Introduction
The VILLUM Foundation is a Danish philanthropic foundation that supports technical and natural science research, environmental and climate initiatives, education for children and young people, European youth programmes, and cultural and community projects in Denmark and internationally.
History and Background
The VILLUM Foundation, legally known as VILLUM FONDEN, was established on 21 December 1971 by Danish engineer and industrialist Villum Kann Rasmussen.
Villum Kann Rasmussen founded the business that developed into the VKR Group, which includes well-known companies and brands such as VELUX and DOVISTA. His business philosophy combined responsible commercial development with products intended to improve everyday environments through daylight, fresh air and better buildings.
The Foundation was created with an initial capital consisting of shares in V. Kann Rasmussen Holding A/S, now known as VKR Holding A/S. This ownership structure connects the financial success of the VKR Group with long-term philanthropic support for research, education, environmental protection and public-benefit activities.
The VILLUM Foundation is the largest shareholder in VKR Holding and owns the majority of its Class B shares. However, it is not the company’s controlling shareholder because voting rights and influence are shared through a system of checks and balances involving different classes of shareholders.
The Foundation works closely with the VELUX FOUNDATION, another philanthropic institution established by Villum Kann Rasmussen. Although the two foundations share historical roots and cooperate in some areas, they are legally separate organizations with distinct grantmaking priorities.
Mission and Purpose
The VILLUM Foundation seeks to contribute to a more sustainable, knowledgeable and inclusive society by supporting excellent research, strong educational environments, climate and environmental solutions, cultural development and opportunities for young people.
Its grantmaking is guided by the belief that scientific knowledge, education, curiosity and active participation can help society address long-term challenges.
The Foundation supports research and education in technical and natural sciences, alongside environmental, social and cultural purposes in Denmark and other countries.
Its 2026–2030 grant strategy is organised around five principal areas: technical and natural sciences; children, youth and science in Denmark; European youth and education; environment and climate; and culture and society.
Across these areas, the Foundation aims to strengthen independent research, promote scientific learning, support young people, encourage cultural participation and contribute to solutions addressing climate change and environmental degradation.
Governance and Structure
The VILLUM Foundation is governed by a board of directors responsible for its overall strategy, grantmaking priorities, financial stewardship and relationship with VKR Holding.
The board operates under the Foundation’s trust deed and applicable Danish foundation legislation. The trust deed establishes the Foundation’s charitable objectives, capital structure and responsibilities as a shareholder.
Grantmaking decisions are supported by Foundation management, programme teams and external experts. Scientific applications are commonly assessed through professional and academic review processes appropriate to the relevant funding programme.
The Foundation also has an Investment Committee that supports the board in supervising its assets and investment policies. The Foundation’s chief investment officer and investment team manage its assets with assistance and oversight from the committee.
As a major shareholder in VKR Holding, the Foundation also has responsibilities relating to the company’s long-term stability, development and adherence to its model-company principles.
VKR Holding and the Foundation maintain separate governance structures. Up to two members of the VKR Holding board may be elected from among shareholders, including directors associated with the VILLUM Foundation, while most members must remain independent of shareholders.
The Foundation publishes annual financial statements, governance reports, grant information and joint yearbooks with the VELUX FOUNDATION to support transparency and public accountability.
Funding and Grants
The VILLUM Foundation’s grantmaking is principally financed by income connected to its ownership of shares in VKR Holding and returns generated through its investment assets.
A portion of the value created by companies within the VKR Group is therefore returned to society through philanthropic grants.
The Foundation maintains a diversified investment portfolio to preserve and develop its financial resources over the long term. This approach allows it to support multi-year research programmes and other charitable initiatives while protecting its capacity to make grants in the future.
In 2025, the VILLUM Foundation awarded approximately DKK 1.8 billion to 344 projects across its five grant areas.
Grant amounts, application procedures and eligibility rules differ between programmes. Some schemes operate through open calls, while others may use invitations, strategic partnerships or dedicated application periods.
Applicants should review the current programme guidelines carefully because requirements concerning eligible institutions, project duration, geographic scope, budgets and assessment procedures can change between funding rounds.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Technical and Natural Sciences
Technical and natural science research represents one of the VILLUM Foundation’s largest grantmaking areas.
The Foundation awards more than DKK 600 million annually for research in technical and natural sciences, making it one of Denmark’s largest private funders in these fields.
Supported disciplines include physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, materials science, energy research, environmental science and related interdisciplinary fields.
Funding helps universities and research institutions undertake fundamental and applied research, establish research groups, acquire advanced infrastructure and explore ideas that may be difficult to support through conventional programmes.
VILLUM Young Investigator
The VILLUM Young Investigator programme supports talented early-career researchers in technical and natural sciences.
Funding enables selected researchers to establish independent research groups, recruit team members, acquire equipment and develop ambitious research agendas.
