Funder · Federal agency

Innovation Fund Denmark (Innovationsfonden)

Supports Denmark's Innovation Foundation by investing in innovation and startup ventures.

Denmarkinnovationsfonden.dk

Key stats

Annual fundingDKK 1.6B

Programs8

Active grants3

Total grants3

About

Innovation Fund Denmark (Innovationsfonden) is Denmark's national public-sector innovation funding agency under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. It was established in 2014 by merging the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, the Danish Council for Strategic Research, and the Danish Council for Technology and Innovation.

The Fund invests in research, technology, and innovation activities to create growth and employment in Denmark. Its annual budget is approximately DKK 1.6 billion, deployed across three flagship programmes:

1. **Grand Solutions** — large multi-partner consortium grants (DKK 5-40 million per project) for ambitious interdisciplinary R&I projects that address societal and economic challenges. Phase 1 deadline 3 March 2026 for Critical and Digital Technologies (including Space, AI, Defence); separate calls for Green Technology and Life Science. Phase 2 is invite-only (10 September 2026 deadline). Covers up to 75% of total project costs for SMEs and research organizations.

2. **Innobooster** — knowledge-based development grants (DKK 200,000-5 million per project, 35% co-financing) for Danish SMEs and entrepreneurial companies. Four application periods per year on rolling basis. Themes for 2026: Green Technology and Innovation (29%), Life Science, Health and Welfare Technology (33%), Critical and Digital Technologies (29%), Defence Technology / Defence Tech Denmark (9%).

3. **Industrial Researcher and Industrial PhD/Postdoc** — co-funding for industry-academia personnel exchanges to embed researchers in companies.

Denmark uses Danish krone (DKK), not Euro — Denmark is an EU member but is not in the Eurozone (the krone is pegged to the euro via ERM II). All Innovationsfonden funding is denominated in DKK.

In 2024, the Fund launched Defence Tech Denmark as a cross-cutting theme spanning both Grand Solutions and Innobooster. The 2026 Innobooster budget allocates 9 percent of Periods 1 and 2 to Defence Technology applications.

Programs & grants under this funder

Innovation Fund Denmark Eurostars

Funds Innovation Fund Denmark Eurostars to support Danish firms in cross-border development with international partners in shared consortia.

Innovation Fund Denmark Greentech Challenge

Funds Innovation Fund Denmark Greentech Challenge for Danish climate innovation consortia building breakthrough technologies for sustainable transition.

Horizon Europe Denmark Top-up Schemes

Offers Horizon Europe Denmark Top-up Schemes as national funding for Danish teams extending Horizon projects into delivery.

Innovation Fund Denmark Innofounder

Funds Danish founders with Innofounder support for emerging venture creation.

Innovation Fund Denmark Grand Solutions

Backs large Danish research-industry consortia solving major societal and economic challenges.

1 grant

Grand Solutions Grant

Open

DKK 275.6M pool

Innovation Fund Denmark Innobooster

Funds Danish challenge-driven innovation through Innobooster grants for risk-based projects in small and medium-sized technology firms.

1 grant

Innobooster Grant

Open

DKK 320M pool·32 days

Innomissions — Green Research and Innovation Partnerships

Funds Danish companies and research partners conducting mission-driven green research and innovation through multi-actor Innomissions consortia.

1 grant

Innomissions — Green Research and Innovation Partnerships

Open

DKK 700M pool

Synergi Funding Programme

Funds cross-sector Danish collaborations linking companies, universities, and municipalities.

Parent entityMinistry of Higher Education and Science (Denmark)

Last verified: 15 May 2026Source: innovationsfonden.dk