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Denmark

From The Embassy of Good Science
Based on the document Report:3e5de8e7-135a-45a9-82f5-bd739fd62324 which was published on 2021-10-24T16:58:05 on the website "Embassy of Good Science" under the URL https://embassy.science/wiki/Report:3e5de8e7-135a-45a9-82f5-bd739fd62324, the research ifrastructure of {{{Display_Title}}} is described as follows: According to preliminary data, there were 42,378 full-time researchers in Denmark in 2019 [1]. Denmark has 8 universities [2], 7 university colleges [3], 7 Approved Technological Institutions (GTS Institutes) which aim to spread knowledge regarding technology to the business community [4] and 17 Danish Innovation Networks which help companies find new partners among researchers, other companies and experts in Denmark as well as abroad [5]. In 2007 many Danish public research organisations were incorporated in universities which led to the reducement in the number of research institutes [6].
Organisation City
University of Copenhagen Copenhagen
Copenhagen Business School Copenhagen
IT University of Copenhagen Copenhagen
University of Southern Denmark Odense, Esbjerg, Kolding, Sønderborg, Slagelse, Copenhagen
Aarhus University Aarhus, Rønbjerg, Viborg, Rønde, Herning, Silkeborg, Moesgaard, Horsens, Askov, Jyndevad, Årslev, Flakkebjerg, Roskilde, Copenhagen
Roskilde University Roskilde
Aalborg University Aalborg, Esbjerg, Copenhagen
Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby, Copenhagen
  1. ↑ 1.     Eurostat. Total researchers by sectors of performance – full time equivalent. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from:   https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tsc00004/default/table?lang=en
  2. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Universities. 2014 Nov 14. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from:  https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/danish-universities
  3. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. University Colleges. 2014 Mar 18. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/university-colleges
  4. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The Danish GTS institutes. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/cooperation-between-research-and-innovation/collaboration-between-research-and-industry/danish-gts-institutes/danish-gts-institutes
  5. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Innovation Networks Denmark. 2019 Jan 11. [cited 2021 Feb 8]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/cooperation-between-research-and-innovation/collaboration-between-research-and-industry/innovation-networks-denmark
  6. ↑ 1.     Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education. The Future of Europe Depends on Knowledge. 2012. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://sciencediplomacy.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/danish-science-innovation-education.pdf
Icon-back.svgFacts & Figures

Denmark

Where

Research infrastructure

According to preliminary data, there were 42,378 full-time researchers in Denmark in 2019 [1]. Denmark has 8 universities [2], 7 university colleges [3], 7 Approved Technological Institutions (GTS Institutes) which aim to spread knowledge regarding technology to the business community [4] and 17 Danish Innovation Networks which help companies find new partners among researchers, other companies and experts in Denmark as well as abroad [5]. In 2007 many Danish public research organisations were incorporated in universities which led to the reducement in the number of research institutes [6].

Organisation City
University of Copenhagen Copenhagen
Copenhagen Business School Copenhagen
IT University of Copenhagen Copenhagen
University of Southern Denmark Odense, Esbjerg, Kolding, Sønderborg, Slagelse, Copenhagen
Aarhus University Aarhus, Rønbjerg, Viborg, Rønde, Herning, Silkeborg, Moesgaard, Horsens, Askov, Jyndevad, Årslev, Flakkebjerg, Roskilde, Copenhagen
Roskilde University Roskilde
Aalborg University Aalborg, Esbjerg, Copenhagen
Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby, Copenhagen
  1. ↑ 1.     Eurostat. Total researchers by sectors of performance – full time equivalent. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from:   https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tsc00004/default/table?lang=en
  2. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Universities. 2014 Nov 14. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from:  https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/danish-universities
  3. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. University Colleges. 2014 Mar 18. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/education/higher-education/university-colleges
  4. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The Danish GTS institutes. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/cooperation-between-research-and-innovation/collaboration-between-research-and-industry/danish-gts-institutes/danish-gts-institutes
  5. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Innovation Networks Denmark. 2019 Jan 11. [cited 2021 Feb 8]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/cooperation-between-research-and-innovation/collaboration-between-research-and-industry/innovation-networks-denmark
  6. ↑ 1.     Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education. The Future of Europe Depends on Knowledge. 2012. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://sciencediplomacy.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/danish-science-innovation-education.pdf

Research funding

In 2017, the gross expenditures on research and development were DKK 66.344 million or €8.921 million [1], which comprises 3% of the country’s GDP [2]. It is one of the highest R&D intensities in EU, reaching 3.06% [3]. Most funding was spent in the business sector (64.65%), higher education (32.8%), government (2.97%) and private non-profit organisations (0.3%) [4].

