Deadline: 27-Aug-2026
The LF Experiment Grant Programme is inviting applications for bold, high-risk neuroscience research projects with the potential to transform understanding of the brain and nervous system. Researchers can apply for up to DKK 2.3 million for projects lasting up to two years, with a total funding pool of up to DKK 60 million to support innovative, cross-disciplinary neuroscience research hosted by Danish research institutions.
About the LF Experiment Grant Programme
The LF Experiment Grant Programme supports ambitious, early-stage neuroscience research that challenges conventional thinking and explores groundbreaking scientific ideas.
The programme encourages researchers to pursue innovative concepts that have the potential to fundamentally reshape neuroscience, establish entirely new research fields, or introduce novel technologies and methodologies. Rather than supporting incremental advances, the programme prioritizes bold, unconventional ideas with transformative potential.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen Denmark’s position as a global leader in neuroscience by supporting outstanding research environments and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Funding Information
- Maximum grant: Up to DKK 2.3 million per project.
- Project duration: Up to 2 years.
- Total funding available: Up to DKK 60 million, subject to the quality of applications.
- Funding may cover both:
- Staff costs.
- Non-staff project-related expenses.
Programme Objectives
The LF Experiment Grant Programme aims to:
- Support high-risk, high-reward neuroscience research.
- Encourage revolutionary scientific ideas.
- Strengthen neuroscience research in Denmark.
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Foster world-class research environments.
- Advance understanding of the brain and nervous system.
- Improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of nervous system disorders.
- Encourage scientific diversity and innovation.
Research Focus Areas
Projects should have clear relevance to neuroscience and may include:
- Brain research.
- Nervous system research.
- Biomedical neuroscience.
- Clinical neuroscience.
- Health sciences.
- Technical sciences.
- Natural sciences.
- Neurotechnology.
- Neuroscience innovation.
- Prevention of neurological disorders.
- Diagnosis of nervous system disorders.
- Treatment of neurological diseases.
- Cross-disciplinary neuroscience research.
Key Research Priorities
The programme prioritizes projects that:
- Challenge established scientific concepts.
- Introduce unconventional research approaches.
- Explore bold and innovative hypotheses.
- Develop entirely new research methods.
- Create transformative technologies.
- Establish new fields within neuroscience.
- Demonstrate the potential for significant scientific impact.
Applications lacking a clear neuroscience focus will not be considered.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must:
- Hold a PhD degree by the application deadline.
- Conduct research with clear relevance to neuroscience.
- Be hosted by a non-commercial Danish research institution or hospital.
- Conduct the majority of research activities in Denmark.
- Submit all required anonymized application documents.
Eligible Research Institutions
Projects must be hosted by:
- Danish universities.
- Non-commercial research institutions.
- Danish hospitals engaged in research.
Commercial organizations are not eligible to host funded projects.
Eligible Expenses
Grant funding may support:
- Research personnel.
- Technical staff.
- Laboratory expenses.
- Equipment directly related to the project.
- Research materials.
- Data collection.
- Project implementation costs.
- Other justified research-related expenses.
Both staff and non-staff costs are eligible.
Why This Programme Matters
Major breakthroughs in neuroscience often emerge from bold ideas that challenge traditional scientific assumptions.
This programme helps:
- Accelerate scientific innovation.
- Support pioneering neuroscience discoveries.
- Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Build stronger research environments.
- Improve understanding of neurological diseases.
- Advance future healthcare solutions.
- Position Denmark at the forefront of neuroscience research.
How the Grant Programme Works
The funding process generally includes:
- Researchers develop an innovative neuroscience research concept.
- Projects are designed around high-risk, transformative ideas.
- Applications are prepared using anonymized documentation.
- The host institution provides institutional support.
- Applications undergo scientific evaluation.
- Successful projects receive funding for implementation over a maximum of two years.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare the following:
- An anonymized project proposal.
- An anonymized curriculum vitae (CV), ensuring only the filename contains identifying information where permitted by the application guidelines.
- An anonymized project budget.
- One or more anonymized letters of support from the Danish host institution.
- Confirmation that the proposed research will primarily take place in Denmark.
- Submit the complete application before the official deadline.
Tips for Preparing a Strong Application
To improve your chances of success:
- Present a genuinely transformative research idea.
- Clearly explain why the project is high-risk and high-reward.
- Demonstrate strong scientific originality.
- Show how the project challenges existing paradigms.
- Highlight interdisciplinary collaboration where appropriate.
- Explain the potential long-term scientific impact.
- Ensure all application materials are properly anonymized.
- Prepare a realistic and well-justified budget.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common application errors:
- Proposing incremental rather than transformative research.
- Failing to demonstrate clear relevance to neuroscience.
- Including identifying information in anonymized documents.
- Submitting incomplete application materials.
- Providing unrealistic budgets.
- Weak explanations of scientific impact.
- Failing to explain why the project is innovative.
- Applying through an ineligible host institution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the LF Experiment Grant Programme?
It is a research funding programme supporting bold, high-risk neuroscience projects with the potential to transform understanding of the brain and nervous system.
2. How much funding can applicants receive?
Researchers may request up to DKK 2.3 million for projects lasting up to two years.
3. What is the total funding available?
The programme offers up to DKK 60 million, depending on the quality of submitted applications.
4. Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must hold a PhD, conduct neuroscience-related research, and be hosted by a non-commercial Danish research institution or hospital.
5. What types of research are supported?
The programme supports innovative biomedical, clinical, technical, health, and natural science research with clear relevance to neuroscience, particularly projects that challenge existing scientific concepts.
6. What documents are required?
Applicants must submit an anonymized project proposal, anonymized CV, anonymized budget, and anonymized letter(s) of support from the Danish host institution.
7. Why does the programme emphasize interdisciplinary research?
The programme recognizes that major advances in neuroscience often result from collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines, leading to innovative methods, technologies, and discoveries.
Conclusion
The LF Experiment Grant Programme provides substantial funding for researchers pursuing bold, high-risk neuroscience projects capable of transforming scientific understanding of the brain and nervous system. By supporting innovative ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, and groundbreaking research hosted at Danish institutions, the programme aims to accelerate discoveries that improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disorders while strengthening Denmark’s global leadership in neuroscience research.
For more information, visit Lundbeck Foundation.