Gustaf de Laval Fund
Supporting the next generation of dairy researchers
The Gustaf de Laval Fund helps master’s and PhD students bring fresh ideas and new thinking into the dairy world. Each year, the fund supports student projects that explore practical challenges in areas such as animal welfare, sustainable production, milking innovation, and the relationship between people, cows, and technology.
Backed by our Scientific Committee – which oversees research quality, study design, intellectual property, and publications – the fund highlights work that can genuinely make a difference on farms and within the wider industry.
See what our students are working on
Effects of a prolonged cow-calf contact housing system on behaviour, health, and productivity to improve socially and economically sustainable dairy production
Katie Callero, Masters thesis, Cornell University
Milking behaviour in cows developing clinical mastitis under an automatic milking system
Pablo Munoz-Boettcher, PhD thesis, Colorado State University
How to apply
The DeLaval International AB Scientific Committee invites young scientists worldwide to submit project proposals for the Gustaf de Laval Fund 2026.
Deadline for submission of applications: May 30, 2026.
Theme for 2026: Sustainable precision dairy farming
Precision dairy farming uses sensor technologies, data analytics, and automation to monitor and manage milk production, reproduction and cow health and welfare. Continued research is needed to ensure that technologies and their application support dairy farmers to achieve their goals for efficient herd management and productivity while increasing environmental sustainability and animal welfare.
The overarching goal is for project ideas to contribute to the development of sustainable precision dairy farming, including how technology and data can support farmers, farm staff and the cows in three focus areas.
Focus areas
DeLaval encourages PhD and master’s students to submit project applications within the following focus areas:
- Animal health and welfare
- Milking efficiency
- Reproduction management
Grant amount
Funding or co-funding of projects is available for up to €15,000 per project as specified in the application form. It is within DeLaval’s full discretion to decide which project shall receive funding.
Eligibility
Grants can be given to students for material and travel costs in relation to carrying out research within their master thesis project (or another comparable project). Master’s students will be offered to enroll in the DeLaval master student program.
Grants can be given to PhD students for material and travel costs in a specific project of their PhD program.
Master’s and PhD students should be enrolled at a university and have a university supervisor for the proposed project.
Rights and publication of results
The project results shall be published in an English report. DeLaval promotes the publication of results, for example in an international scientific journal. Terms for publication as well as the rights to the project result will be regulated in the agreement that will be offered to the students with the projects selected by DeLaval.
The vision of DeLaval is to make sustainable food production possible. As a company built on innovation, we constantly work to find ways of helping our customers, dairy farmers, do more with less by providing world-leading milking equipment and solutions. Today, DeLaval has approximately 4,500 passionate professionals operating in more than 100 markets around the world.