Mission Statement from the Board
“With the Daphne Awards, we aim to highlight the role of music as a universal language — one that expresses ideas and emotions in ways that words alone cannot. At the same time, we want to acknowledge the artists and researchers who deepen our understanding of this language and make its value visible. The strength of a society is not measured by its wealth, but by the choices it makes in challenging times. Supporting culture and science means supporting empathy, reflection and the long-term resilience of our communities.”
In medicine, music is used to ease anxiety and depression, to support patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and to calm premature infants in neonatal care. Yet its impact reaches far beyond the clinic. By nurturing creativity, empathy, attentive listening and collaboration, music strengthens the social fabric of our time. It helps us to imagine new realities, to communicate beyond words, and to remain human in an age defined by digitalisation and artificial intelligence.Founded by the Danish Research Foundation in 2025, the Daphne Awards honour this vital intersection between music and science. The prize celebrates projects and individuals who expand our understanding of both fields – and who remind us that art and knowledge together drive human progress.