The programme is intended to strengthen the transition from participation in established research teams to independent academic leadership.
VILLUM Investigator
VILLUM Investigator grants support experienced researchers undertaking ambitious technical and natural science projects.
The programme gives established scholars substantial and longer-term resources to pursue original research questions and develop internationally competitive research environments.
Its flexible structure allows researchers to concentrate on scientific discovery, build strong teams and explore new directions with potentially significant academic or societal value.
VILLUM Experiment
VILLUM Experiment supports unconventional research ideas within technical and natural sciences.
The programme is designed for projects that challenge established approaches or explore concepts that may be considered too uncertain for traditional research funding.
Applications are assessed with particular attention to the originality and transformative potential of the proposed idea. The programme provides researchers with an opportunity to test bold concepts and generate early evidence.
VILLUM Synergy
VILLUM Synergy promotes collaboration between data science researchers and specialists from other scientific fields.
The programme supports interdisciplinary projects that use data, computational methods and digital technologies to address complex research questions.
For its 2026 funding round, the programme included initiation projects with budgets of up to DKK 4.5 million to establish new interdisciplinary collaborations.
Research Infrastructure
The Foundation supports research infrastructure required for high-quality scientific investigation.
Funding may contribute to laboratories, advanced equipment, shared research facilities, data resources and other technical platforms that individual research groups or institutions could not easily establish independently.
Infrastructure grants strengthen Denmark’s research capacity and enable multiple teams to undertake sophisticated experiments and analyses.
Children, Youth and Science in Denmark
This grant area seeks to increase children’s and young people’s interest in science, technology and the natural world.
The Foundation supports schools, science centres, educational organizations, associations and other institutions that create engaging science-learning opportunities.
Projects may involve practical experiments, informal learning, teacher development, science communication and activities that help children understand how scientific knowledge relates to everyday life and societal challenges.
The programme also aims to strengthen learning environments and ensure that young people from different backgrounds can participate in science education.
European Youth and Education
The European Youth and Education programme supports a strong European community in which young people are equipped to address future challenges.
Funding promotes democratic participation, international understanding, education and collaboration among young Europeans.
Projects can help young people build knowledge, confidence, networks and practical experience while participating in discussions about Europe’s future.
The programme reflects the Foundation’s interest in strengthening education and civic engagement beyond Denmark.
Environment and Climate
The VILLUM Foundation supports projects addressing climate change, environmental sustainability and the transition toward a low-carbon society.
Funded work can include research, public engagement, education, partnerships and practical initiatives that improve environmental knowledge or contribute to systemic change.
Priority subjects may include greenhouse-gas reductions, energy transformation, biodiversity, sustainable consumption, environmental behaviour and the development of effective climate policies.
The Foundation’s environmental grantmaking seeks to connect scientific evidence with solutions that can be implemented by institutions, communities, businesses and policymakers.
Culture and Society
The Culture and Society programme supports cultural projects that create public value and make art, heritage and cultural experiences accessible to broader audiences.
Eligible initiatives can include exhibitions, museums, performing arts, cultural institutions and projects that develop new forms of public participation.
Under the programme’s Other Projects category, applicants may seek funding throughout the year for major cultural projects intended to benefit society.
The Foundation evaluates proposals according to their quality, relevance, feasibility and potential cultural or social value.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The VILLUM Foundation has become an important contributor to Denmark’s scientific and philanthropic ecosystem through its large-scale and long-term grantmaking.
Its funding allows early-career researchers to establish independent teams, experienced researchers to pursue ambitious investigations and universities to develop advanced scientific facilities.
Young Investigator grants have helped researchers become academic leaders and conduct their first independently managed projects. Investigator and Experiment grants have created space for both established excellence and higher-risk scientific exploration.
VILLUM Synergy has encouraged researchers from different disciplines to collaborate with data scientists, enabling new computational approaches to scientific questions.
Education grants have given children and young people opportunities to engage with science through experiments, exhibitions, classroom initiatives and informal learning environments.
European youth projects strengthen cross-border learning, democratic participation and cooperation among young people from different countries.
Climate and environmental grants contribute to research, education and practical action addressing emissions, energy, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Cultural grants support institutions and projects that make artistic and cultural experiences available to the public and create new opportunities for participation.
The Foundation’s 2025 grantmaking—approximately DKK 1.8 billion across 344 projects—illustrates the scale of its contribution to scientific research, education, climate action, European cooperation and cultural life.
Conclusion
The VILLUM Foundation combines industrial heritage, long-term investment and strategic philanthropy to support research and public-benefit initiatives in Denmark and internationally.
Its ownership interest in VKR Holding provides a sustainable financial foundation for substantial grantmaking, while its independent board and programme structure guide how resources are distributed.
Through funding for technical and natural sciences, children and young people, European education, climate and the environment, and culture and society, the Foundation helps researchers, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations develop knowledge and solutions with lasting value.
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