Vissing Foundation
Apply for Soft Funding for Your Green Energy Project via KU Lighthouse
Are you developing a startup focused on green energy or climate solutions? The Vissing Foundation offers funding to support innovative technologies that reduce society’s reliance on fossil fuels. Apply now through KU Lighthouse and help drive the transition to a sustainable future.
Aarhus University (The Kitchen), the University of Copenhagen (Lighthouse), and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Skylab) have partnered with the Vissing Foundation to give startups easier and more qualified access to its funding program on energy.
Who can apply?
The Vissing Foundation supports Danish startups transitioning from idea or concept to testing and real-world implementation. Funding is primarily aimed at activities that help develop, test, and commercialise new technologies.
To apply for the Vissing Foundation through The Kitchen, KU Lighthouse or DTU Skylab, it’s a requirement that you have an active affiliation with one of the universities, as an employee, researcher or as a student.
All applications must be endorsed by a business developer affiliated with the applicant’s university, KU Lighthouse.
The Vissing Foundation supports
- Every stage of the process: from development to supply, storage, and reduction (e.g. CO₂) in both products and systems.
- Not only projects designed specifically for energy and climate, but also smart technological solutions that indirectly help tackle society’s major challenges in these fields.
Examples of projects
- Integrated solutions for managing energy, climate, environment, and biodiversity
- Digital tools for optimising energy use in production, transport, and construction
- New forms of energy production such as biofuels, PtX, or CO₂ capture
- Energy storage in batteries and other systems
- Efficiency improvements in energy use for businesses and households
Formal requirements
To receive funding, your company must:
- Be based in Denmark
- Have a Danish CVR number (company registration number)
- Have a Danish bank account
The Vissing Foundation does not support
- Salaries for founders/owners (though funding may be granted for third-party contributions such as app development, technical testing, engineering support or lab work)
- Travel expenses (except travel expenses related to commercialization, which may be covered)
- Course or conference fees
- Study trips
- Publication costs
- Administrative expenses
Read more about the Vissing Foundation (only available in Danish)
How to Apply
- Start by contacting the programme coordinator, who will connect you with a relevant business developer at your university and provide the application template which consists of two parts.
- Prepare a draft application and send it to the business developer for feedback. Applications may be written in Danish or English.
- Once approved, the business developer will issue an endorsement and share it with both you and the programme coordinator.
- Submit your final application to the programme coordinator, who will collect all submissions and forward them to the Vissing Foundation.
Deadlines
There are four annual deadlines:
- February 28
- May 31
- August 31
- November 30
Upcoming deadline
Please send your application to programme coordinator on November 27, 23:59 at the latest.
Response time
The expected response time to applicant from the Vissing Foundation is within 30 days. In exceptional cases, it may take up to two months. You will receive a reply directly from the Vissing Foundation.
Grant amounts
Individual grants range from DKK 200,000 to 300,000.
Rejections
Please note: The foundation does not issue rejection letters. If you do not hear back, your application should be considered declined.
For further information contact
