In 2026, the Carlsberg Foundation celebrates its 150th anniversary. It marks exactly one hundred and fifty years since brewer J.C. Jacobsen founded the foundation with the purpose of returning a share of the profits from his brewery, Carlsberg to society through grants for independent basic research in Denmark.
J.C. Jacobsen himself placed great value on the flourishing scientific enterprise of his time. And through the establishment of the Carlsberg Foundation he sought to help secure the strength and standing of science well into the future. In his own words, the foundation was to serve “for the Benefit of Science and for the Honour of Denmark”.
Throughout 2026, we will celebrate 150 years of science for Denmark through the Carlsberg Foundation. We will pay tribute to both curiosity-driven basic research and the Danish foundation model, which gained momentum with the establishment of the Carlsberg Foundation—the world’s first enterprise foundation.
Follow our anniversary activities here on the website, on our social media channels, and through our newsletter.
A gift from the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
On the occasion of the Carlsberg Foundation’s 150th anniversary, the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters has presented the foundation with a gift in the form of the light art installation 'Samlinger', which is now on display on the façade of our shared headquarters on H.C. Andersens Boulevard in Copenhagen. The artwork is created by artist Magnus Pind and takes its point of departure in the meeting between brewer J.C. Jacobsen and scientist H.C. Ørsted. Ørsted’s ideas led Jacobsen to give science a central place in his work, a commitment that continues to benefit society today through the foundation's grants for independent basic research in Denmark. 'Samlinger' can be experienced as part of the Copenhagen Light Festival every day from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until 22 February 2026. Photo: Lars Svankjær
With this broader purpose in mind, I have today established a foundation - under the name the Carlsberg Foundation (…) - for the benefit of science and the honour of Denmark.
The Carlsberg Foundation announces DKK 150 million for new interdisciplinary research centres
As the Carlsberg Foundation marks its 150th anniversary, the foundation is allocating an extraordinary DKK 150 million to interdisciplinary research centres. Each centre is to provide an interdisciplinarity framework for outstanding basic research and ground-breaking collaboration between and across at least two of the three research areas supported by the Carlsberg Foundation: the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. The centres will be awarded on the basis of an open call for applications with a deadline of 1 March 2026. The centres selected for funding will be announced in autumn 2026.
Read the call Carlsberg Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Centres
New book: 150 discoveries through 150 years
To mark the Carlsberg Foundation’s 150th anniversary, Strandberg Publishing is releasing a new book that takes the reader through a selection of the many research activities and significant scientific breakthroughs supported by the Carlsberg Foundation over the past one hundred and fifty years. Ranging from curious discoveries to portraits of leading scientific figures across the natural sciences, the humanities and the social sciences, the book illustrates how independent basic research has paved the way for the developments that have shaped modern society. Spanning many decades, the book also offers a compelling insight into the long-term perspective which defines basic research. The book is aimed at anyone with an interest in science. Further details will be shared ahead of the publication of the book in spring 2026.
150 years of the Carlsberg Foundation
The Carlsberg Foundation’s headquarters, 1899.
Conference on the Danish foundation model
When brewer J.C. Jacobsen established the Carlsberg Foundation through his ‘Charter and Deed of Gift’, he also laid the ground for an entirely new form of corporate ownership. Following his death, this was fully realised with the transfer of Carlsberg Brewery into the ownership of the foundation.
To mark the Carlsberg Foundation’s 150th anniversary, we are bringing together some of Denmark’s most influential voices for a conference on the role of enterprise foundations in society.
Today, enterprise foundations play a central role in Danish society. They help preserve the ownership of some of Denmark’s largest and most significant companies, while also supporting society through philanthropic and public-benefit grants. As such, they serve as a model for many foundations abroad.
The conference on the Danish foundation model will be held on 26 August 2026. Further information will be shared across our channels.
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