The Foundation
The ROCKWOOL Foundation is an impartial, self-financing foundation which exists to generate knowledge that can contribute to strengthening the social and economic sustainability of the welfare state.
History
The ROCKWOOL Foundation was established in December 1981, when six members of the Kähler family made over to it the equivalent of 25 percent of the shares in ROCKWOOL International. From the outset, the declared aim of the Foundation was to contribute to the broad public good by carrying out independent, reliable research; this aim has subsequently been expanded to include the development of practical interventions.
Fundamental principles
The ROCKWOOL Foundation supports independent research and the development of innovative solutions through practical interventions to challenges faced by society.
The overarching objective of both research and interventions is to contribute to strengthening the social and financial sustainability of the welfare state through the generation of new, independent knowledge about the challenges faced by society and through the development of solutions to these challenges. A precondition for answering the challenges of financing and maintaining the cohesion of the welfare state is the provision of reliable information concerning the problems faced by society. The independent generation of relevant knowledge and facts is crucial to enabling actors in society to engage in meaningful and significant democratic discussions, and represents an important contribution to enabling political decision-makers to establish priorities and to organise the institutions of the welfare state.
The Board of the Foundation decides which projects will be supported, on the basis of recommendations from expert committees.
Research
Interventions
How we provide support for projects
The aim of the ROCKWOOL Foundation is to generate new, independent knowledge that addresses the challenges facing the welfare society. This is achieved through research and through the development and trialling of innovative solutions to specific problems in society – solutions that can ultimately be implemented nationwide in Denmark.
In this connection, individuals and organisations active in this field are welcome to apply for financial support for research or for the development and trialling of new ideas for interventions. However, it is rare for an application to be approved and a project implemented solely on the basis of the original application. In practice, support from the Foundation almost always involves discussion of the project and work with personnel from the Foundation’s Interventions Unit or Research Unit after the initial application, with a view to focusing and refining the project proposal before it is presented to the relevant expert committees and the Board. It is the Board of the Foundation which makes the final decisions on which projects will be supported, on the basis of recommendations from the expert committees.
Projects and activities that the Foundation will not support
The ROCKWOOL Foundation does not support the following types of projects and activities:
- projects with party political, church-related or religious goals
- projects with goals directed towards entertainment, sports or leisure activities, including the activities of sports clubs
- stays in camps, and travel in general
- study visits, stipends, or Masters/PhD degree projects, including periods of study abroad
- the establishment of, or investment in, capital equipment, plant and machinery
- projects and activities that fall outside the Foundation’s research areas
- the publication of books that are not linked to activities organised or supported by the ROCKWOOL Foundation.
Applications for support
The Foundation will only consider applications that are submitted electronically and written in Danish or English.
Research
Anyone wishing to collaborate with the ROCKWOOL Foundation on a research project should first make sure that the project falls within one or more of the Foundation’s focus areas. Next, it is important to ensure that the project accords with the characteristics of the Foundation’s research activities, as described here. Finally, applicants should understand that the Foundation primarily supports research that is based to a significant extent on quantitative methods.
Potential research partners who believe that their proposed project is relevant for the Foundation are requested to contact Bodil Wullum Nielsen of the ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit (email bon@rff.dk) for further information.
Interventions
- Check that the project falls within one or more of the Foundation’s focus areas and make sure that it fulfils our requirements for practical interventions, as described above.
- Download our application form and budget form. Applications must be written in Danish or English.
- Complete the forms, and email them to kontakt@rfintervention.dk to receive further information.
- Remember to write “Application for financial support” in the subject line of the email.
- Applications will be processed as they are received.
The ROCKWOOL Foundation does not give reasons for the rejection of applications.
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