in 2012, thereby maintaining grant levels from 2011 to 2012. The funds will be used to continue the Sapere Aude research career programme, which supports some of the most talented researchers.

2012 funds will be focused on three areas within the strategic research field. Energy, environmental and food research have been allocated an extra DKK 120 million, DKK 40 million and DKK 40 million respectively. Denmark holds positions of strength in all three areas and there is great potential for knowledge-based global growth. The funding of energy research and the EUDP programme means a total of DKK 1.25 billion is focused on energy.

A total of DKK 90 million is allocated to the innovation field. The Knowledge Pilot and Industrial PhD programmes will be allocated DKK 15 million. The funding will pave the way for more young academics to bring new knowledge to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Innovation Incubator Scheme, which helps entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the early development phase, will be allocated DKK 25 million. The GTS institutes will be allocated DKK 10 million for research into sustainable construction with a special focus on solar energy.

Finally, there will be DKK 28 million allocated to education research. The funding will go to practice-oriented PhD scholars who will research teaching processes. The research projects will be carried out in cooperation between a university and a university college.

A total of DKK 986 million will be allocated to research and innovation. DKK 686 million is sourced from unused funds in the research reserve. The parties behind the agreement have agreed on the financing of the extra DKK 300 million. This will be funded in part by the implementation of the seventh phase of the stat procurement programme, by the discontinuation of grants for analysis of the education field, as well as the closure of the Danish Board of Technology.

Contact information for party spokespersons:

V: Tina Nedergaard: tina.nedergaard@ft.dk – +45 6162 3608

DF: Jens Henrik Thulesen Dahl: Jens.Henrik.Thulesen.Dahl@ft.dk – +45 6162 5159

EL: Pernille Skipper: pernille.skipper@ft.dk – +45 6162 5100

LA: Mette Bock: mette.bock@ft.dk – +45 6162 5095

K: Brian Mikkelsen: brian.mikkelsen@ft.dk – +45 6162 5082

S: Kirsten Brosbøl: kirsten.brosbol@ft.dk – +45 3337 4067

SF: Jonas Dahl: jonas.dahl@ft.dk – +45 3337 4418

RV: Sofie Carsten Nielsen: sofie.carsten.nielsen@ft.dk – +45 3337 4722

Higher Education Minister Morten Østergaard can be contacted via special adviser Jacob Blomgren Knudsen, tel: +45 2237 0729.