By Lea Laursen Pasgaard and Karen Worm Markussen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photo: Anders Hviid

The political agreements on the distribution of the research reserve have been finalised. The government and parliamentary parties have allocated DKK 5.5 billion for 2025 for research and innovation in areas such as the green transition, health, critical technology and security.

The agreements also strengthen free research and innovation, as the parties have earmarked DKK 500 million specifically for free research and innovation at the universities. AAU will receive DKK 86 million of this sum, equivalent to approximately 17 per cent of the funds.

The free funds allow universities to undertake long-term, strategic research initiatives and co-finance increased external funding acquisition.

AAU Rector Per Michael Johansen believes that the new agreements are good news for independent research.

"I am of course pleased with the political recognition of Aalborg University. Now we need to consider how we can best utilise these funds strategically," he says.

The Rector also believes that AAU is doing well in several of the areas that the remainder of the research reserve has been set aside for, and which the university's researchers will later be able to apply for via the competitive funds.

"We have strong research environments in many of the areas covered by the research reserve. For example, we have just decided to establish a total of 8 new interdisciplinary ‘AI Labs’, where 32 PhD students will be employed. This is an initiative that includes all faculties and is aimed at ensuring that AAU can make a significant contribution to the development of new critical technology based on AI," says the Rector.