Quantum research in Denmark strengthened with five new Postdocs

Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded just under DKK 10.5 million to five early-career researchers, who will now have the opportunity to take part in a postdoctoral exchange programme in the field of quantum research. The aim is to enhance the internationalisation of Danish research within the quantum domain.

One will go to the Netherlands, one to Spain, one to Sweden, and two will go to the United States. In total, five postdocs are preparing to head out into the world, where they will gain new knowledge and strengthen their research competences in quantum science. All of them have received funding from DFF under the new exchange programme for young researchers in quantum research. The programme is designed to enable talented postdoctoral researchers to spend part of their research careers at leading research institutions abroad.

Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, says about the quantum exchange programme:

It is of immense value to Denmark as a quantum nation that we can send young researchers to study quantum technology in some of the world’s leading research environments. We can be truly proud that leading research institutions across the globe want to engage in exchanges with Denmark in the quantum field. It once again underlines that Denmark is a strong quantum nation, and demonstrates how important it is that we continue to prioritise research in quantum science in a targeted way.

Independent Research Fund Denmark’s research council for Natural Sciences has assessed all applications, and Chair Kirstine Berg-Sørensen says about the grants:

It is an excellent opportunity to send young researchers with a PhD from Denmark out into the world. They will bring back new knowledge, competences, and the expertise found in international environments. As this is an exchange programme for postdocs, it is also an opportunity to build competences within the next ‘layer’ of researchers, who can help strengthen Danish research areas in the quantum field.

See all awards granted under the 2025 postdoctoral exchange programme in the quantum field here.

Materials development with quantum properties

Among the newly awarded projects are, for example, research into the development of new quantum-cryptographic techniques, as traditional data protection is challenged by the rapid progress in quantum computing. Other projects focus on a new type of electronic component capable of conducting electricity without energy loss, as well as methods for linking the two most competitive quantum-computing platforms, enabling the miniaturisation and interconnection of more qubits on a single microchip.

The postdoctoral projects will run for two years, of which 12 months must be spent at a leading international research institution in the quantum field. The goal is that, upon returning from abroad, the young researchers will bring new knowledge and their research projects back to their Danish host institutions, thereby enriching the quantum research landscape in Denmark.

All grants are subject to change pending the upcoming administrative review.

Facts about the theme ‘Postdoctoral exchange programme in quantum research’

Independent Research Fund Denmark received a total of nine applications for this call. Grants were awarded to five projects, resulting in a success rate of 56% based on the number of applications.

This theme is one of twelve politically prioritised themes to which the fund will allocate funding in 2025.

Since 2018, Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded grants under politically prioritised thematic calls, financed through annual political agreements on the allocation of the Danish Research Reserve.

The thematic instruments are open to applications from all scientific disciplines that can contribute relevant knowledge to the theme. Thematic research – as politically prioritised – serves as a supplement to the fund’s free and independent research funding based on researchers’ own curiosity-driven ideas.