DFF-Research Project1

DFF-Research Project1

Supports foundational Danish research projects led by researchers through collaborative, peer-reviewed study programs.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) is a government-funded body that allocates DKK 2.2 billion annually to researcher-initiated projects across all scientific fields. DFF-Research Project1 is the fund's entry-level individual grant instrument, targeting postdoctoral researchers and early-stage investigators at Danish universities and research institutions. The spring 2026 call (instrument code F26) carried a submission deadline of 12 May 2026; the next annual cycle is expected in spring 2027.

Award budgets are capped at DKK 2,550,000 excluding institutional overhead, covering projects of up to three years in duration — or up to four years when the project includes an embedded PhD student. Applicants at any career stage may apply, including postdoctoral researchers. All proposals must be submitted through the applicant's Danish host institution; individual submissions are not accepted. Applicants may not hold more than two active DFF grants simultaneously, and only one DFF application per person is allowed per annual cycle.

DFF-Research Project1 is reviewed by one of five discipline-specific Research Councils using peer review. The cross-disciplinary breadth of the instrument means applications span life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. Investigators who need larger budgets or have longer seniority profiles should consider DFF-Research Project2 (DKK 2.55M–4.45M, October deadline), while those seeking a leadership development award should look at Sapere Aude. For Project1 applicants, the key competitive factors are scientific originality and the quality of the research plan.