Collaboration between Research Support Office and The Kitchen strengthens Grand Solutions applications

The Research Support Office and The Kitchen have formalised their collaboration from A to Z. The Kitchen is involved in the support process from the outset, participating in information meetings and meetings for phase 1 and phase 2 applicants. The Research Support Office assists with the entire application process, from budgeting to checking that all formalities and requirements are met, providing feedback on applications etc. The Kitchen assists applicants with the economic aspects, identifying commercialisation potential, the impact sections, establishing consortia, obtaining relevant data etc.

“We’ve systematised our collaboration in a way that creates excellent synergies for Grand Solutions applicants, which I believe is quite unique to Aarhus University. The Kitchen has strong innovation and business development expertise, which complements the advisory services offered by the Research Support Office perfectly, providing an opportunity to discuss and refine the project idea at an early stage to make sure it falls within the scope of the Grand Solutions programme. Holding meetings together and engaging in ongoing dialogue also makes the process easier for applicants. In this way, we prevent misunderstandings and conflicting demands,” says Research Funding Advisor Betina Møller from the Research Support Office.

Innovation Fund Denmark should be seen as an investor
Unlike many other foundations, Innovation Fund Denmark is strongly focused on innovative solutions that can help address some of all the challenges facing society. This means that the economic potential and implementability of the envisaged solutions are important aspects to address. And it must be done from page 1 of the application. “Researchers can be very conservative when it comes to making promises. They feel they need to finish their research before they can say anything real about impact. But they should start by boasting about all their expertise and the challenges their research can contribute to resolving – and then they should go into details about the research afterwards. That’s why we’re organising workshops about impact,” says Lisa Mejlvang Lindgaard from The Kitchen.

The Kitchen also helps with competitor analyses – all of which can help applicants choose the right partners for their project. “At The Kitchen, we have experience in how to collaborate across and with industry. In this context, agreeing on the rules and aligning expectations is important – who is going to be responsible for turning the research into a commercial product etc.,” says Valerie Karine Daussin from The Kitchen.

Well-organised and professional support
Assistant Professor Grum Gebreyesus from Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genome Research has had help with his Grand Solutions application. Among other things, The Kitchen conducted a landscape analysis (patents, competitors etc.). The Research Support Office helped prepare the budget for the project consortium and ensured compliance with Innovation Fund Denmark’s rules and requirements for the project through the provision of ongoing advice and specific feedback on the application, ensuring, among other things, that the novelty value, objectives and implementability of the idea were presented in a clear and convincing manner.

“The support ended up covering all aspects of my application. Along the way, we held meetings attended by myself, the Research Support Office and The Kitchen. It meant a lot that communication was good between everybody involved – it was very well-organised and professional. The Research Support Office and The Kitchen complemented each other well: The Kitchen was good at the economic aspects, and the Research Support Office helped ensure that the application met the formal requirements and that the content was accurate. All in all, the support meant that I was able to tailor my application to suit Innovation Fund Denmark’s Grand Solutions Call, for example in the way I addressed the societal and commercial aspects, described the impact and created indicators,” says Grum Gebreyesus, who was awarded a Grand Solutions grant in 2024.

Research Support Office’s Grand Solutions support process

Precall webinar – if, as a researcher, you are thinking about applying for a Grand Solutions grant, then join us for a precall meeting. At the meeting, the Research Support Office explains what the Grand Solutions programme is about – for example that Innovation Fund Denmark thinks a bit like an investor, what help is available in the application process, rules and requirements etc. The Kitchen talks about ways of putting together a consortium, about business acumen etc. 

Phase 1 information meeting – In January, the calls are announced, and the Research Support Office will hold a physical information meeting for potential applicants. Here, focus is on the specific themes announced in the calls and important points as regards idea, application, budget etc. A phase 1 application (letter of interest) must be convincing – it is all about selling the innovative idea and the implementation strategy in order to be allowed to proceed to a phase 2 application. The next phase 1 information meeting will be held January 19, 2026, from 14-16 - read more here.

To optimise the process, applicants are asked to register for support with the Research Support Office, which is the unit responsible for Grand Solutions at AU. The collaboration is then kicked off with a joint meeting between the applicant and any consortium partners, the Research Support Office and The Kitchen. During phase 1, regular status meetings are held.

Phase 2 meetings – During this phase, another physical information meeting is held as well as individual meetings with all three parties, including consortium partners, and bilateral meetings between the applicant and the Research Support Office, and the applicant and The Kitchen. There are many rules governing the changes allowed compared to the phase 1 application – both regarding the budget and partners. So, the phase 2 application is a more comprehensive application, but between the two phases, painstaking efforts are also needed to ensure compliance with Innovation Fund Denmark’s requirements specification.

Fact box – what help is offered by the Research Support Office and The Kitchen?

The Research Support Office assists with:

• Compliance: Ensures that the application complies with Innovation Fund Denmark’s requirements and guidelines
• Templates: Develops both application and budget templates for use by researchers
• Consultancy: Provides specific feedback on project idea, consortium members, implementation etc.
• Input for application: Reads through and comments on the structure and content of the application
• Budgeting: Coordinates with the consortium and prepares the budget – both for partners and main applicants
• Analyses: Accumulates knowledge about grants and applications over time.
• Information: Holds information meetings about calls, changes, events with, among others, Innovation Fund Denmark etc.
• Building relations: Ongoing dialogue with Innovation Fund Denmark, influencing and asking questions.

The Kitchen offers help with:

• Workshops about impact
• Workshops for entrepreneurs
• Support for IP and commercialisation
• Support for commercial grant applications
• Formation of consortia and partnerships
• Market and competitor analyses and business development
• Impact and implementation plans

Read more about Grand Solutions here:

Contact The Research Support Office' IFD team here.

Contact The Kitchen here.