Villum Foundation

Funds Villum Foundation by awarding competitive research grants and fellowships for Danish science and advanced engineering.

Villum Foundation, or Villum Fonden, is a Danish private philanthropic foundation established in 1971 by Villum Kann Rasmussen, the engineer and inventor behind the VELUX roof window. Its endowment comes from co-ownership of VKR Holding, and in 2025 it allocated about DKK 1.82 billion in grants.

The foundation puts more than half of its giving into technical and natural sciences, with a particular emphasis on curiosity-driven research at Danish universities. It also supports children and youth science engagement, European vocational education with a green and digital angle, and selected culture and society work. Flagship routes include Villum Investigator, Villum Young Investigator, Villum International Postdoc, GRO, Grønnere EUD, and Other Projects, with awards that run from DKK 65,000 to DKK 30 million depending on the call.

Eligibility is narrow and structured: science applicants must be active researchers at a Danish university or GEUS, devote at least 75% of their effort to research and education, and avoid health or veterinary topics. Review cycles range from four to nine months, the foundation replies to all applicants, and some calls are biennial while others roll through the year. The pattern rewards strong ideas, long-horizon research, and clear fit to the foundation's engineering and natural-sciences remit.