En 
Da
For the seventh consecutive year, the Otto Mønsted Foundation is once again accepting applications from bachelor/ master students, PhD students, postdocs and research teams from universities and others. The application deadline is 15 August.
The award recognises talent with the right innovative idea, product, process or solution. The award is not only a celebration of the work of the award winners, but also to encourage and inspire this year’s winners in the further development of their ideas.
The Bright Idea 2025 is awarded in two categories and the jury selects one winner in each category to be honoured:
– DKK 250,000 for the best early-stage idea
– DKK 250,000 for the best late-stage idea
The applications will be judged on these criteria:
- Excellence in thought, communication, analysis and documentation
- Degree of business vision and understanding
- The likelihood that the idea can be implemented
- The value and importance of the idea for Danish business
- The extent to which the idea can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (NY)
The jury represents a broad field of high professionalism and knowledge about innovation with jury members from business, representatives from the Danish Export and Investment Fund, Bioinnovation Institute, universities and more.
The jury has previously awarded prizes to projects that have presented convincing solutions for recycling mixed textiles, optimising hydrogen as a fuel, combating plant diseases, developing new sustainable lightweight materials, using artificial intelligence in microchips, reusing concrete elements in construction, etc.
Watch videos of previous award winners
Award ceremony 5 November 2025
The names of this year’s award winners will be revealed at an award ceremony on 5 November on the Startup Stage at 16:00 at the Digital Tech Summit in Øksnehallen, Copenhagen. All six finalists (three in each category) will be invited to a networking dinner with previous winners and representatives from the jury after the award ceremony. All finalists who do not win this year’s award will also receive a cash prize.
Applicants present their ideas via a digital application system on the foundation’s website, which you can learn more about here.