Technical and natural sciences: Reports and studies

Villum Foundation contributes significantly to the Danish research ecosystem in the field of natural and technical sceíences. We support both young researchers receiving their first grants, and also participate in large initiatives, such as the establishment of research centers at world-class level.

But how do we measure the impact of our grants and the importance of research to society? Read more about this in our annual IMPACT report. 

Reforming Research Assessment is an agenda focused on changing the traditional ways in which universities and foundations evaluate researchers and their research projects.

The barriers to and opportunities for this change were discussed by a group of young emerging research leaders during a workshop held in connection with the CeRRA conference in December 2025 in Copenhagen.

The white paper presents the outcomes of their discussions. The report was prepared by Steven Wooding and Sam Gilbert.

The workshop was financially supported by the Villum Foundation.

Generative AI is impacting researchers, universities and funders at an ever increasing rate. At Villum Fonden we are committed to an open dialogue with our stakeholders on how best to take advantage of the many new possibilities opened up by generative AI, while steering clear of the pitfalls. 

This has so far resulted in three white papers, created together with some of our grantees. One addresses the responsible use of generative AI in the writing of grant applications, another examines the usefulness of generative AI for creating literature reviews, while the latest takes a look at the use of generative AI as a creative brainstorming partner. 

The Danish STEM-research environments are globally acknowledged and frequently cited. However, across career levels, a continuous gender disparity becomes visible through a “leaky pipeline” – and points to unutilised potential. 

Over the course of 2,5 years, 13 university environments have acted as Living Labs, where tailored and co-created efforts to support diversity and inclusion in STEM-research have been tried and tested. The report combines the overall insights and outcomes of the work done, to make diversity a strength in research and education, with a starting point in academic culture, instead of one-size-fits-all-solutions. 

The process is facilitated by IS IT A BIRD, who also produced the report. The initiative is funded by Villum Foundation and Novo Nordisk Foundation