Strategy 2030
Contribution to a democratic and sustainable society
Democracy requires education, interdisciplinarity and robust societal institutions. Strong institutions contribute to the democratic values, ideas and norms that are the foundation of a democratically sustainable society in future Denmark. However, they should not be taken for granted, and there is still a need to invest in democracy. The complexity of the societal challenges and opportunities we face is increasing, and to find effective solutions to current issues, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral thinking is essential.
Our approach
Positive contribution
VELUX FOUNDATION makes a positive contribution when we are responsive to stakeholders and society, when we create space for new ideas and in a transparent process demonstrate trust and curiosity based on a solid professional foundation.
Ambition
Our ambition is that by 2030, VELUX FOUNDATION will have contributed to creating new and fruitful relationships across the foundation’s stakeholders and purposefully realised our other four positive contributions, so the vision of a sustainable democratic society can be best supported and reported.
Positive contribution
VELUX FOUNDATION makes a positive contribution when research and new knowledge are created and applied to strengthen society-supporting institutions and democratic dialogue, and to foster understanding of and sustainable solutions to societal challenges.
Ambition
Our ambition is that by 2030, VELUX FOUNDATION will have contributed to research and practice-based knowledge across the foundation’s grant areas, having significantly strengthened and developed the respective research environments, such as research quality, innovation, talent development and research communication.
Positive contribution
VELUX FOUNDATION makes a positive contribution when we, through continuous efforts, build the capacity of individuals, groups, organisations and environments.
Ambition
Our ambition is that by 2030, VELUX FOUNDATION will have contributed to ensuring that more individuals, groups, institutions and environments have gained a voice, drive, and the capacity to master their lives and endeavours as well as increased opportunities for contributing to addressing current and future societal challenges.
Positive contribution
VELUX FOUNDATION makes a positive contribution when we have an understanding of challenges, opportunities, and synergies, thereby promoting collaborations between disciplines, institutions, civil society and citizens.
Ambition
Our ambition is that by 2030, VELUX FOUNDATION will be leading and trend-setting in the development of innovative collaborations, both internally in the foundation and externally in the application environments, with the aim of collectively contributing solutions to current and future societal challenges.
Positive contribution
VELUX FOUNDATION makes a positive contribution when we work towards strengthening communities at the individual level and supporting communities at the organisational level.
Ambition
Our ambition is that by 2030, VELUX FOUNDATION will have contributed to providing more individuals, groups, organisations and environments with the opportunity to choose to participate in communities. Through this, societal cohesion and overall potential will be enhanced.
Four societal challenges that the 2030 strategy aims to contribute to solving
VELUX FOUNDATION’s 2030 strategy addresses a wide range of significant societal challenges and opportunities influencing democracy and sustainability in the Danish society. We will invest in democratic life and interdisciplinary approaches, which are essential prerequisites for finding solutions to complex societal challenges.
Social initiatives
Increasing mental distress and vulnerability
An increasing number of people live with mental distress or find themselves in socially vulnerable positions, and many are outside the communities that are proven to improve well-being and a provide a more self-reliant life.
Everyone needs communities, and everyone, regardless of their position, should have the opportunity to participate actively.
Purpose
We want to contribute to rethinking and developing social initiatives to support the inclusion of more people in society’s communities.
Efforts
- More inclusion in communities
- Mental distress and loneliness
Description
VELUX FOUNDATION seeks to empower and instill courage and self-worth in citizens in disadvantaged and vulnerable positions. The focus is on developing methods to prevent and reduce the increasing mental distress and loneliness among children, youth and adults and develop methods that can bring and invite people into constructive communities.
Communities can be part of the solution to empower vulnerable citizens to manage their own lives actively by being part of something that allows for personal, social or professional development. It requires systematic work with new paths and methods that can strengthen individual drive towards communities, whether through education, employment or simply a more self-reliant life.
Communities are not only important for the individual, but also for society. They enhance diversity, contribute to societal cohesion and support our democracy.
VELUX FOUNDATION works towards enabling civil society and municipalities – based on local conditions, ideas and initiatives – to develop methods that contribute to sustainable qualification of social work in Denmark.
A sea in balance
Significant pressure on the sea
The sea around us is full of food and resources, and life and ecosystems beneath the sea surface and along the coasts of Denmark are an important part of our common nature, culture, identity and economic development. However, the sea is also under pressure from human activities, with pollution being the greatest threat.
In 95% of the coastal waters in Denmark, ecosystems are close to collapsing, and biodiversity is at risk. The sea’s ecosystems are a crucial source for climate regulation, and there is a strong need to restore a healthy marine environment and boost the sea’s resilience to human-induced climate change.
Purpose
We aim to contribute to a healthy marine environment that can withstand climate change.
