Villum Investigators honored
3 May 2019 I Latest news
11 recognised scientists – and newly appointed Villum Investigators - were honored 2 May 2019. Together, they have received DKK 410 million from VILLUM FONDEN for research projects ranging from climate to cybersecurity.
What began as a field of 80 applicants to become the next group of Villum Investigators has ended with the selection of 11 science and technology researchers who will now receive as much as DKK 40 million each over the next six years.
All of them have strong international experience, five of them come from abroad. On 2 May 2019 they were celebrated at a ceremony at the VILLUM Window Collection – and now officially have the right to call themselves Villum Investigators.
Chair of VILLUM FONDEN, Jens Kann-Rasmussen, and the foundation's Executive Chief Scientific Officer, Thomas Bjørnholm, delivered speeches at the ceremony. During the afternoon the Minister of Higher Education and Science, Tommy Ahlers, and Villum Kann Rasmussen professor and chair of the Danish National Research Foundation, Jens Kehlet Nørskov, DTU, also delivered speeches.
Photos from the ceremony
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It is the second time VILLUM FONDEN has awarded grants for Villum Investigators. Next time is in 2021.
The object of the Villum Investigator Programme is to give experienced and internationally recognised researchers from both Denmark and abroad the opportunity to focus on the research topic they are most passionate about at a Danish research institution. Thus, strengthening the basis for research that may lead to groundbreaking and surprising results.
Read more and get an overview of the Villum investigators 2019.
For further information:
Professor Thomas Bjørnholm is responsible for the foundation’s research programmes in technical and natural sciences.
Previously Thomas Bjørnholm was Prorector for Research and Innovation and Deputy Rector at the University of Copenhagen with overall responsibility for research and innovation across all disciplines at the university.
He is a professor of Materials Chemistry and the founding director of the Nano-Science Center at the University of Copenhagen.
Thomas Bjørnholm is a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and he has served on numerous boards and committees.
As a scientist, he has published more than 200 articles in scientific journals and books including contributions to the highly-recognized journals Nature and Science. He has given more than 150 invited talks at conferences and research institutes around the world and received research awards, including the Ole Rømer Foundation Award, the Ellen & Niels Bjerrum Award and gold medal, and the Director Ib Henriksen Award.