Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø

What Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø does

Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø (NFA) is Denmark's largest research institution in the field of occupational health and safety, established as an independent sector research institution under the Ministry of Employment and Gender Equality (Beskæftigelses- og Ligestillingsministeriet). Founded in 1943 and headquartered at Lersø Parkallé 105 in Copenhagen, the institution employs 101-250 staff and is organized into four research divisions covering musculoskeletal health, chemical work environment, psychosocial work environment and accident/safety culture, plus occupational health economics. Approximately 90% of NFA's research is conducted in collaboration with other research institutions; the organization produces nearly 200 scientific publications per year, of which roughly 70% appear in top-tier journals, and its findings feed directly into EU chemical substance regulation and WHO classifications of harmful substances.

NFA's core product surface consists of validated research instruments and knowledge-translation assets: the Spørgeskemaer psychosocial work environment questionnaires (formerly branded DPQ), process tools and manuals for Danish workplaces organized across psychosocial, ergonomic, chemical, and safety topics, a monthly Nyhedsbrev newsletter, a programme of webinars, and the 'Godt Arbejde' podcast distributed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Supplementary offerings include the Sundhedsmiljø health-by-design approach and Småøvelser micro-exercises for pain prevention, plus targeted toolkits such as 'En sikker start for lærlinge' for apprentice safety and the NationScale intervention for daycare institutions.

The institution operates a non-commercial, public-good business model. Financing is delivered through a state basic allocation on the national budget (finansloven), supplemented by grants from public and private foundations, EU research programmes, and limited commercial activities. All publications, questionnaires, and tools are distributed free of charge to Danish workplaces, labour organizations, authorities, and the public, and NFA's dissemination channels — newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, webinars, conferences, and direct workplace collaboration — are structured for knowledge transfer rather than revenue capture. Reach is national, with the segment mix centred on Danish workplaces, government authorities, labour organizations, and educators/professionals in occupational health.

Name

Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø

Legal name

Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø

Website

https://nfa.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NFA is Denmark's national occupational health and safety research institution, funded by the Ministry of Employment and Gender Equality. It produces ~200 publications annually, validated questionnaires, and free tools for Danish workplaces, labour organizations, and authorities, with research informing EU and WHO regulation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Health and Safety Research

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Occupational Health & Industrial Hygiene (BPAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Occupational Health Surveillance & Worker Health Monitoring Programs (HLAJAFAL), Environmental & Occupational Health (incl. Air Quality, Toxic Exposures) (BPADAIAN), Ergonomics & Musculoskeletal Risk Assessments (EUAHAGAH), Environmental & Occupational Health Surveillance Programs (HLAJANAI)

Keywords

• Occupational health research
• Workplace safety science
• Psychosocial work environment
• Musculoskeletal health research
• Chemical exposure research

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Base Funding: NFA is financed via a basic allocation from the state budget (finansloven). As an independent sector research institution under the Ministry of Employment and Gender Equality (Beskæftigelses- og Ligestillingsministeriet), NFA receives core government funding.
2. Research Grants and Funded Projects: Funding from public and private foundations, EU research programmes, and income-generating activities. Approximately 90% of research is conducted in collaboration with other research institutions, often with external funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø (NFA) conducts research and disseminates research-based knowledge, practical tools, questionnaires, webinars, podcasts, and educational materials to improve occupational health and safety in Denmark. Its core offerings cover psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, chemical working environment, occupational accidents and safety culture, and work environment economics, all provided free of charge to Danish workplaces, labor organizations, authorities, and the public.