Denmark had 2668 grants receiving €1.63 billion funding from H2020 [5]. It also had 196 ERC signed grants receiving €321.3 million from H2020 [5].

  1. ↑ Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD.Stat). Gross domestic expenditure on R&D by sector of performance and type of expenditure. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=GERD_TOE#
  2. ↑ Eurostat. Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) % of GDP. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=t2020_20&lang=en
  3. ↑ 1.     Bioenergy International. R&D expenditure in the EU increased slightly to 2.07% of GDP in 2017. 2019 Jan 13. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://bioenergyinternational.com/research-development/rd-expenditure-in-the-eu-increased-slightly-to-2-07-of-gdp-in-2017
  4. ↑ 1.     UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). Denmark. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/dk?theme=science-technology-and-innovation
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 1.     H2020 Projects. [cited 2021 Feb 19]. Available from: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/dashboard/sense/app/93297a69-09fd-4ef5-889f-b83c4e21d33e/sheet/erUXRa/state/analysis

Research strategy

In 2018, Danish government launched the research strategy Denmark – Ready for the Future (Danmark - Klar til Fremtiden). The Strategy has two ambitious objectives. First objective, focused on enhancing the quality of research, emphasizes that Danish research must be of the highest quality (Nobel-prize level), attract talented researchers, participate in international research and innovation must be enhanced [1]. Second objective concerns research and society. It highlights development and use of the new technologies, translation of research to practice in the public sector and promotion of research with aim of building bridges between research and public [1].

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Danish Government, Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Denmark – Ready to seize future opportunities. 2018 March. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/publications/2018/filer/denmark-ready-to-seize-future-opportunities-pdf.pdf

Research governance, compliance and integrity

The Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science supports the responsible research which should be aligned with the norms, values and expectations of society and create value for society in an ethical and responsible way. For this purpose, the Ministry organised conferences regarding responsible research and innovation. Moreover, research institutions in Denmark participate in the H2020 projects regarding research ethics and research integrity as a leader or partner .

The Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics coordinates the work in 11 regional committees and provides guidelines and opinions among researchers [1]. All research projects conducted in Denmark, involving human beings, human tissue, cells etc. must have a permission from the regional committee. Applications relating to a clinical trial must be submitted to the Danish Health and Medicines Authority and a Regional Committee on Health Research Ethics [2]. Clinical trials concerning complex areas (e.g. for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products) must be submitted to the National Committee on Health Research Ethics [3].

For the clinical trials of medicinal products, the sponsor must inform the Danish Medicines Agency in the period of 90 days after completion of a trial, that the trial has been completed, and if it is a multinational trial the Agency must be informed after the trial is completed in Denmark. No later than one year after the trial has ended, the trial results must be entered in EudraCT [2]. Subsequently, data will be published on www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu.

In 2017, the Danish Research Misconduct Act came into force, establishing The Danish Committee on Research Misconduct - DCRM (previously Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty). The law stipulates the responsibility of DCRM to handle the cases of research misconduct. There is no right to appeal on decisions of DCRM to any other administrative authority. Those decisions are legally binding and sent directly to the parties involved in the case [4][5]. DCRM decisions are published in Danish and English in anonymised form, as well as annual report consisting investigated cases [5]. Work of the DCRM and compliance of institutions with the Act is supervised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science [6].

While DCRM handles cases of research misconduct, each research institution is obliged to process cases of questionable research practices. If there is a possible case of research misconduct (falsification, fabrication and plagiarism), every institution has to make an initial assessment which will determine whether research misconduct is involved. If there has been misconduct in research, the case must be forwarded to DCRM which then opens an investigation. At the request of the Committee, the research institution at which the research was conducted assists the Committee regarding specific circumstances of the case [5]. Research Misconduct Act stipulates the obligation of each institution to prepare a report about cases of the questionable research practices [5].

