Our history
Published:
28.02.2024
The Carlsberg Foundation’s history goes back to 1876, when the founder of Carlsberg, brewer J.C. Jacobsen, by means of a deed of gift, donated DKK 1 million as capital for the establishment of the foundation. Since then, the foundation’s primary objects have been to ensure value creation in Carlsberg A/S through our long-term, active ownership and to grant funding for philanthropic purposes as provided for in the foundation’s charter, including funding for Danish basic research.
On 25 September 1876, J.C. Jacobsen formally set out the statutes for the Carlsberg Foundation, thereby creating the basis for Denmark’s first enterprise foundation. At the same time, he asked the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, which at that time served, as it does today, as a meeting-place for outstanding Danish researchers, to appoint “five professors from its midst” to form the foundation’s board of directors.
Six years later – in 1882 – J.C. Jacobsen instructed in his will that, following his death, all his property, including the Old Carlsberg brewery, should pass to the Carlsberg Foundation. The foundation took over the brewery on 1 October 1888, the brewer having died in the previous year on a trip to Rome. Thus was the Carlsberg Foundation born as an enterprise foundation, and ever since then brewing, social engagement and support for science in Denmark have gone hand in hand.
The Golden Words
J.C. Jacobsen’s decision to set up the Carlsberg Foundation was both ground-breaking and visionary. His intention was that the foundation, with its basis in science, should ensure that, even after his death, Carlsberg would strive to optimally develop beer brewing and create model products of the highest quality. As J.C. Jacobsen himself put it in his will:
“In working the breweries it shall be a constant purpose, regardless of immediate profit, to develop the art of making beer to the highest possible degree of perfection in order that these breweries and their products may ever stand as ideal models and so, by their examples, assist in keeping the brewing of beer in this country on a high and honourable level.”
To this very day, these Golden Words underpin the Carlsberg Group’s ambitions to operate a global brewing enterprise with a focus on research, innovation and products of the highest quality.
Science as the custodian of the future
For J.C. Jacobsen, the decision to transfer the management of Carlsberg to the Carlsberg Foundation was completely natural.
As a brewer, a private individual and a citizen, he was passionate about the flourishing science of his day, and he regarded scientists as “the foremost people in Denmark”.
The Carlsberg Foundation was the sole owner of the brewery up to 1970, when Carlsberg and Tuborg merged and became a limited company.
Former chairpersons of the Carlsberg Foundation
Flemming Besenbacher (1952- ). Nanoscientist, physicist, professor, Aarhus University. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 2005-2021
2012-2021
Povl Krogsgaard-Larsen (1941- ). Pharmacist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1993-2012.
2003-2012
Poul Christian Matthiessen (1933- ). Economist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1989-2002.
1993-2003
Kristof Glamann (1923-2013). Historian, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1969-1993.
1976-1993
Franz Blatt (1903-1979). Philologist, professor, Aarhus University. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1957-1977.
1971-1976
Poul Brandt Rehberg (1895-1989). Physiologist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1960-1971.
1969-1971
Stig Iuul (1907-1969). Lawyer, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1955-1969.
1963-1969
Børge Jessen (1907-1993). Mathematician, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1950-1963.
1955-1963
Johannes Pedersen (1883-1977). Theologist and philologist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1926-1955.
1933-1955
Anders Bjørn Drachmann (1860-1935). Philologist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1913-1933.
1926-1933
Kristian Erslev (1852-1932). Historian and archivist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1909-1926.
1913-1926
Sophus Mads Jørgensen (1837-1914). Chemist, professor, University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1885-1914.
1909-1913
Peter Edvard Holm (1833-1915). Historian, professor, rector of the University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1876-1909.
1889-1909
Christen Thomsen Barfoed (1815-1889). Pharmacist and chemist, professor, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1876-1889.
1886-1889
Johan Nicolai Madvig (1804-1886). Philologist, professor, rector of the University of Copenhagen. Board member of the Carlsberg Foundation 1876-1886
1876-1886
