Uddannelses- og Forskningsudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
FIV Alm.del Bilag 13
Offentligt
[Uddannelses- og forskningsminister Sophie Carsten Nielsens forord til den internationale
evalueringsrapport af Det Frie Forskningsråd: ”Evaluation of the Danish Council for Independent
Research”. (60 sider, oktober 2014) ]
Preface by the Minister for Higher
Education and Science
The Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF) has been a key institution in the
Danish research funding landscape for the past ten years. By funding bottom-up independent
research projects and providing support for young researchers, DFF has been
a cornerstone of many researchers’ careers.
Last year the Danish National Research Foundation was evaluated, and this year three
former Danish research and innovation councils merged to form the Innovation Fund
Denmark. In light of this, it was decided to carry out this evaluation of DFF.
The evaluation clearly shows that DFF fulfils its role very successfully. DFF supports
the brightest minds and most talented young researchers while maintaining the highest
respect and appreciation throughout the Danish research landscape. This is very
impressive.
I am convinced that DFF contributes to the high performance of Danish research. DFF
is the stepping stone for talented young researchers, who are given a chance to embark
on a research career. And the council is open to researchers’ own ideas that may be
risky, but can lead to genuine breakthroughs that provide important new knowledge
and solutions to our society’s challenges.
Even so, I also take notice of the many useful recommendations made by the panel.
For instance, as it is pointed out, there is clearly room for improving the gender balance
in Danish research. Female researchers are still markedly underrepresented, especially
in senior level research positions. This means that we are missing out on both talent
and excellent research ideas, which is an issue that we must take very seriously.
Like the panel I too consider internationalisation to be an opportunity which should
be seized by all the Danish researchers. International collaboration and researcher
mobility are crucial elements in developing and strengthening Danish research and its
results, and DFF is an important institution in this regard.
The recommendations of this evaluation report are not met overnight and they will
require active participation from many stakeholders. But I feel confident that we are on
the right path, and I look forward to the continued dialogue on these important questions.
In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the panel for taking on
the task of evaluating the research council.
Sofie Carsten Nielsen
Minister for Higher Education and Science