The Danish Research Misconduct Act states that in processing cases of questionable research practices, research institutions can collaborate with other research institutions or external experts [5]. The institutions send an annual report of handled cases of questionable research practices upon which the DCRM writes the annual report about research misconduct and status of questionable research practices [5].

The Act states that anyone can raise a case concerning research misconduct by submitting a notification to the research institution at which the research was conducted. In the same time, it does not contain provisions regarding the protection of whistleblowers [7]. The Danish Code of Conduct states that persons bringing forward suspicions in good faith should be protected from reprisals [8].

Universities usually have special advisers, practice committees, ethics committees or research integrity officers, with the purpose of handling internal cases. Special advisers are appointed at the following universities: Aarhus University, Copenhagen Business School and University of Copenhagen [4]. At the Aarhus University, special advisers on research integrity provide staff and students with advice regarding responsible research conduct and principles of research ethics [9]. Practice committees are established at the following universities: Aarhus University, Aalborg University, Copenhagen Business School, IT University of Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University, University of Southern Denmark [4].

Bodies for RE+RI Scope
The Danish Committee on Research Misconduct Copes with cases of research misconduct.
The National Committee on Health Research Ethics Ensures that health research projects are conducted responsibly and that the rights, safety and wellbeing of participants are protected.
The Danish Council on Ethics Advises Danish Parliament in the aspect of biotechnology and works with ethical issues related to the health care sector.
The Animal Ethics Council Provides advice and opinions to the Ministry of Environment and Food, regarding research involving animals. It also provides information to and engages in public debates about animal welfare and ethics.  
The Animal Experimentation Council Evaluates applications for animal experiments. The council members participate in inspections of faculties and experiments that use laboratory animals.
Danish Centre for Bioethics and Risk Assessment Provides advice regarding ethics in biological research.
  1. ↑ 1.     Eurec. National Information: Denmark. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://www.eurecnet.org/information/denmark.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Danish Medicines Agency. Guidelines for applications for authorisation of clinical trials of medicinal products in humans. 2019 Oct 2. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk/en/licensing/clinical-trials/trials-in-humans/guideline-for-applications-for-authorisation-of-clinical-trials-of-medicinal-products-in-humans/
  3. ↑ National Committee on Health Research Ethics. Act on Research Ethics Review of Health Research Projects. 2018 Nov 13. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://en.nvk.dk/rules-and-guidelines/act-on-research-ethics-review-of-health-research-projects
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Danish National Research Foundation. Research Integrity. 2019 Sept. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://dg.dk/en/research-integrity/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The Danish Committee on Research Misconduct. 2020 Jul 20. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/councils-and-commissions/The-Danish-Committee-on-Research-Misconduct?set_language=en&cl=en
  6. ↑ European Network of Research Integrity Officers (Enrio). Country Report Denmark. 2019 May. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://www.enrio.eu/country-reports/denmark/
  7. ↑ The Danish Parliament. Act on Research Misconduct etc. (unofficial translation). 2017 April 26. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/research-and-innovation/Videnskabeliguredelighedeng.pdf
  8. ↑ Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. 2014 Nov. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/publications/2014/files-2014-1/the-danish-code-of-conduct-for-research-integrity.pdf
  9. ↑ 1.     Aarhus University. Advisers on the responsible conduct of research and freedom of research. 2020 Nov 23. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/administration/researchandtalent/responsible-conduct-of-research/advisers/

Laws and regulations

A number of laws regarding RE and RI are officially instated in Denmark.

Law Scope
Act on Research Ethics Review of Health Research Projects Provides the legal framework for the research ethics evaluation of health research projects by the committees and lays down the tasks of the committee system on this basis.
Act on Clinical Trials of Medical products Regulates the Danish Medicines Agency’s and the medicinal research ethics committees’ assessment of and control with clinical trials of medicinal products in humans and animals.
University Act Determines universities’ obligations regarding research and education. It also describes third mission activities, the role of university boards and the organisation of universities.
Research Misconduct Act Promotes RI and credibility in research by establishing up-to-date rules on handling of research misconduct and questionable research practice.
Executive Order on the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty Defines the research dishonesty and aims at strengthening RI.
Public Administration Act Ensures transparency among authorities, focusing on freedom of information and expression, citizens’ participation in democracy, public control of public administration, media dissemination of information to the public and trust in public administration.

