Semper Ardens Accelerate

Semper Ardens Accelerate

Funds newly tenured Danish researchers establishing independent international profiles to strengthen real-world implementation.

Semper Ardens Accelerate is the Carlsberg Foundation's three-to-five-year grant for newly appointed tenured associate professors at Danish research institutions who are building an independent research group or research environment. The programme recognises the critical window immediately following tenure appointment as a moment when dedicated funding can decisively shape a researcher's long-term trajectory. Each award carries a maximum value of DKK 7 million, disbursed over a period of three to five years as specified in the approved project plan. The 2026 cycle opens 31 May 2026, with a deadline of 1 September 2026 at 16:00. No disciplinary restriction applies; the Foundation funds basic research across all scientific fields.

To be eligible, applicants must have been appointed to a tenured associate professor position within two years of the 1 September 2026 deadline — researchers who have held their associate professorship for longer are ineligible and should consider the Semper Ardens Advance programme instead. A minimum of 80 percent employment at a Danish research institution is required throughout the grant period, and at least 50 percent of the applicant's research time must be dedicated to the funded project. The majority of work must take place in Denmark. Eligible budget lines include consumables, equipment, travel, conference participation, postdoc salaries, PhD student salaries, research assistant salaries, and student assistant salaries; assistant professor salaries are explicitly excluded from permissible costs.

Applications are submitted in English through the CF-Grant portal. The grant is awarded annually, with the Carlsberg Foundation conducting a competitive review of all submissions received before the September deadline. Applicants who are uncertain whether they qualify given their appointment date should contact cfgrant@carlsbergfoundation.dk before investing in a full application. Successful recipients can expect the award to function as a platform for establishing an internationally visible independent research group, which in turn positions them to apply for larger Advance-tier funding in subsequent cycles.