Sapere Aude: DFF Grants for Advanced Research Projects in the Social Sciences

The objective of the Sapere Aude: DFF–Starting Grant is to give excellent researchers, i.e. researchers who have achieved outstanding research results in their field, an opportunity to develop and strengthen their research ideas. The instrument also aims at promoting the mobility internationally as well as nationally between research environments, and thereby to strengthen the researchers’ networks and careers. Starting Grants are targeted at top researchers who intend to gather a group of researchers and/or research students, in order to carry out a research project at a high international level.

Applicant requirements

Sapere Aude: DFF–Starting Grants are aimed at younger, very talented researchers who at the time of the application deadline and within the last eight years have obtained their PhD or achieved equivalent qualifications (e.g. a positive assistant professorship evaluation ("adjunktbedømmelse"), and who have demonstrated an ability to carry out original research at a high international level.

DFF expects that a Sapere Aude: DFF-Starting Grant will help to enable the applicant to apply for an ERC Starting Grant/Consolidator Grant/Advanced Grant, or corresponding international programmes.

Sapere Aude: DFF–Advanced Grants are geared towards excellent researchers who, at the time of the application deadline and within the last 20 years have obtained a PhD or achieved equivalent qualifications. Typically, they also possess professor-level qualifications.

Involvement in international research activities and, to the extent it is relevant within the individual research environment, experience from different research environments are a requirement. Applicants must have carried out independent research activities of an exceptionally high standard, documented by an outstanding list of publications and qualifications as heads of research. The instrument is aimed at top researchers who have demonstrated a talent for original research and for supervising younger researchers.

DFF expects that, towards the end of or after a Sapere Aude: DFF–Advanced Grant, researchers will apply for an ERC Advanced Grant or a corresponding programme.

Duration and Funding

You can apply for a Sapere Aude: DFF-Starting Grant for a duration of up to 4 years and a maximum amount of DKK 4,900,000, excl. overhead.

You can apply for a Sapere Aude: DFF–Advanced Grant with a duration of up to 5 years and a maximum amount of DKK 8,300,000, excl. overhead.

Earliest starting date for the project: 1 July, 2016; Latest starting date: 31 December, 2016

You may apply for funding to cover all expenses that are directly attributable to the project, and which are relevant and necessary in order to carry out the project. The budget must be divided into the following overall budget items:

• Scientific/academic salaries;
• Technical/administrative salaries;
• Equipment expenses (exceeding DKK 500,000 excl. overhead/administration expenses);
• Operating expenses (including equipment expenses up to DKK 500,000 excl. overhead/administration expenses);
• Overhead/administration expenses.

Funding for PhD and postdoctoral scholarships may be included in the application, if they have a clear function within, and form an integral part of the research project. Funding towards the education of PhD candidates is granted under the provision that the PhD candidates in question are enrolled in a PhD programme.

The Council will emphasise that the application includes a description of which international research activities the project involves.