The Foundation's primary working method is to set up and fund research centres of highest international standing – so-called Centres of Excellence – for longer periods of time. The Foundation yearly distributes 200-250 million DKK to those centres, corresponding to approx. two percent of the annual public research spending.
Besides the centres the Foundation has started the "Niels Bohr Visiting Professorship" and the "Danish National Research Foundation Professors" programmes. These initiatives are designed to further internationalisation of the Danish research communities by attracting foreign top-level researchers.
Furthermore the Foundation funds a collaborative initiative on bioinformatics involving research groups at three Danish universities. The Foundation is funding research schools and a number of Ph.D.-student is trained at all of the Foundation's Centres of Excellence.
A board consisting of a chairman and eight members governs the Danish National Research Foundation. The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation appoints the board according to recommendations from competent bodies. The director of the Foundation heads the administration.
