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Overview: The Danish grant landscape in 2026
Denmark invests billions each year in helping companies innovate, digitalize and transition. The money is distributed across three layers: direct grants (cash to your account), tax deductions (lower tax bill) and support schemes (free advice, guarantees, networks).
The problem: the system is fragmented. The grants are administered by different bodies — the Innovation Fund, the Danish Business Authority, the Business Houses, the Tax Agency and EIFO — each with their own rules, deadlines and application portals. The result is that <strong>most companies only know 1-2 schemes and overlook the rest</strong>.
This guide covers the six most important programs in detail and shows how they can be combined. For each program you get: what it covers, who can apply, amount ranges and the key pitfalls.
Decision guide: Which program fits you?
Before you dive into individual programs: use these three questions to quickly narrow down which schemes are relevant for your company.
Yes → Innobooster (200k-5M DKK, up to 35% coverage). Requires real R&D — not "we're building an app." Also read R&D deduction for software to understand the difference. R&D deduction can be combined with Innobooster.
Yes → SMV:Digital (50k-100k DKK voucher for private consultant). Lower entry barriers than Innobooster. Perfect for ERP, e-commerce, workflow automation, CRM implementation.
Yes → SMV:Grøn (voucher for green advisory and transition plan). Can be combined with Innobooster if the green transition requires real technological innovation.
Yes → Start with the Business Houses and the Business Program (free). They help you identify the right grants, and they can spar on your application. See Regional schemes.
Yes → You're probably leaving money on the table. The R&D deduction gives 110% deduction on qualifying expenses — and requires NO application to a fund. It happens via the tax return. See Tax deductions.
Comparison: The 4 major grant programs
Want to know exactly which schemes you match?
Our free CVR scan checks your company data against the eligibility criteria for all schemes — in 2 minutes.
Innobooster — up to 5 million DKK for innovation
Innobooster is Innovation Fund Denmark's flagship program and the most ambitious grant program for Danish SMEs. It covers up to 35% of expenses for an innovative development project — from DKK 200,000 to 5,000,000.
The funds cover salary for own employees (fixed rate 750 DKK/hour), external knowledge providers and materials/equipment for prototyping and testing.
Who is it for: SMEs with min. 250,000 DKK in gross profit (or 100,000 DKK external capital), with a project that has real technical uncertainty within one of four themes: green tech, life science, critical/digital technologies or defense technology.
- Operations/marketing instead of R&D: The budget contains "sales strategy", "SEO" or "app maintenance." Innobooster supports research and development — not normal operations.
- Lack of technical novelty: "We're building a marketplace" is not innovation. There must be concrete technical uncertainty.
- Thematic shoehorn: The project is forced into a theme it doesn't belong to. The fund sees through it.
Read the full analysis: Innobooster rejection: The 5 most frequent reasons →
Want to dive deeper into Innobooster?
Our complete guide covers all eligibility criteria, the 4 themes, budget template, project description structure and step-by-step application process.
SMV:Digital — digitalization voucher for SMEs
SMV:Digital is the Danish Business Authority's program for digital transformation. It provides vouchers of typically 50,000-100,000 DKK to purchase private advisory on digitalizing your business. The program is simpler and faster than Innobooster — lower entry barriers and shorter application process.
The funds typically cover:
- Digitalization analysis — mapping digital opportunities in your business
- Implementation plan — concrete action plan for ERP, e-commerce, automation
- Private advisory — approved consultants who help select and implement solutions
Who is it best for: Craftsmen, retail, manufacturers, service businesses and other SMEs wanting to digitalize but not having an innovation project with technical uncertainty (i.e., not qualifying for Innobooster).
SMV:Green — grants for green transition
SMV:Green is the Danish Business Authority's program for sustainable transition. The program provides vouchers for green advisory — typically an analysis of your CO2 footprint, energy consumption, waste management and a concrete action plan for green transition.
Relevant activities:
- CO2 mapping — documentation of your climate footprint (Scope 1, 2 and possibly 3)
- Green action plan — prioritized initiatives with ROI calculation
- Circular economy analysis — resource flow, waste, recycling, new business models
- ESG reporting — preparation for CSRD and supplier requirements from large customers
Read the full guide: SMV:Green 2026: How to apply →
Regional schemes, Business Houses and the Business Program
Beyond the national programs, there is an entire layer of regional and free schemes that most companies overlook. These require no application, no co-financing and no de minimis headroom.
Denmark's 6 Business Houses offer <strong>free, non-binding advisory</strong> to all companies. They help with:
- Sparring on grant applications (Innobooster, SMV:Digital, etc.)
- Business development and growth strategy
- Export advisory and market analysis
- Connection to relevant networks, clusters and collaboration partners
Find your Business House: erhvervshusene.dk
The Business Program is a free, structured development program via the Business Houses. It offers workshops, mentoring and sparring over several months — typically focused on growth strategy, digital maturity or internationalization.
Perfect as a starting point: The Business Program can help you mature an idea to the point where it's ready for an Innobooster or SMV:Digital application.
EU's Regional and Social Fund finances projects in Danish regions — often via the Business Houses. The funds typically support green transition, digital competence development and entrepreneurship. The amounts are larger than SMV:Digital, but often require participation in organized projects rather than individual applications.
