We conduct research that contributes to assuring the social and economic sustainability of the welfare society
The ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit works impartially and scientifically. A distinguishing feature of our research is that it always takes as its starting point significant and relevant challenges to the welfare society. The objective of the research is to improve the level of knowledge and the quality of the public debate, thus contributing to creating the best possible foundation for political decision-makers.
Latest releases from the Research Unit
Analysis
Family networks within housing cooperatives are a phenomenon primarily observed in Copenhagen
April 2025
Comment
Seen through American eyes, could there be any rationale behind Trump’s actions? Even with the best intentions, the answer is no
April 2025
Analysis
Trade War: Far more jobs are at stake in the EU and China than in the United States
April 2025
Podcast
Is Denmark on its way to turning grey?
April 2025
Analysis
Introduction to Public Administration in Denmark
April 2025
Comment
Is the police closing cases prematurely because an increasing number of responsibilities are being offloaded onto them?
March 2025
Podcast
Is it the police’s responsibility to deal with mentally vulnerable citizens?
March 2025
Video
Conference: Denmark in Decline – Can We Sustain the Welfare State We Aspire To?
March 2025
Impartial research
The research is primarily conducted on the basis of project grants from the Board of the ROCKWOOL Foundation, but is always executed completely independently of the Board.
The research is often carried out in close cooperation with external researchers from the best universities and research institutions in Europe and the United States.
In order to ensure relevance and a high academic standard, all projects are presented to a research programme committee before they are submitted to the Board. The research programme committee is composed of leading professors from Scandinavian universities.
The ROCKWOOL Foundation Europe
A section of the ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit is physically located in Berlin. The new section is under the day-to-day management of Professor Christian Dustmann and has its own, independent profile.
In the same way as for the ROCKWOOL Foundation Research Unit in Copenhagen, one of the key missions of the Berlin Unit is to improve the foundations for the political decisions taken in Denmark and the rest of the EU with regard to the challenges facing the sustainability of the welfare society. This is achieved through independent, impartial research of the highest calibre, communicated to decision-makers and to the general public.
While the research unit in Copenhagen focuses in particular on challenges facing the Danish welfare society, the unit in Berlin places greater emphasis on challenges pertaining to international conditions, such as future trade links with Asia and how these may affect welfare for all EU citizens. One highly prioritised area comprises the challenges to the welfare society arising from international migration.
Seminars
The Research Unit hosts a seminar every two weeks, where researchers from all over Europe present their work.