Current calls and posts
News
News
RSO support for Horizon Europe’s Pillar II 2026 Work Programme
The RSO offers support for consortium building and concept development, leadership support for coordinators (incl. timeline and task planning), 1:1 advice on proposals, proposal feedback and budgeting support (actual cost and lump sum) as well as input and clarification regarding forms, eligibility and compliance.
- Please get in contact with us if you are planning on becoming a coordinator of a HEU Europe Pillar II project by sending an email as soon as possible to: HEUCollab.FSE@au.dk.
Changes to application rounds for Augustinus Fonden
In 2026 the foundation is changing their processes for applications to the Cultural Heritage instrument:
- The 2027 will be published on 1 September 2026, earlier than usual.
- Digital information meeting on the 2027 call on 16 September 2026.
- Application deadline for the 2027 call: 29 January 2027
Read more about the Cultural Heritage instrument (Link DK only)
Stricter notification deadlines and approval procedures for applications going forward
As of the spring of 2026 application, the registration deadlines set by research consultants apply definitively, which means that it is not possible to apply for and receive budget and application support if you register after this date. In addition, a new fixed deadline for the submission of application budgets will be introduced, which lies 10 days before the application deadline. This applies to all instruments. For instruments with an internal school process, this will be stated in this process. The stricter guidelines for notification deadlines and approval procedures have been adopted by theschool management team at CC.
- Read more about the decision in the memo (DK only).
Workshops, webinars and masterclasses
Workshops, webinars and masterclasses
Workshop on the ERC Consolidator Grant
A hands-on peer-to-peer workshop that prepares you for applying to the ERC Consolidator Grant (CoG) 2027 call (expected deadline in January 2027). Researchers with a ground-breaking research idea and an excellent track-record from all faculties at Aarhus University are welcome. The workshop is relevant for researchers with a strong intention of applying for ERC CoG. For more information, see the invitation.
Time and place: 17 September 2026 at 12:30-16:00. Navitas, Inge Lehmanns Gade 10, Bld. 3210, 5th floor, room 060.
Sign up by sending an e-mail to ERC.FSE@au.dk
- When signing up please indicate ERC domain: Physical Sciences and Engineering - PE Life Sciences – LS Social Sciences and Humanities – SH Participants will receive detailed information on the pitch session and a template after the registration.
- Participants are expected to send their pitch to the RSO no later than 24th of August. Sending your pitch is an absolute prerequisite for attending the workshop.
If you have general questions about ERC, the workshop is not for you, but you are more than welcome to contact the RSO. Questions can be directed to ERC.FSE@au.dk.
Calls for applications
Calls for applications
Overview of current calls
Note: From 2026, CC has introduced a new fixed deadline for budget applications, which is now 10 days before the application deadline. This applies to all calls.
Deadline | Call |
| Running deadline |
|
| 9 September 2026 |
|
| 10 September 2026 |
|
| 11 September 2026 |
|
| 17 September 2026 |
|
| 1 October 2026 |
|
| 2 October 2026 |
|
| 7 October 2026 |
|
| 14 October 2026 |
|
| 28 October 2026 |
|
| 3 November 2026 | |
| 5 November 2026 |
|
| 24 November 2026 |
|
| 2 December 2026 | |
| 4 December 2026 |
|
NordForsk: Preparatory Projects for Raw Materials Partnership (RAMP)
Running deadline, until funding is exhausted or 14 June 2028
This call supports preparatory and consortium-building projects that strengthen Nordic participation in the EU co-funded Raw Materials Partnership (RAMP) and related Horizon Europe calls. Projects should build multidisciplinary Nordic consortia across the raw materials value chain, develop strategies and action plans for EU proposals, and identify research and innovation gaps, regulatory barriers and framework conditions. Consortia must include partners from at least three Nordic countries and at least one private-sector partner. Maximum funding is NOK 1 million per project for up to one year.
- Sign up for support: Nordforsk.FSE@au.dk.
- Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact: prepRAMP26-QA@nordforsk.org.
Innovation Fund Denmark: Grand Solutions Programme 2026
RSO support deadline: as soon as possible
Deadline phase 1 (letter of interest): 3 March 2026 at 12:00 noon
Deadline phase 2 (full application): 10 September 2026 at 12:00 noon
The Innovation Fund Denmark just announced their calls for the Grand Solutions Programme 2026 and the central Research Support Office offers support for the entire application process. The programme invests in innovative collaboration projects that create new knowledge and develop solutions with a clear societal or economic impact in Denmark. A project must include a minimum of two partners of which one is not a university (except quantum).