Efforts
- Restoration of the sea and coastal areas with a focus on climate
- Combating marine pollution
- Future climate solutions and their impact on marine areas
Description
VELUX FOUNDATION prioritises research into the restoration of the sea and coastal areas, the fight against marine pollution and a focus on how future climate solutions affect the marine environment. The central focus is on climate challenges, pollution and resource consumption, which pose unsustainable pressure on the sea.
There is a need to restore a healthy marine environment and strengthen the sea’s resilience to climate change. This requires both knowledge and the will to bring about change.
The sea holds enormous potential across various interests, but there is a need for experiments and projects that – on a large scale – set a good example and demonstrate how ambitious goals for the sea’s development can be implemented and anchored for the benefit of both the environment and business in general. We need to find a balance between protecting and utilising the sea – the balance between environmental and economic sustainability, ensuring the long-term preservation of the blue world.
VELUX FOUNDATION works to uncover the challenges of the sea and, through knowledge and analysis, develop a scientific understanding of the sea’s condition, ecosystems, function and utilisation. This happens in ongoing dialogue with relevant stakeholders such as authorities, NGOs, businesses, politicians, researchers, other foundations and citizens.
Humanities and social science research and culture
Change strengthened through research
The most significant challenges of our time cannot be solved with technical or economic insight alone. It also requires an understanding of the human factor and its role in both the challenges and possible solutions Otherwise, democracy is at risk in the ongoing development of society.
Here, humanities and social science research contributes by providing new knowledge about people, culture and society. It strengthens enlightenment and democracy in a broad sense and is key to creating concrete sustainable changes and solutions to challenges combined with practice.
Purpose
We aim to contribute to new knowledge about people, culture and society to strengthen democracy and sustainability.
Efforts
- Free basic research in humanities and social sciences
- Cross-sectoral research-practice collaboration
- Literature and humanities in dialogue
Description
VELUX FOUNDATION supports free basic research in collaboration with universities within all humanities and closely related social science disciplines. The foundation strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration between research and practice with the aim of contributing to the presence of deep, broad and applicable knowledge about people, culture, and society.
Humanities and social scientific research can explore, interpret and convey the conditions of human existence, providing an understanding of a changing society. This knowledge shapes us as individuals and societies in the democracy we collectively develop. It enhances an enlightened, informed public, democratic dialogue and initiative and power of action. It is crucial for the development of education, business and cultural life, and political decisions.
Interdisciplinary research-practice collaboration between humanities and social science researchers and practitioners contributes to the development of sustainable solutions to specific challenges within VELUX FOUNDATION’s various grant areas and enhances the impact of knowledge of humanities and social sciences.
Impact is also enhanced through collaboration between research and culture. Culture is important and sought after as a source of experiences for individuals and contributes to expressing and shaping identity, cohesion, citizenship and the public debate about a changing world.
Transitions and changes of adult life
Denmark’s population is growing and aging.
The increasing life expectancy means that more people will face challenges and changes in both body and mind. Our social and professional lives are changing, and new approaches are needed to preserve quality of life and drive. Contemporary adulthood spans many years, implying that it will be characterised by numerous transitions and challenges for individuals in terms of job, housing, family, leisure time, participation in community life and communities as well as natural aging processes. However, it also presents many opportunities if we dare to think differently about what constitutes a good adult life in a modern society.
Purpose
We aim to enhance society’s understanding of transitions and changes of adult life, especially after the age of 60.
Efforts
- Research and knowledge about 50+
- Power of action through volunteering for those aged 60+
- Empowerment in relation to sensory loss and dental diseases
Description
The years after the age of 50 are characterised by various transitions related to employment, housing, physical health, family and leisure time. These transitions can present both opportunities and challenges for individuals and society.
VELUX FOUNDATION seeks to contribute to the understanding of these positive as well as negative transitions and to support projects that empower individuals to maintain and strengthen their drive, thus leading a meaningful and high-quality life, for example by establishing and stimulating communities.
Increased understanding of the transitions in adult life, their mechanisms and consequences as well as aging processes can help us as individuals and society to cope with these changes in the best way possible.
With this priority, VELUX FOUNDATION aims to enhance society’s conversations and discussions about transitions and changes of adult life after the age of 50. The transitions to be illuminated include job changes, life with illness, an individual’s societal position, contributions to the community and discussions about the end of life.
Interdisciplinary initiatives
It is important for us to strengthen interdisciplinary efforts by making grants with advice from experts and practitioners from the foundation’s grant areas. VELUX FOUNDATION will also continually work to balance the considerations for our democracy and sustainability broadly, i.e. both socially, environmentally and culturally.
- Common understanding and operationalisation of the foundation’s vision of democratic sustainability
- Enhanced results dissemination
- Current Affairs Pool
