Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader

Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader is Independent Research Fund Denmark's leadership track for promising younger researchers. It is meant to help researchers move from early independence into a clear leadership role, and the 2026 version reflects a restructuring from the older Starting Grant label. The call sits inside DFF's annual funding cycle and is built for applicants with a strong trajectory rather than a narrow project pitch. The award can provide up to 4.45 million DKK excluding overhead for up to four years. The target group is researchers three to eight years post-PhD, and the call is limited to Danish universities and research organisations. DFF expects roughly 35 to 40 awards per cycle, with prior success around 11 percent, which signals a highly competitive route. The 2026 deadline is 7 October 2026. This call rewards applicants who can show a coherent research programme and a credible step up into independence. A strong case usually needs a clear agenda, evidence of momentum, and a host institution willing to back the applicant as a future leader. It is less about incremental project funding and more about identifying people with the profile to shape a research area over time.

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