No more political tinkering: Danish government launches long-term research strategy

For the first time in nearly 20 years, a Danish government is set to present a comprehensive, multi-year plan for research.

Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund unveiled a new government proposal last week that she herself describes as a breakthrough in Danish research policy.

The Strategic Priorities for Research and Innovation 2026–2029 proposal commits nearly DKK 19 billion in investments over four years and represents a departure from the tradition of annually distributing a so-called research reserve — a long-standing political practice in the Danish parliament. Up until now, research spokespersons from the political parties in parliament have negotiated the distribution each autumn. But according to Egelund, the system has become too short-sighted.

»Honestly, a one-year perspective doesn’t really align with the idea of taking a long view and looking to the future,« the minister said at the presentation.

Prepared for geopolitical rivalries

The government proposes that future research funds be allocated through a four-year political agreement, with the main investments concentrated in three priority areas: critical technologies, green research, and health.

A total of DKK 6.9 billion is earmarked for critical technologies like quantum research, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space, and defence research.

This is not an increase in the specificity of funding. The difference is that we’re now thinking long-term.

Christina Egelund (M), Minister for Higher Education and Science

DKK 6 billion will go to green research, while DKK 3 billion will support the health and life sciences — including the setting up of a new national centre for research into women’s health.

»It has become clear that global power struggles are increasingly being fought out via critical technologies. And so our strategic autonomy has become immensely important,« Egelund said.

She described the strategy as an effort to prepare Denmark for a new geopolitical reality, where competitiveness, security, and values are closely intertwined.

Increased baseline funding

The minister wants to also give Danish universities more freedom.

The government proposes increasing the universities’ free research and innovation funds (the so-called basic funding) by DKK 3.8 billion over the period. The aim is to reduce dependence on external funding and make universities more resilient.

At an education and research policy summit at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) recently, Christina Egelund said that the wealth and power of private foundations has »distorted« the Danish research landscape.

Increased basic funding is an attempt to correct this distortion. She emphasised that this is a priority that is not up for political negotiation.

Free research and the autonomy of universities are crucial to our free, democratic society

Christina Egelund (M), Minister for Higher Education and Science

 

»We’re taking a significant step towards strengthening universities’ autonomy — also in relation to both private and public foundations,« she said in an interview with University Post following her presentation. Non-government foundations will continue to play an important role, she stressed:

»I will never complain that we have private foundations in Denmark that want to take on the societal responsibility of funding parts of our research. It’s a good problem to have — if you can even call it a problem,« said the minister.

The proposal will not increase political control over research, she stressed, or challenge the arm’s length principle between politicians and researchers.

»This is not an increase in the specificity of funding. The difference is that we’re now thinking long-term. We’re not going to control it any more or less than we usually do,« she said.

According to the minister, most of the funds will still be allocated through competitive processes via organisations like Innovation Fund Denmark, Independent Research Fund Denmark, and private foundations. She has no plans to interfere in terms of who gets the money.

Enthusiastic audience

Rectors from Danish universities were at the presentation of the proposal, alongside representatives from foundations and other stakeholders.

The new research strategy was met with enthusiasm.

»A long-term perspective is extremely important for research. We can’t just dial things up and down on a yearly basis — we need to be able to hire staff and plan for the long term. I find this deeply encouraging and actually take it as a sign of trust in the universities, that basic funding has now been increased and promises made last year are being made permanent and expanded over a four-year period,« said Brian Bech Nielsen, Rector of Aarhus University and Chair of the universities lobby group Universities Denmark.

The Villum Foundation’s research director Thomas Bjørnholm — a former prorector for research at the University of Copenhagen — was also pleased:

»The value of this money has just increased: Taxpayers’ money and private foundation funding go further when you have a longer horizon,« he said of the government’s proposal.

Core values

The new research strategy has a strong technological focus, but Christina Egelund emphasises that the humanities and social sciences still have a vital role to play. Researchers in these fields should see themselves as part of the new strategic initiatives.

»The humanities and social sciences should not feel overlooked. They should recognise that, say, artificial intelligence has everything to do with them. In the revolution that artificial intelligence represents, we need to incorporate Danish and European values to ensure that the ethical dimension is included. And I believe that is where Europe can stand out compared to the US and China. We’re good at embedding values when we implement new technology,« she said to th University Post.

This perspective is clear throughout the proposal: Research should not only support business interests but also Denmark’s ability to defend its values and act independently in a world marked by instability.

In this sense, research becomes a part of the Danish government’s security strategy, and normative policy strategy — breaking with the idea that research policy is primarily about knowledge and education.

Christina Egelund used the occasion to warn against trends she sees in other countries, where free research is under pressure.

»Universities are being turned into political battlegrounds, and knowledge comes under pressure if it doesn’t align with prevailing political agendas. That must not happen here. Free research and the autonomy of universities are crucial to our free, democratic society,« she said.

Shortly after the presentation, initial negotiations with parliamentary parties began on the new research strategy.

The minister said to the University Post that she is aiming for a broad agreement among political parties:

»I hope that the parties in parliament will broadly recognise the need to move beyond short-term thinking in Danish research.«

This article was first written in Danish and published on 23 October 2025. It has been translated into English and post-edited by Mike Young.