Denmark's Export and Investment Fund (EIFO) is a merger of EKF, Vækstfonden and Denmark's Green Investment Fund. EIFO offers:
- Growth guarantees: EIFO guarantees up to 75% of a bank loan, so you can borrow more than the bank would normally allow
- Green loans: favorable loans for green investments (energy efficiency, new processes)
- Export guarantees: protects you against losses when exporting to new markets
EIFO is NOT a grant — it's loans and guarantees. But it can solve the liquidity problem that prevents you from using grants like Innobooster (which is paid retroactively).
Tax deductions — money you may already be owed
Tax deductions are the most overlooked layer of the Danish grant system. Unlike direct grants, they require no application to a fund — they're handled via your tax return. And they can be combined with grants.
Tax Code § 8 B gives companies 110% deduction for expenses on experimental and research activities. That means: for every 100,000 DKK you spend on qualifying R&D, you get a deduction of 110,000 DKK.
Example: R&D deduction
Key requirements: The expenses must relate to <strong>systematic, creative work to gain new knowledge</strong> (OECD's Frascati definition). Normal product development, operations and marketing do NOT qualify.
Read the full guide: R&D deduction for software companies →
Does your company have a deficit? Then you can get the tax value of the R&D deduction paid out in cash via the tax credit scheme — instead of waiting until you have a profit to use the deduction.
Max payout: Tax value of up to 25 million DKK in R&D expenses = max ~5.5 million DKK cash payout.
Especially relevant for startups and scale-ups with large R&D expenses and no profit yet.
The de minimis rule — the invisible cap on all grants
Most Danish grants fall under the EU's de minimis regulation. That means: there is a total cap of 300,000 EUR (~2.2M DKK) for all de minimis aid your company receives over a rolling 3-year period.
Read the full guide: The de minimis rule explained: Everything you need to know →
The combination strategy: Maximize your total gain
The most powerful — and most overlooked — approach is to combine multiple schemes on the same project. It requires planning, but the effect is significant.
Example: Three-layer combination on one innovation project
Important rules for combination:
- Grants and tax deductions may <strong>not cover the same expenses</strong> — Innobooster covers 35%, the R&D deduction can be used on the remaining 65%
- Multiple de minimis grants (Innobooster under 1M + SMV:Digital) share the same 300,000 EUR cap
- Documentation is the key — keep track of which expenses are covered by what
Read the full combination guide: The three-layer strategy: Grants + deductions + support →
Find your unique combination
Our CVR scan matches your company against all schemes and shows exactly which ones you qualify for. The Action Plan includes a combination strategy tailored to your situation — with amounts, deadlines and next steps.
Frequently asked questions about grants for businesses
It depends on your project. <strong>SMV:Digital</strong> is the simplest and fastest (digitalization). <strong>SMV:Green</strong> fits green transition. <strong>Innobooster</strong> is the most ambitious but requires real innovation. Start with the decision guide above.
Yes — but they must cover <strong>different activities</strong>. You can't get Innobooster and SMV:Digital for the exact same project. But you can use SMV:Digital for digitalization analysis and Innobooster for the subsequent innovation project. Both count towards your de minimis cap.
No — direct grants (Innobooster, SMV:Digital, SMV:Green) are gifts, not loans. They are documented via reports but not repaid. EIFO products, however, are loans/guarantees and must be repaid.
Most programs (Innobooster, SMV:Digital, SMV:Green) are reserved for SMEs (under 250 employees). Large companies can, however, use: <strong>R&D deduction</strong> (no size limit), <strong>EIFO</strong> products, <strong>Horizon Europe</strong> (EU) and <strong>the Business Houses</strong> (free advice for all). Innovation Fund Denmark's Grand Solutions and InnoExplorer are also open to larger companies.
300,000 EUR (~2.2M DKK) over rolling 3 years. It's the total cap for all public support under the de minimis rules. Covid compensation counts. If you exceed the cap, you must repay. Read the full guide.
Timing varies: <strong>Innobooster</strong> uses competitive pools with specific windows (check innovationsfonden.dk). <strong>SMV:Digital</strong> opens pools that empty quickly — often within hours. <strong>R&D deduction</strong> is ongoing via the tax return. <strong>Business Houses</strong> are always open. We don't print specific dates here — they become obsolete quickly.
The CVR scan is free and takes 2 minutes. It shows which schemes you match. The Action Plan is a paid service that includes deep modules with templates, budget templates, structures and a combination strategy tailored to your company. See pricing.
Yes. <strong>Innobooster</strong> accepts companies with external capital instead of gross profit — perfect for funded startups. <strong>Tax credit scheme</strong> pays out R&D deduction in cash to companies with a deficit. <strong>Business Houses</strong> have dedicated entrepreneur programs. And <strong>EIFO</strong> offers startup loans and guarantees.
Related guides
Innobooster application 2026: Complete guide
Requirements, template, budget and top 5 rejection reasons.
Read guide →SMV:Digital 2026: How to apply
Digitalization voucher — and how to avoid empty pools.
Read guide →The three-layer strategy: Grants + deductions + funds
How to combine all three layers for maximum value.
Read guide →Ready to find your grants?
Free CVR scan matches your company against all schemes in 2 minutes. The Action Plan includes deep modules with templates, budget templates and precise next steps — tailored to your company and industry.
Disclaimer: This guide is general guidance prepared by TilskudTjek. Programs, amounts and requirements can change. Always check the official sources: innovationsfonden.dk, erhvervsstyrelsen.dk, skat.dk. TilskudTjek is not affiliated with any authority. A match from our CVR scan is a qualified indication — not a grant guarantee.