Budget: Investment per project from 5-30 mio DKK (life science and quantum 40 mio DKK). Total investment rate: 75% (quantum 90%). Duration: 1-5 years
- Please sign up for RSO support to IFD.FSE@AU.dk as soon as possible. We support AU coordinators with all aspects of the application (startup meetings, formalities, budget, review of the proposal, etc.) and AU partners with budget preparations and application-related formalities, while their coordinator oversees the application.
- Have any questions? Contact the Grand Solutions team by phone +45 61 90 50 00 or by email store.projekter@innofond.dk. Phone are open Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00-12:00.
DFF: Journals (Humanities)
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 9 September 2026 at 12:00
Supports the dissemination of humanities research through scientific journals published digitally and Open Access.
AUFF NOVA
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 10 September 2026 at 12:00
The aim of AUFF NOVA is to stimulate courageous and innovative research projects of high quality – projects, which may have difficulties obtaining alternative funding. NOVA includes two types of grants for small projects (up to DKK 600,000 + 20% overhead, duration 1-2 years) or large projects (up to DKK 2,500,000 + 20% overhead, duration 3-4 years).
Danmarks Grundforskningsfond: Centers of Excellence 2026
Deadline for expressions of interest: 11 September 2026
Centers of Excellence (CoE) are long‑term, ambitious research environments designed to strengthen Danish fundamental research at the highest international level. CoEs provide top researchers with large, flexible grants and optimal working conditions to pursue original, creative, and potentially groundbreaking ideas. The full call will be announced on 27 February, 2026.
- There will be an information meeting at AU on 9 March 2026, from 14:00-15:30. More information will follow.
- If you have any questions about the call, the internal procedures or the application support process, please do not hesitate to contact us at dnrf.fse@au.dk.
AUFF International Mobility
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 12:00
AUFF wishes to support inbound and outbound mobility at Aarhus University. Partly by supporting visits at AU from foreign researchers and by supporting AU researchers' stay at foreign universities. You can apply for one consecutive researcher visit of 1-3 months (Visiting Researcher Stipend) or one consecutive stay of 3-9 months (Sabbatical Stipend).
Permanent researchers (associate professors / senior researchers or professors) at Aarhus University can apply for both instruments.
Norlys: Vækstpulje (DK only)
Deadline: 1 October 2026 at 12:00 noon
Vækstpuljen supports local and national projects that bring people together, strengthen communities and facilitate increasing digitalisation and green initiatives, therefore one can apply for funds for research- and science communication projects that focus on innovation and entrepreneurship within electrification, digitalistion and sustainability.
- Do you have questions? Contact vaekstpulje@norlys.dk.
AU connect and AU connect+
Deadline: 1 October 2026
Funding to expand or develop concrete collaborations with private and public sector organisations.
AU Connect and AU Connect+ are open to academic staff at Aarhus University, including PhD students. AU Connect+ can only be applied for by researchers who have previously received an AU Connect grant to continue and further develop a specific collaboration.
- Do you have questions about AU Connect? Contact Jesper Friis Mortensen, jfm@au.dk
VELUX Foundation: Democratic Sustainability (DK only)
Deadline for expression of interest: 1 May 2026 at 14:00
Application deadline: 2 October 2026
See the school’s internal process
Do you have a project that can bring together environmental, social and cultural sustainability while also strengthening and advancing democracy? Funding is now available for collective research or research-practice projects that aim to create a new knowledge base to enable informed responses and concrete actions that contribute to shaping a vision of democratic sustainability.
Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 7 October 2026 at 12:00
DFF-Research Leader is aimed at providing excellent younger researchers, i.e., researchers who have carried out top class research in their field, with the opportunity to develop and strengthen their research ideas as well as their competencies as independent research leaders of other researchers. The funding instrument also aims at promoting careers, international as well as national mobility among research environments, and to strengthen networks.
DFF-Research Project2
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 7 October 2026 at 12:00
To advance the quality of, and develop collaboration, within Danish research, DFF offers funding for research projects carried out by multiple researchers (e.g. postdoctoral candidates and PhD students). A DFF-Research Project2 is often characterised by a coordinated and mutually binding collaboration on a well-defined, joint research question; however, it may also be a project formulated by a single researcher, which is to be carried out in their research team, when it can be argued that the project is particularly ambitious and resource-demanding.
ERC Starting Grant (StG)
Notification deadline: 1 June 2026
Expected deadlines: 14 October 2026
The Starting Grant is for researchers with less than ten years of experience since completing their PhD. Applications can be made in any field of research and applicants may be awarded up to € 1.5 million for a period of 5 years.
