Inge Lehmann Programme

The Inge Lehmann Programme is Independent Research Fund Denmark's early-career track for researchers two to six years post-PhD. It is one of DFF's targeted instruments for building independent research careers, and it carries an explicit gender-balance policy that prefers female applicants over equally qualified male applicants. The 2026 call is sized at 81.8 million DKK, with about 22 to 23 awards expected. Each award can provide up to 2.55 million DKK excluding overhead for up to three years. Applicants must be based at Danish universities or research organisations, and the program is run annually. The 2026 deadline is 17 June 2026, which puts it earlier in the cycle than the larger autumn leadership call and makes it a distinct route for early-career independence. This is the strongest fit for researchers with a clear independent idea who are still early in their postdoctoral career. The combination of a capped budget, a short project horizon, and the female-applicant preference means the call is aimed at building visible momentum rather than funding long, open-ended programmes. Applicants who can present a focused project and a credible path to independence are the best aligned.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.