Parliament agrees to provide DKK 1.5 billion to green research

On November 6, the Danish Government, and political parties Venstre, Dansk Folkeparti, Radikale Venstre, Socialistisk Folkeparti, Enhedslisten, Det Konservative Folkeparti, Alternativet, Nye Borgerlige and Liberal Alliance reached agreement on the Research Reserve for 2020.

• Agreement for the Research Reserve for 2020 (In Danish)

Allocation of the Research Reserve in 2020 Research must contribute to the green transformation and the goal of a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Denmark by 2030. The parties agree that there is a need for a broad cross-disciplinary research effort. The parties will therefore allocate DKK 1 billion more to green research than in 2019, thereby resulting in DKK 1.5 billion going to green research and development in 2020.

- This agreement sees us setting a new green course for Denmark’s development. Research is crucial to achieving our ambitious goals within the green transformation, which is why green research is getting a significant boost. It will allow us to develop more climate-friendly agriculture, travel with less impact on the planet, and provide us with even more green energy. And we are also allocating funding for pilot projects in sustainable architecture and design. The billions for green research will not only fund the development of new ideas, but also more realised solutions that can quickly become part of our daily lives. This broad political agreement is an important step in the green transformation and I am pleased that we have the support of all parliamentary parties, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen.

Stinus Lindgreen, Radikale Venstre:
- We are really pleased with the noticeable boost of independent research, the initiative to ensure better gender equality in research environments, and the focus on communicating why research is so important - both in general and specifically for the green transformation.

Astrid Carøe, SF:
- We know that more and more young people are not thriving, and many have poor mental health. But we don’t actually know much about why they are not flourishing. I am therefore proud that we are allocating DKK 67 million to a health research pool which will for example, lead to research into the reasons that children and young people fail to thrive.

Ulla Tørnæs, Venstre:
- Research into agriculture’s contribution to the green transformation is a key priority for Venstre. Denmark has a position of strength in the food sector, which accounts for billions in export every year. We must therefore focus on sustainable food production and agriculture as green energy suppliers. Venstre has fought for funding for the continuation of the work carried out by the Grundtvig Study Centre, and have also prioritised the development of a basis for decision for a future ocean research vessel to replace the DANA IV, which can e.g. carry out research in the Arctic.

Katarina Ammitzbøll, Konservative Folkeparti:
- We are particularly pleased that our priorities of CO2 neutral transport, energy storage, and the transformation of climate-friendly agriculture have become independent focus areas. Likewise, that there is more MUDP (Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Program) funding. We fought to increase funding for RUC and for the new ocean research vessel Dana Aqua. Finally, the Grundtvig Study Centre received DKK 10 million and can continue its important work. Unfortunately, at the expense of ‘new technologies’.

Henrik Dahl, Liberal Alliance:
- We entered the election with a focus on more research in the green transformation. Therefore, we are pleased that it has such a prominent place in the distribution of the Research Reserve. A firm priority for us during negotiations of the Research Reserve has always been independent research. We are pleased that thanks to good cooperation, it has been possible to strengthen independent research even more than was originally planned. Finally, we are also pleased that the Grundtvig Study Centre will not be forced to stop. Grundtvig is part of the foundation that Danish liberalism rests on, and we must support it.

Mai Villadsen, Enhedslisten:
- It is crucial for me that this is an historic green research agreement, which will contribute to solving both the climate and environmental crises. In Enhedslisten, we have long worked towards improving the Ministry of Finance’s calculation models - I am pleased that this agreement highlights this. And finally, it is awesome that the newly initiated Inge Lehmann program will ensure better gender equality in research.

Uffe Elbæk, Alternativet:
- We stand at the precipice of a climate catastrophe that requires action and innovation on all levels. Research plays an important role in this and we have successfully fought for funding for research in plant-based agriculture, new energy technologies and green behaviour, but also sustainable design and architecture at the creative colleges, and for more independent research.

Alex Ahrendtsen, Danske Folkeparti:
- Dansk Folkeparti is very satisfied that funding has been secured for the Grundtvig Study Centre so the digitalisation of Grundtvig’s works can continue in 2020.

Peter Seier Christensen, Nye Borgerlige:
- Nye Borgerlige are pleased to have participated in this agreement. It is important to Nye Borgerlige that funding is allocated to independent research, apart from the research that is more determined by political forces. We believe that a sensible balance has been achieved with this agreement.

Facts about the allocation of the Research Reserve:

• Of the DKK 1.925 billion, the parties have prioritised DKK 1.542 billion to green research:
• Under Innovation Fund Denmark, DKK 629 million has been allocated to broad, cohesive and long-term initiatives within energy, climate, agriculture, transport, nature and the environment, cities and society, as well as behavioural studies.
• Under Independent Research Fund Denmark, DKK 340 million has been allocated to promote the original ideas of researchers, to strengthen the growth layer of researchers and for capacity-building.
• DKK 40 million has been allocated to climate research and research into carbon storage by DMI and GEUS.
• DKK 336 million has been allocated to the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP), which creates jobs and contributes to achieving the target of a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
• DKK 189 million has been allocated to Green and Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Programmes and efforts within agriculture, the environment and environmental protection.
• DKK 2 million has been allocated to the research portal Videnskab.dk. The funding will help broaden awareness and understanding of the importance of green research to society.
• Finally, DKK 6 million has been allocated to pilot projects in research into sustainable design and architecture.

Furthermore, the parties have agreed to allocated DKK 383 million to balanced research initiatives:

• Of which, DKK 236 million will go to Independent Research Fund Denmark. This will include DKK 76 million for young research talents and a new Inge Lehmann program to promote an equal gender balance in research environments in Denmark.
• DKK 51 million has been allocated to research into early measures and work on the development of economic calculation principles.
• Under Innovation Fund Denmark, DKK 70 million will go to new technological opportunities, including artificial intelligence research, as well as DKK 67 million for better health, including clinical research.
• DKK 10 million has been allocated to further the work of the Grundtvig Study Centre.

For further information please contact:

Press Secretary Jakob Sejr Teichert, tel. +45 7231 9503, email: jte@ufm.dk
Director Nils Agerhus, tel.: 2075 7817, email: nag@ufm.dk