On 25 September 1876, brewer J.C. Jacobsen established the Carlsberg Foundation. In doing so, he sought to ensure that a share of the profits from his Carlsberg brewery could be returned to Danish society in the form of grants for scientific purposes for generations to come. The establishment of the foundation also laid the cornerstone for an entirely new model of engaged ownership: the enterprise foundation, a model that has since become widespread and today plays an important role in Danish society.

For 150 years, we have taken pride in supporting both research and the Danish foundation model for the benefit of Denmark. We are marking this milestone with an anniversary celebration at Frederiksborg Castle, where, in 1878 – after donating DKK 200,000 towards the restoration of the King’s Wing following the fire of 1859 – J.C. Jacobsen founded the Museum of National History. The brewer’s intention for the Museum was to promote the Danish people’s historical awareness and cultural self-understanding. Since its establishment, the Museum has been a department of the Carlsberg Foundation.

Portrait unveiling and celebration of 150th anniversary research centres

The 150th anniversary celebration will be attended by Their Majesties The King and The Queen, as well as the Minister for Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs Christina Egelund and representatives from the Danish research, cultural and business communities.

Among the highlights of the anniversary celebration will be the unveiling of a new portrait of H.M. The King, painted by Danish artist Cathrine Raben Davidsen. The portrait will become part of Frederiksborg’s collection of portraits of the House of Glücksburg and will be on public display from Monday 28 September.

As part of the anniversary celebration, we will also pay tribute to Danish research by marking the ‘Carlsberg Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Centres’. The foundation is awarding DKK 150 million to establish three new research centres aimed at advancing independent basic research across the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences and foster collaboration within Denmark’s basic research landscape.

“25 September 2026 is a very special date in the history of the Carlsberg Foundation. On this day in 1876, brewer J.C. Jacobsen realised his vision of establishing a foundation that could help secure a strong position for science far into the future. Through the foundation, he specifically wanted to give a share of the profits from his Carlsberg brewery back to society in the form of support for scientific activities. He also wanted to ensure that, after his death, the brewery would continue to have the best possible conditions for developing the art of brewing "to the greatest possible degree of perfection", as he himself put it in his ‘Golden Words’,” says Majken Schultz, Professor and Chair of the Carlsberg Foundation.

She continues:

“Looking back 150 years later, I can say without hesitation that J.C. Jacobsen’s decision to establish the Carlsberg Foundation was both visionary and transformative. His vision became a reality – and over the 150 years in which we have been entrusted with carrying it forward, its impact has extended far beyond the Carlsberg Foundation itself. With great care and dedication, we have awarded countless grants for Danish basic research, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the Danish foundation model, whose foundation the brewer also laid and which continues to play an important role in Danish society today.

For that very reason, the Carlsberg Foundation’s 150th anniversary is first and foremost an occasion to look ahead to the next 150 years and to reaffirm the importance of independent basic research and the foundation model that emerged with the establishment of the Carlsberg Foundation – the world’s first enterprise foundation. I am proud to say that, very much in the spirit of the brewer, we intend to remain committed to safeguarding both basic research and foundation ownership for the next 150 years.”

About the Carlsberg Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Centres

The Carlsberg Foundation awards DKK 150 million to the establishment of three ‘Carlsberg Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Centres’. Each centre is to provide a 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 address complex questions and challenges that can be explored and advanced across faculties and, ideally, universities.