RFPs: Data Science Investigator Programme (Denmark)

The Data Science Investigator Programme supports outstanding research leaders in Denmark working in data science and computational sciences, including AI, machine learning, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling. Grants of up to DKK 14.7 million over five years are available for research, staff salaries, equipment, and project-related expenses, with career-stage specific categories for emerging, ascending, and distinguished investigators.

Overview

The Data Science Investigator Programme is designed to fund high-impact research in data science and computational science across Denmark. Its goals are to:

Promote development of novel algorithms, methods, and technologies
Support applications of computational sciences in life sciences, health, sustainability, agriculture, green transition, and natural sciences
Advance Denmark’s international research competitiveness

Research supported spans:

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Deep Learning
Statistics and Mathematical Modelling
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Cybersecurity and simulations
Other computational sciences aligned with strategic priorities

Career-Level Grant Categories

The programme offers three career-stage specific grants:

1. Emerging Investigator

Target: Senior postdocs, senior researchers, assistant professors establishing independence
Typical experience: 4–8 years post-PhD

2. Ascending Investigator

Target: Associate professors or experienced assistant professors aiming for international leadership
Typical experience: 7–15 years post-PhD

3. Distinguished Investigator

Target: Established professors with outstanding international research leadership
Typical experience: 15+ years post-PhD
Cannot request salary support for themselves

Funding Details

Maximum grant per project: DKK 14.7 million
Maximum duration: 5 years
Total annual programme budget: DKK 99 million
Eligible expenses include:
- Salaries for research staff: postdocs, PhD students, technicians, research-year students
- Applicant salary (except Distinguished Investigator category) if not otherwise covered
- Operating costs: supercomputer usage, lab consumables, sequencing, analysis services
- Project-related equipment (up to 20% of total budget)
- Data management, storage, and collection costs
- Travel for conferences and short research visits
- Publication and dissemination costs

Expenses Not Covered

Commercial activities or projects with commercial objectives
Overhead, indirect costs, rent, utilities
Duplicate funding from other sources

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

Be a research leader employed and based in Denmark
Act as principal investigator
Affiliated with a university or non-profit research institution in Denmark, which administers the grant
For junior applicants, demonstrate independent research capability from senior colleagues
Contribute to educational or training activities in data science or computational science within Denmark

Strategic Research Areas

The programme encourages applications in data science and computational science applied to:

Life science, biomedical and health research
Public and global health, infectious disease studies
Sustainability and green transition
Agriculture and natural sciences
Technical and computational fields aligned with the Foundation’s priorities

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Confirm eligibility
- Must be a research leader employed in Denmark at a university or non-profit institution
Define the project
- Describe research objectives, innovation, and relevance to data or computational sciences
Prepare budget
- Include staff salaries, operating costs, equipment, travel, and publications
- Avoid duplication with other funding sources
Submit the application
- Follow the official programme submission process
- Include all required documents demonstrating research leadership, institutional affiliation, and project feasibility

Tips for a Successful Application

Clearly demonstrate novelty, feasibility, and high impact of the project
Align research objectives with strategic areas prioritized by the Foundation
Provide detailed, realistic budget and resource allocation
Emphasize independence and leadership potential for emerging investigators
Include educational or training contributions as part of the project plan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be research leaders based in Denmark and affiliated with a university or non-profit research institution.

2. What research areas are supported?

Data science, computational science, AI, machine learning, bioinformatics, statistics, simulations, cybersecurity, and applications in life sciences, health, sustainability, and agriculture.

3. How much funding can I request?

Up to DKK 14.7 million per project for up to five years.

4. Can I use funding for my own salary?

Yes, for Emerging and Ascending Investigators if not covered by the host institution; Distinguished Investigators cannot request their own salary.

5. Can commercial activities be funded?

No. Projects with commercial objectives or duplicate funding are not eligible.

6. Are equipment and operating costs covered?

Yes, including lab consumables, supercomputer usage, sequencing services, and other necessary project-related resources. Equipment can account for up to 20% of the total budget.

7. Are there expectations for educational contributions?

Yes. Applicants are expected to contribute to training and educational activities in data science or computational science within Denmark.

Conclusion

The Data Science Investigator Programme provides substantial, career-stage tailored support for research leaders in Denmark to drive cutting-edge advancements in data and computational sciences. With funding for staff, equipment, and project expenses, the programme strengthens Denmark’s scientific leadership, fosters innovation across strategic research areas, and encourages training the next generation of computational scientists.