Carlsberg Foundation: Donations to accelerate efforts against COVID-19

Corona crisis | The Carlsberg Foundation, the New Carlsberg Foundation and the Tuborg Foundation are targeting extraordinary grants that can mobilize and support researchers, art museums and civil society in the scientific, economic and human efforts at a time when society is challenged by the COVID-19 epidemic.

The three foundations in the Carlsberg family seek to help mitigate the challenges associated with the global COVID-19 epidemic. It is in the DNA of foundations to take responsibility when people and society are met with serious challenges. A total of DKK 95 million (EUR 12,7 million) will be donated.

DKK 60 million for three research projects

The Carlsberg Foundation which fosters and supports ground-breaking research for an enlighted future grants DKK 60 million to three internationally relevant Corona virus projects.

DKK 25 million is donated to a scientific group of internationally renowned virus researchers in a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and the Serum Institute.

DKK 25 million is donated to a social science and humanities group of behavioral researchers who, in a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and the Danish Technical University, will research into how we as a society handle epidemics most effectively.

DKK 10 million is donated to an interdisciplinary group at Roskilde University that will research the outbreak, spread and cessation of historical epidemics. The three projects will pave the way for new, global insights into behavior, prevention, diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19 preparedness and future epidemics.

Chairman of the Carlsberg Foundation, Professor Flemming Besenbacher, comments: “COVID-19 is developing exponentially right now, so we are pleased that we have quickly been able to mobilize a collaboration between a number of the world’s leading researchers to contribute to solving the enormous challenges we face. Carlsberg’s founders J.C. and Carl Jacobsen and the Carlsberg Foundation have historically helped when communities have been in crisis, and we now need science more than ever to help solve these issues and think long-term.”