Measures to promote good scientific practices and open science

RI training  

Danish Code of Conduct emphasizes the importance of teaching and training regarding research integrity as well as the responsibility of the research institution to ensure that adequate training and education is provided. Moreover, the Code of Conduct states that PhD and postdoctoral programmes should include specific research integrity teaching and training. Hence, universities and other research institutions provide training for the responsible conduct of research at all levels [1].

There are also various resources for RE and RI training:

European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

The Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty - Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice

The Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

RI dialogue and communication

Ethics committees organise an annual meeting for their members and the national committee meets at least twice a year for the purposes of the coordination [2]. The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science organises annual meetings with the key stakeholders in Danish research to work on the policies for the research integrity. Moreover, there are annual conferences organised by different research institutions regarding RI[3].

Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science actively works on the promotion of science among the general public. Thus, several events were organised to bring closer researchers, science and society. Moreover, the Ministry is active in the field of responsible research and innovations since it is important for the creation of a dialogue between researchers and citizens. Danish research institutions are participating in a number of Horizon 2020 projects aiming to build an effective approach for cooperation between science and society. In 2012 the Ministry of Higher Education and Science hosted the conference Science in Dialogue. The goal of the conference was to discuss how to develop the dialogue and interaction between science and society. In 2014, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science hosted Euroscience Open Forum themed “Science Building Bridges”, as a symbol of closing the distance between science and society with aim of forging European scientific integration.

The Danish Agency for Institutions and Educational Grants manages programs to promote collaboration and interaction between companies and knowledge institutions [4]. The Ministry of Higher Education and Science has initiated the internationalisation of Danish science by bilateral cooperation agreements and Innovation Centres abroad. Centres ensure for Danish companies and research institution to access foreign knowledge, networks, technology, funds and markets [5].

Universities provide future plans for developing the dialogue between research and society [6][7]. Denmark has a high level of social trust and people usually have a high level of trust in public institutions [8]. Cases of research misconduct are occasionally discussed in the lay press.

RI incentives

Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity emphasizes importance of implementing RI training at universities [1]. There are also award for outstanding and innovative researchers.

Initiatives Scope
RI training at PhD programmes Training
Danish Accreditation Institution Accreditation
Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) Accreditation
Elite Research Prize Support
Innovation Fund Denmark Support
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. 2014 Nov. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/publications/2014/files-2014-1/the-danish-code-of-conduct-for-research-integrity.pdf
  2. ↑ 1.     Eurec. National Information: Denmark. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://www.eurecnet.org/information/denmark.html
  3. ↑ 1.     European Network of Research Integrity Officers (Enrio). Denmark. Danish Committee on Research Misconduct (DCRM). [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: http://www.enrio.eu/news-activities/members/denmark/
  4. ↑ 1.     The European Network of Innovation Agencies. DAIEG – Denmark. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/international-cooperation/global-cooperation/bilateral-cooperation
  5. ↑ 1.     Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Global cooperation. 2019 Jul 18. [cited 2021 Feb 8]. Available from: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/international-cooperation/global-cooperation
  6. ↑ Aarhus University. Internationalisation Strategy 2014-2020. [cited 2021 Feb 4]. Available from: https://www.e-pages.dk/aarhusuniversitet/893/html5/
  7. ↑ 1.     University of Copenhagen. Talent and collaboration. Strategy 2023. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://about.ku.dk/strategy2023/download-pdf/strategy_2023_UK_print.pdf
  8. ↑ 1.     Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Once more, Denmark is the world’s least corrupt country. 2020 Jan 27. [cited 2021 Feb 3]. Available from: https://investindk.com/insights/once-more-denmark-is-the-worlds-least-corrupt-country

Guidelines

Denmark

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Ana Marusic, Andrijana Perković Paloš, Elsa Amin contributed to this report. Latest contribution was Oct 24, 2021

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The EnTIRE and VIRT2UE projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research programme under grant agreements N 741782 and N 787580.

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