The Ministry of Higher Education and Science has the general responsibility for the research and innovation sector, including for getting the most value of the almost DKK 30 billion of public annual investment in research and innovation.
The Ministry supports all levels in the research chain - from the first steps of basic research to scientific breakthrough and innovation taking ideas to, for instance, new pharmaceuticals or new green technologies. Read more about key agendas in the research and innovation sector under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
The magnitude of investments in research and innovation is a key parameter of research policy - in Denmark and abroad.
The Barcelona objective is a joint EU objective dating back from 2002 that sets out a target of 3 percent of GDP invested in research and development - counted in total for public and private investments.
With offset in the Barcelona objective various governments since 2010 have maintained a public research budget of at least 1 percent of GDP. To this should be added investments in research and innovation in the private sector.
The public research budget covers costs for research and innovation at State, regional, and municipal levels etc. For a number of years and based on the annual finance bill there has been a practice for starting political negotiations in the autumn on the implementation of the Research Reserve distributing research funds up to 1 percent of GDP.
On 6 November 2025 the government entered an agreement with a broad majority of the Danish parlament: Agreement on Research and Innovation 2026-2029 taking offset in the proposal Strategic priorities for research and innovation 2026-2029. The agreement covers strategic, multiannual priorities within key areas up to 2029, including Critical technologies and defence research, Green research, and Life science and health, as well as free research and innovation funds for universities.
Critical technologies mean technologies that are decisive for Denmark’s contingency preparedness, security, and competitiveness. They cover, among others, quantum technology, space technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and defence technology.
Read more about critical technologies
Research in the space sector and space technology have a major implication for Denmark’s safety, climate targets, and our business community. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science is the national authority in the space sector.
Read more about the space sector
Research and innovation are important driving forces for the green transition, and investments in green research and innovation are decisive for Denmark attaining our ambitious objectives in the field of climate change. It is a prerequisite that we bring existing technologies to maturity, and that we develop and implement new technologies and climate solutions to the benefit of climate, environment, and nature.
Read more about green research and innovation
Life science is one of Denmark’s most important commercial strongholds, contributing to job creation, growth, prosperity, and exports, to the benefit of our welfare society, our healthcare sector, and patients. Therefore, it is important to ensure cooperation between life science companies, the healthcare sector, and Danish researchers to create an interplay between innovative research, knowledge, and healthcare solutions.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Science has a seat in the National Life Science Council that is intended to enhance dialogue between public and private life science players and to discuss national and international priorities in the life science sector.
In November 2024, the government launched a national Strategy for life science in Denmark; in six strategic points of orientation the strategy is intended to create a coherent, robust, and future-proof public health service in Denmark and make Denmark a leading life science nation in Europe in 2030.
Research and innovation work takes place in extensive cooperation with the Nordics, Europe, and the rest of the world, and the Ministry works continuously on strengthening the internationalisation of Danish research and innovation.
Read more about international cooperation within research and innovation
Communication of research is decisive for our population’s knowledge about and insight into research results. Dissemination plays a decisive role for an open, democratic dialogue on research results along with the advantages and, in some cases, disadvantages associated with them. Also, research dissemination contributes to creating legitimacy around societal prioritisation of research by communicating its results and important progress within knowledge and technology.
Research dissemination contributes to enhancing confidence in research and researchers. Eveny year, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science grants several awards acknowledging the results produced by researchers and research.
Read more about communicating research on the Agency for Higher Education and Science’s website
