Urgent research projects

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Urgent research support

Frequency

All year around

Amount

Project related

For applicants

Purpose

Through its urgent research projects the Carlsberg Foundation wishes to support urgent applications that, due to the nature of the projects proposed, cannot wait for the foundation’s next autumn call nor could have been applied for in the most recent autumn call.

The purpose of the Carlsberg Foundation Urgent Research Projects is to provide funding for important urgent basic research projects within the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, or humanities that due to the nature of the activities proposed, cannot wait for the foundation’s next autumn call nor could have been applied for in the most recent autumn call. 

The foundation expects to grant only very few applications of this type each year.

Eligibility

Applications for Urgent Research Projects must be driven by exceptional and unpredictable events, where all the following prerequisites apply:

  • The proposed research activities for which the grant will be used could not have been foreseen at the time of the deadline for the previous autumn call.

  • In all probability, the research questions to be addressed will have changed so substantially at the time of the deadline for the next autumn call that the activities are no longer possible or relevant. The applicant must clearly explain why the research activities cannot be carried out later.

  • The proposed research must focus on unique opportunities to Danish researchers, be of special importance to Denmark, or utilize specific qualifications of Danish researchers for creating new insights at the highest international level.

 All three prerequisites must be explicitly addressed in the application.

Examples of eligible research activities include research related to acute societal challenges such as emerging infectious diseases, critical political instability, or environmental catastrophes. Urgent Research Projects may serve as "seed" funding for subsequent full-scale applications for other relevant type og grants.

Who can apply

It is possible to apply as a single applicant (PI) or as a team of maximum four PIs.

If applying as a PI team, one of the applicants must act as the main applicant responsible for contact with the foundation and, should the application be successful, administration of the grant. 

The main applicant, whether a single PI or member of a PI team, must be at least a tenured associate professor or senior researcher.

The main applicant, whether a single PI or member of a PI team, must be a tenured associate professor, senior researcher or professor employed equivalent to at least 80% effort at one (or more) Danish research institution throughout the grant period. 

The foundation expects the applicant(s) to dedicate at least 50% of their research time to the project. Part of the work may be performed at collaborating Danish or international institutions, but the majority of the work must be carried out in Denmark.

What can be applied for

This type of grant is designed to be flexible and may be used to cover costs that are necessary for completing the urgent research activity. There is no maximum amount.

Application process

The application process for Urgent Research Projects follows a two-step process. First, the applicant(s) submits an expression of interest. If successful, the applicant(s) is invited to submit a full application.

CALL OPEN
The guidelines have been updated March 2025

Requirements

Application requirements

The expression of interest as well as the full application must be submitted through the CF-Grant application system

 The expression of interest/full application must be written in English.

Expressions of interest/full applications that do not meet the specified requirements will not be considered and will result in an administrative rejection.

Submitting documents other than those specified below will also result in an administrative rejection.

Choosing the wrong type of grant in CF-Grant will likewise result in an administrative rejection.

The documents must be uploaded in PDF format.

Stage 1: Expression of interest

Required documents to be attached to the application form:

  • Project description
  • Curriculum vitae(s)

Project description

The project description must be written using Times New Roman, font size 12, margins on the left, right, top and bottom of at least 2 cm and line spacing of 1.5. 

The project description must not exceed one A4 page (including figures, tables, etc., but excluding references). Any references or bibliography must be added in direct continuation of the project description.

The project description must describe how the proposal aligns with this call's unique nature including how it fulfils the three prerequisites outlined above. 

Furthermore, the project description must include an estimated budget for the total amount applied for. 

The use of unconventional technical abbreviations must be kept to a minimum.

Curriculum vitae

The CV of the applicant(s) must not exceed two A4 pages. Please do not include photo, home address, family information, CPR no., date of birth, or gender.

Stage 2: Full application

If the expression of interest is approved, the applicant(s) is invited to submit a full application. 

Required documents to be attached to the application form:

  • Project description
  • Budget
  • Curriculum vitae(s)
  • List(s) of publications
  • Declaration of support from the host institution

Document to be attached to the application form, if relevant:

  • Description of the research group and its organisation and national/ international networks
  • Quotes for infrastructure, such as equipment and register data, exceeding DKK 200,000

Project description

The project description must be written using Times New Roman, font size 12, margins on the left, right, top and bottom of at least 2 cm and line spacing of 1.5. 

The project description must not exceed four pages (including figures, tables, etc., but excluding references). Any references or bibliography must be added in direct continuation of the project description. 

The project description must describe how the proposal aligns with this call's unique nature including how it fulfils the three prerequisites outlined above.

The use of unconventional technical abbreviations must be kept to a minimum.

Budget

An itemised budget for the amount applied for must be uploaded using the Carlsberg Foundation’s budget template and must be finalised before upload.

Project supplement (indirect project costs) for applicants from Danish universities:

  •  Humanities and social sciences: DKK 200,000 per full-time equivalent (FTE) per year for PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants funded by the grant.

  • Natural sciences: DKK 250,000 per full-time equivalent (FTE) per year for PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants funded by the grant. 

The project supplement can only be applied for applicants from Danish universities.

The project supplement will automatically be added in the budget template. 

For more information on what the project supplement covers, and thus what cannot be applied for, see the full agreement on the following website:

Link to agreement at Danish Universities

https://dkuni.dk/aftale-om-en-faelles-model-for-finansiering-af-forskningsprojekter/

Curriculum vitae

The CV of the applicant(s) must not exceed two A4 pages. Please do not include photo, home address, family information, CPR no., date of birth, or gender.

List(s) of publications

The list(s) of publications must first contain a brief summary of the bibliometry of the applicant including links to relevant bibliometric profiles (Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, etc.).

In addition, the applicant(s) must include a list of the ten peer-reviewed publications most relevant to the application and representative of their research career, accompanied by a few sentences explaining the relevance of each publication. 

All authors must be listed. If this is not possible due to space limitations, it will be sufficient to list the first ten authors and the corresponding author(s).

The list(s) of publications must not exceed two A4 pages in total for each applicant.

Declaration of support from the host institution

A declaration of support from the host institution confirming the minimum 80% employment as tenured associate professor, senior researcher or professor and the willingness to host the project must be uploaded.

Description of the research group and its organisation and national/international networks, if relevant

If the application includes employment of scientific staff, a description of the research group and its organisation must be uploaded, including its prospective composition, diversity, and gender balance. 

The description must include the specific steps that will be taken during recruiting processes and throughout the grant period to ensure diversity and gender balance. Relevant national and international research networks and their potential role in the project should also be described. 

In applications as a PI team, the team must explain how it will implement shared leadership in the project, emphasising its vision for excellence in collaborative leadership.

The description must not exceed one A4 page, or two A4 pages in the case of PI team applications.

Quotes for infrastructure, such as equipment and register data, if relevant

If the budget includes infrastructure, such as equipment and register data, exceeding DKK 200,000, formal quotes must be uploaded.

The procurement of research infrastructure must be carried out in accordance with the procurement policy of the research institution. The Carlsberg Foundation therefore recommends that quotes be obtained together with the institution’s procurement department.

Popularised scientific description

 

Applicants are also required to complete a popularised scientific description in the CF-Grant (application system).

The description must address What, Why, How, up to 400 characters each. This description will be published on the foundation’s website should the application be successful.

Assessment & process

Assessment criteria Call for Urgent Research Projects

Processing procedures

Budget

Download budget template

Budget

0.54mb

FAQ

Please note: The foundation reserves the right to make adjustments to the guidelines.

The Carlsberg Foundation cannot offer individual guidance on projects or elements of projects before the application deadline.

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