Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader

Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader

Invests in early-career researchers transitioning to independent research leadership across all scientific fields.

Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader is Independent Research Fund Denmark's prestige instrument for early-career researchers transitioning to independent research leadership. The autumn 2026 call (E26) closes on 7 October 2026 at 12:00 noon Danish time. DFF expects to award approximately 35–40 grants in the 2027 cohort, continuing the historical success rate of 11% (39 grants awarded in the most recent assessed round).

Grants cover up to DKK 4,450,000 excluding institutional overhead for projects of up to four years. Applicants must have obtained their PhD between 3 and 8 years before the deadline — that is, no earlier than October 2018 and no later than October 2023 — calculated with accepted leave deductions. Equivalent qualifications such as a positive assistant professor assessment are also accepted. All applications are in English. The project description is capped at 7 pages (21,000 characters), the CV at 3 pages, and the publication list at 3 pages. Budget submissions use a mandatory DFF template. All applicants must be employed at a Danish university or research institution, and applications are submitted via the host institution.

Successful Sapere Aude recipients are required to attend DFF's research management course. Competition is intense: at 11% success, the scheme is one of the most selective in the Danish research system. Applicants are advised to demonstrate original, internationally competitive research capacity and a clear vision for developing an independent research group. Investigators who fall outside the 3–8 year PhD window should consider DFF-Research Project1 (up to DKK 2.55M, spring cycle) or DFF-Research Project2 (DKK 2.55M–4.45M, same October deadline).