Fundraising and Project Management: AAU has the potential for much more
: 19.03.2025
AAU’s fourth research centre is the result of strong teamwork across the university. This is according to AAU Professor and Centre Director Petar Popovski, who has received valuable research support from AAU Fundraising and Project Management throughout the application process. The assessment here is that AAU has great potential to attract far more funding than the university does today.
By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Archive photo: AAU. Graphics: Cecilie Karoline Kalbakk Elgaard
When Professor Petar Popovski received the news from the Danish National Research Foundation (DG) in September last year that he had been granted a research centre at AAU, many colleagues across the university celebrated with him.
The good news was not only the culmination of several months of intensive work by Petar Popovski. Several AAU colleagues have contributed in various ways to qualify both his application and project presentation, and much of the advice and guidance he has received from these people has been through Fundraising and Project Management (F&P), an administrative unit that is part of AAU Research Services.
Anne-Mette Albrechtslund, a funding advisor at F&P, was one of those involved in facilitating the extensive setup of feedback sessions, simulated interviews, and counselling that Petar Popovski participated in as part of his DG application.
She is delighted that Petar Popovski and his co-applicants succeeded in securing a research centre for AAU.
"First and foremost, it is the researchers’ own achievement when they succeed with a research application. They are the ones doing the hard work of developing the projects. But we also see that the extensive research support we provide at the university makes a difference," says Anne-Mette Albrechtslund.
"Research support allows researchers to focus on developing and refining their project ideas, while everything from formalities and procedures to qualified feedback and strategic advice is facilitated throughout the process," she adds.
Petar Popovski greatly appreciates the support he received during the application process:
"There has been systematic support from our colleagues at F&P throughout the application process. Specifically, they organised a panel that included various experts and a current centre director, who provided me with crucial input for preparing for my final interview before securing the centre. This systematic support is not limited to DG centres but extends to other national and international projects as well," he says.
At F&P, the assessment is that AAU has the potential to attract significantly more research funding than it currently does.
"It is a time-consuming and lengthy process to complete a funding application, but we also see that our researchers generally perform very well with the applications they submit," says Anne-Mette Albrechtslund.
Last year, six AAU researchers submitted an application to DG in the hope of securing a research centre. Three progressed to the second round, and Petar Popovski ultimately made it through the final selection.
"It is an impressive achievement that half of our applicants advanced to the second round, given that the general success rate at this stage is 15 per cent. Naturally, this leads us to believe that the entire process we have implemented has had a positive impact. Some truly strong applications have been written," says Anne-Mette Albrechtslund.
"No one secures a substantial grant on their first attempt. That is incredibly rare. It is a long and challenging process, but the effort pays off in the long run because strong project ideas can typically be used for other calls as well," she adds.
About Fundraising and Project Management
Fundraising and Project Management provides research support to AAU researchers in a variety of contexts. Read more about their many services here (in Danish).
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