Explorative Network | Humanities
The instrument is intended to strengthen networks where several research environments collaborate. Funds are not provided for actual research projects.
Please note
This page presents the overall framework for the instrument. The full Call for Proposals for Independent Research in Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026 can be accessed here or under "Documents” in the right column. Please read this carefully before applying to DFF for funding. In case of discrepancies between the website and the Call for Proposals, the Call for Proposals applies.
Objective
This funding instrument is offered only by DFF | Humanities. The objective of this funding instrument is to strengthen cooperation between different Danish research environments and preferably also international collaborators. In the assessment, emphasis is placed on the originality of the conceptual idea, the network’s potential for scientific innovation, and the course of the planned activities. The network is expected to facilitate the exploration of new opportunities across institutions, research traditions and scientific fields, though with the main emphasis on fields within the scope of DFF | Humanities.
Funding will not be provided for actual research projects. Funding will only be provided for the establishment of new networks.
Framework
Budget limitations
Up to DKK 550,000 excl. overhead.
Project duration
Up to 3 years.
Seniority
You must as a minimum be a researcher at associate professor/senior researcher level.
Starting dates
Earliest: 1 February 2026
Latest: 1 February 2027
Offered by
About the applicant
The applicant must as a minimum be a researcher at associate professor/senior researcher level. The management of the network may be divided between several parties. However, the members of the network must appoint one project manager in advance, who will function as the applicant and thus as the person responsible to the council for the grant.
About the application
When writing an application to the fund, you must pay special attention to ensuring that the application fulfils the objective of the funding instrument and that it meets the fund’s assessment criteria.
The network is expected to include a broad and diverse circle of participants, potentially encompassing open activities. The application must account for the network’s conceptual foundation, scientific ambition and concrete activities. Furthermore, the application must account and argue for the network’s choice of participating research environments.
The application must account for the concrete organisation of the network, including the organisation of academic tasks within the network.
The application must be written in English.
Budget
You may apply for up to DKK 550,000 excl. overhead. The budget must be completed in the mandatory budget template, which can be downloaded from e-grant.
It is possible to apply for funding for the organisation of workshops, conferences, shorter research network stays, etc. You may apply for a combined maximum of 3 months of scientific/academic salaries for the purpose of network management and scientific assistance.
Project description and appendices
There are a number of mandatory appendices that must always be attached. You can read more about the general requirements for the contents of the project description and appendices in section 8 in the call and the budget in section 9 in the call.
Please pay special attention to the fact that there are character and page limits for both the project description and the applicant's CV. Exceeding these limits will result in an administrative rejection. It is always the character count generated by e-grant that applies. You can find more information in section 8.2 in the call.
Appendices that must always be attached:
- B10: Project description
The project description must not exceed 3 A4 pages (incl. figures, tables, etc.). The 3 A4 pages must not exceed 9,000 characters incl. spaces, figure captions, formulas, etc. It is recommended to use the “DFF-Project description” template. - B11: List of references/bibliography
List of references/bibliography for the project description. - Budget
Must be completed in the mandatory DFF budget template downloaded from and uploaded to e-grant. - B20: Applicant’s CV
As the applicant, your CV must not exceed 2 A4 pages (incl. figures, tables, etc.). The 2 A4 pages must not exceed 6,000 characters incl. spaces, figure captions, formulas, etc. - B21: Applicant’s list of publications
As the applicant, it is optional whether you submit a full or a selective publication list. - B45: Motivated list from the network
The application must include a list of names of the researchers/research environments that have committed to participate in the network. - B53: Collaboration letters and CV's
The application must provide an account for the participating Danish research environments and must include a motivated collaboration letter and CV (maximum 2 pages in total per person) from at least one network participant from each of the environments. - B90: Budget confirmation
Administrator’s confirmation of the budget, etc., in the template “DFF-Budget Confirmation”.
Supplementary information
Timeline
| Deadline | 10 September 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon) |
| Decision | November 2025 |
| Expected reply | November 2025 |
Templates
The budget template must be downloaded in e-grant.
Questions about your application?
Contact the secretariat
Weekdays from 9 am - 12 pm
Tel.: +45 72 31 82 00
Email: dff-opslag@ufm.dk