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.
150 years of the Carlsberg Foundation
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.
New book: ‘Fra gær til galakser’ – 150 highlights from 150 years of research
On the occasion of the Carlsberg Foundation’s 150th anniversary, Strandberg Publishing is releasing a new book, 'Fra gær til galakser. Dansk grundforskning støttet af Carlsbergfondet - 150 nedslag i 150 år'. Through a kaleidoscopic perspective, the book presents 150 examples of Danish basic research activities supported by the Carlsberg Foundation over a century and a half — research that has expanded our understanding of nature, humanity and society. The book also offers insight into how curiosity-driven basic research provides fertile ground for scientific breakthroughs — including in cases where no one knew in advance what they were looking for. The book’s editor-in-chief is historian of science Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen, while science journalist Lone Frank interviews a number of leading researchers about how research has evolved and the questions facing science today. Follow us here for more information when the book is published in spring 2026.
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 was on display on the façade of our shared headquarters on H.C. Andersens Boulevard in Copenhagen in February. 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' was a part of the Copenhagen Light Festival 2026. Photo: Ole Akhøj
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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