DKK 200 million Ensuring New Scope for Danish Research

Helge Sander, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, has approved the allocation of nearly DKK 200 million for investments in Danish research infrastructure.

– Danish research must be ensured up-to-date tools of an international quality. This is why, for the first time, we support projects of strategic importance, for instance establishment and development of costly facilities and advanced equipment, databases etc. and participation in international projects.

– About six months ago we gave the go-ahead for a grant of DKK 40 million for modernising and enhancing research ICT superhighways, and another DKK 7 million has been granted for 16 trial projects. The rest of this year's pool, DKK 150 million, is now being allocated to six very promising projects, says Helge Sander.

• The Danish Centre for Scientific Computing in Copenhagen will receive DKK 37 million for computing power and storage facilities for researchers from a number of scientific areas.
• The Campus Stables will receive DKK 30 million for merging and expanding animal testing facilities in the Copenhagen area.
• DKK 26 million will be earmarked for Danish participation in the new, powerful European X-ray laser XFEL in Hamburg, Germany, and negotiations will be started for participation.
• DKK 20 million will be granted for the establishment of MINDLab in Århus, which is a centre for research in human communication, cognition and consciousness.
• The Danish Twin Register in Odense will be granted DKK 20 million for extending the register to include biological material.
• The CLARIN project for linguistic research will be granted DKK 15 million for developing an extensive database for the Danish language.

The infrastructure pool is an offshoot from the globalisation agreement. This year, nearly 40 applications have been received, with a total budget of about DKK 1.5 billion. The Danish Research Coordination Committee has appointed a group of international experts to provide advice on selecting projects among the applications.

In the area of research, the Government has allocated a further DKK 400 million in 2008 and 2009 for infrastructure projects.

For further comments by Science Minister Helge Sander, contact Information Manager Allan Boldt, tel.: +45 33 92 97 39.

For further information about the six projects being supported and contact persons for the projects concerned, see the website of the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, DASTI.