- To sign up for support from an RSO ERC advisor, send an email to ERC.FSE@au.dk by 1 June 2026.
EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026
Deadline: 28 October 2026 at 17:00
EIC Pathfinder Challenges aim to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities by realising innovative technological solutions grounded in high-risk/high-gain research and development. This year, the call is relevant for all faculties as this year’s Challenges are directly related to research currently being conducted in each faculty across AU.
The Challenges this year are:
- Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems should support sustainability in both energy consumption and production, in line with the ambitions of RePowerEU and the European Green Deal.
- Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing focus on advancing biotechnology for healthy ageing, promoting personalised care through molecular profiling, guiding policymakers and developers on regulatory approaches, and raising public awareness about healthy longevity.
- DeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems will lay the groundwork for Europe’s future leadership in safe and human-centred AI, strengthening competitiveness and technological sovereignty, while supporting the goals of the AI Act and the European approach to Artificial Intelligence.
NordForsk: Global interdisciplinary funding initiative on Disruptive Technologies
Deadline: 3 November 2026
This call supports international, interdisciplinary and transformative research projects that harness disruptive technologies to address major global societal challenges and accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Projects must directly address at least one SDG or another recognized global challenge and involve co-development with stakeholders for long-term impact.
Available Budget: The Nordic partners of a project proposal can apply for a maximum of DKK 10,9 million in total.
- NordForsk hosted a webinar on the call, watch the recording here.
- Sign-up for RSO support: Nordforsk.FSE@au.dk
DFF-International Postdoctoral Grant
Notification deadline: 10 August 2026 at 23:59
Deadline: 5 November 2026 at 12:00
The grant aims to strengthen the international mobility of younger talented researchers, and to develop the competencies of researchers in the beginning of their research career.
MSCA Doctoral Networks
RSO deadline: 15 June 2026
Deadline: 24 November 2026
The call for MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 will be published 28 May 2026, but already now researchers planning to coordinate a MSCA Doctoral Network should begin the proposal preparation.
- RSO invites potential applicants to attend an information webinar on 23 April at 13:00-14:00. If you wish to attend, register before 20 April.
- If you wish to sign up for RSO coordinator support, please do so by e-mail to MSCA.FSE@au.dk before 15 June.
NordForsk: Nordic-Baltic Research Projects on Food Systems and Food Security
Deadline: 2 December 2026 at 13:00
This call supports transnational research and innovation projects that strengthen food security and resilience of food systems across the Nordic and Baltic region. Projects must address transnational preparedness and crisis response in food systems, resilience and interdependencies of critical infrastructure, and/or consumer behaviour and increased use of Nordic and Baltic produced food. Consortia must include partners from at least three Nordic countries, or two Nordic countries plus Lithuania and/or Estonia, as well as at least two research-performing organisations and one non-academic partner. Maximum funding is NOK 15 million per project for up to four years.
- Sign up for support: Nordforsk.FSE@au.dk.
- Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact: food26-qa@nordforsk.org.
- NordForsk will host a webinar for researchers and stakeholders interested in the call 19 August 2026 at 10:00. Sign up here.
NordForsk / SSHRC: Knowledge Synthesis Grants – The Changing Nature of Security and Conflict
Deadline: 4 December 2026 at 2:00 (3 December 2026 at 20:00 Eastern Time, Canada)
This call supports knowledge synthesis projects on the changing nature of security and conflict, with the aim of producing evidence-based insights for policy and practice. Projects must synthesise existing research and may address emerging technologies and hybrid threats, geopolitical and environmental drivers of insecurity, intergenerational and societal resilience, and public-private collaboration. Applications require one Canadian applicant, one Nordic applicant and one additional Nordic co-applicant from a different Nordic country. Grants of CAD 10,000–78,000 are available for projects of up to one year.
- Sign up for support: Nordforsk.FSE@au.dk.
- Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact: KSG26-QA@nordforsk.org.
- SSHRC will be hosting an information webinar on 18 June 2026 for both Canadian and Nordic researchers. The recording will be available on our website after the webinar. Sign up here.
- NordForsk will be hosting a webinar for Nordic researchers interested in the call 25 August 2026 at 13:00. Sign up here.
Contact RSO
The central research support office at AU provides support for, among others, Nordforsk, Horizon Europe, ERC, Marie Curie (MSCA) as well as a few other grants. See the full list here.
- Feel free to reach out to the research consultant at CC and the relevant advisor at RSO to learn more.