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Large new innovation foundation to solve societal challenges and create jobs

An agreement have been made to create one large innovation foundation of DKK 1.5 billion annually to ensure that significant investments in research and development result in concrete solutions to societal challenges, growth and jobs.

The innovation foundation is a result of an agreement between the Danish government and political parties, Venstre (the Danish Liberal Party), Dansk Folkeparti (the Danish People’s Party), Enhedslisten (the Red-Green Alliance), Liberal Alliance and Det Konservative Folkeparti (the Conservative People’s Party).

The Danish government and political parties, Venstre (the Danish Liberal Party), Dansk Folkeparti (the Danish People’s Party), Enhedslisten (the Red-Green Alliance), Liberal Alliance and Det Konservative Folkeparti (the Conservative People’s Party) have agreed on a revision of the research and innovation system to ensure that public investment in research and development will contribute even more to finding solutions to societal challenges and create growth and employment.

The foundation is expected to have an annual budget of DKK 1.5 billion and will be created by amalgamating the Danish Council for Strategic Research, the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation and the Danish Council for Technology and Innovation into one foundation.

Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Morten Østergaard is extremely pleased with the broad backing of the agreement.

- After long negotiations, the Danish government and other political parties have reached an agreement that will future-proof our research and innovation system. By establishing a collective foundation, we are bringing the most excellent researchers and innovative companies together for the key task of converting concrete societal challenges and innovation needs to concrete projects, partnerships and eventually, new solutions that will benefit growth and employment in Denmark. Establishing this new foundation will mean fewer grant agencies and a simplified system – something which has been recommended within this area, says Morten Østergaard.

The new foundation will particularly support the need for new solutions in Danish companies, as well as the new societal innovation partnerships that evolve from global societal challenges and which launch from 2014.

The new foundation will be based on societal and commercial needs and work will be carried out at arms-length from the political system.

Highlights from the agreement

  • ”Danish National Innovation Foundation - the foundation for strategic research, advanced technology and innovation” will have an annual budget of approx. DKK 1.5 billion and will be established by amalgamating the Danish Council for Strategic Research (DSF), the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation (HTF) and the Danish Council for Technology and Innovation (RTI).
  • The foundation will be responsible for implementing grants for research technology development and innovation, which are based on societal and commercial challenges and needs.
  • The foundation will be led by an independent board, which will implement the funds and decide how best the instruments can be prioritised and developed in the future.
  • Approved technological institutions (GTS institutes), the Innovation Network and the Innovation Incubator Scheme will, for now, be under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education.
  • The mandate for the Danish Council for Research Policy will expand, so that the council may advise on research, technology development and innovation in the future.
  • An evaluation of knowledge collaboration, including technology transfer, will be carried out.
  • The overall organisation of research under the auspices of the Danish National Research Foundation and the Danish Council for Independent Research will be discussed following evaluations of the two bodies.

For further information please contact:

Special adviser Philip Flores, tel: +45 2237 1745, email: pge@fivu.dk

Head of division Mikkel Leihardt, tel: +45 7231 8015, email: mle@fivu.dk

Political parties’ research spokespeople:

Mette Reissmann (S), tel: +45 6162 5185

Jonas Dahl (SF), tel: +45 6162 4615

Esben Lunde Larsen (V), tel: +45 6162 5175

Jens Henrik Thulesen Dahl (DF), tel: +45 6162 5159

Pernille Skipper (EL), tel: +45 6162 5100

Merete Riisager (LA), tel: +45 6162 5094

Vivi Kier (K), tel: +45 6162 5380