Product overview

NFA offers a suite of research-based products for occupational health management: core offerings include Spørgeskemaer (questionnaires) for measuring psychological work environment and well-being, Værktøjer (tools) including process guides and manuals organized by topic (psychosocial, ergonomic, chemical, safety), Webinarer (webinars) featuring researcher presentations, the Godt Arbejde podcast, and a monthly newsletter. Supplementary offerings include Sundhedsmiljø (a health-by-design approach) and Småøvelser (micro-exercises) for workplace health promotion. These products work together as a comprehensive occupational health knowledge and intervention toolkit for Danish workplaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spørgeskemaer (Questionnaires) Research-based questionnaires developed by NFA for measuring the psychological work environment and employee well-being at Danish workplaces. Previously known as 'DPQ'. Provided free of charge to workplaces, work environment professionals, and researchers.
• Værktøjer (Tools) Research-based tools including process guides, manuals, and materials for practical occupational health work at Danish workplaces, organized by topic across psychological, ergonomic, chemical, and safety areas, and tailored for educators, work environment leaders, and representatives.
• Webinarer (Webinars) Recurring online seminars featuring NFA researchers presenting current occupational health topics and research findings to Danish workplaces and work environment professionals.
• Godt Arbejde Podcast Podcast in which NFA researchers discuss current occupational health issues with guests; available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for Danish professionals and the public.
• Nyhedsbrev (NFA Newsletter) Monthly email newsletter providing the latest research, tools, recommendations, and news for occupational health and safety, covering work accidents, absence, chemical work environment, musculoskeletal health, new technologies, organization and leadership, monitoring, psychosocial work environment, and noise.
• Sundhedsmiljø (Workplace Health Environment approach) Approach to strengthening workplace health by designing work tasks to be healthier themselves, rather than adding separate exercise or wellness activities to the workday.
• Småøvelser (Small Exercises) Health-promoting micro-exercises designed to prevent and manage pain in shoulders, neck, and back at the workplace, requiring no gym membership or workout clothes; offered as videos and instructions for Danish workplaces.
• En sikker start for lærlinge (A safe start for apprentices) Package of concrete advice, checklists, and tools to help training managers and educators plan apprenticeship programs, prevent accidents, and strengthen apprentice well-being at vocational schools and workplaces.
• NationScale workplace intervention Workplace intervention package for municipalities and daycare institutions aimed at well-being and healthier work tasks, with documented reductions in sickness absence and economic savings as validated outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• NFA produces nearly 200 scientific publications annually, with approximately 70% published in top-tier journals
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic collaboration on organizational interventions for better psychosocial work environment, with researchers from Denmark (NFA), Finland (FIOH), Norway (STAMI), and Sweden (KI) presenting joint research results.
• National Institute of Occupational Health Norway (STAMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic collaboration on organizational interventions for better psychosocial work environment, with researchers from Denmark (NFA), Finland (FIOH), Norway (STAMI), and Sweden (KI) presenting joint research results.
• Karolinska Institutet (KI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic collaboration on organizational interventions for better psychosocial work environment, with researchers from Denmark (NFA), Finland (FIOH), Norway (STAMI), and Sweden (KI) presenting joint research results.
• PEROSH (Partnership for European Research on Occupational Safety and Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership for occupational safety and health research collaboration mentioned in NFA's 2019 newsletter.
• Danish WorkplacescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFA conducts much of its research in close collaboration with Danish workplaces, starting from the development of research projects through completion and dissemination of results.
• Labor OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with labor/federal organizations in research development and application of findings to improve occupational health in Denmark.
• Danish AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with government authorities to develop and apply research-based knowledge for occupational health policy and regulation in Denmark.
• European Union (EU)coreOthersNFA contributes new knowledge to international regulation of the work environment, including EU's regulation of chemical substances in the work environment.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreOthersNFA contributes knowledge to WHO's classification of harmful substances, supporting international occupational health standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Institute of Occupational Health Norway (STAMI): Norway's national occupational health research institute, partnering with NFA in the Nordic collaboration on organizational interventions. Mirrors NFA in mission, structure, and government ownership.
• IFA (Institut für Arbeitsschutz): Germany's IFA focuses on occupational safety and health research, including chemical and physical risk assessment. Comparable in scale, mandate, and research scope to NFA.
• INRS (Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité): France's national research and safety institute for occupational health, covering ergonomics, chemical risks, and accident prevention. Closely aligned with NFA in mission and research areas.
• TNO (Work & Health): The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research runs a Work & Health unit covering psychosocial, musculoskeletal, and chemical exposure research. Functionally similar to NFA in applied occupational health research.
• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH): Finland's national research institute for occupational health and safety, jointly collaborating with NFA on Nordic psychosocial work environment research. Directly comparable in mandate, scope, and government affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• HSE (Health and Safety Executive): The UK's regulator for workplace health and safety. While it combines regulatory enforcement with research, it is a natural comparison point for NFA's combined research and policy-informing role.
• NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health): The U.S. federal agency for occupational safety and health research. Much larger in scope and budget, but serves an equivalent function of generating research-based guidance to improve workplace health.
• IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health): A large chartered professional body for OSH practitioners that commissions and disseminates research and guidance. Comparable to NFA in its dissemination and education roles, though UK-focused and professional-association based.

Regional players

• Karolinska Institutet (Occupational and Environmental Medicine): Sweden's leading medical university, collaborating with NFA in the Nordic psychosocial research network. Comparable through its occupational and environmental medicine research, though embedded in a broader academic setting.

Others

• PEROSH (Partnership for European Research on Occupational Safety and Health): European partnership of national OSH research institutes of which NFA is a member. Acts as a collaborative network rather than a competitor, but is a direct peer in coordinating joint European research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/arbejdsmiljoforskning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nfadk
• Instagraminstagram.com/nfaforskning
• Xx.com/NFAnyheder

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø