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Data Science Investigator Programme 2026

Novo Nordisk Foundation

New for 2026:
The Data Science Investigator Programme now features a single, combined set of guidelines for all three career levels: ‘Emerging’, ‘Ascending’, and ‘Distinguished’. Each call targets principal investigators at a specific career stage.

Applicants must carefully review the combined Application Guidelines (dark blue box above) before initiating the application process. The guidelines provide essential information on the call, eligibility, and application content, and include an FAQ section to address common questions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they apply under the correct career level in the NORMA application system. Within the application system, the call will be separated into the Emerging, Ascending, and Distinguished Investigator categories. Applicants must select and submit their application to the correct call in NORMA. Applications will not be transferred between categories.

Purpose

The Data Science Investigator Programme supports excellent research leaders based in Denmark at different career stages within data science and computational science. The programme aims to strengthen the quality and size of the Danish academic environment for data science research and education, in line with the Foundation’s strategy. The intended impact is to increase the output of highly skilled candidates to meet the strong demand for data science and computational science expertise across all sectors of society.

Career Levels

The programme consists of three career-level specific grants. Applicants must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for the level they apply to (see the guidelines for more detailed information about each level as applications submitted under the wrong category will not be transferred):

Emerging Investigator
For talented starting group leaders (typically senior postdocs, senior researchers, or assistant professors) establishing their independence. Ideal applicants should have 4-8 years of research experience after having received their PhD degree (leave of absence not included).
Ascending Investigator
For excellent and independent Associate Professors or experienced Assistant Professors (or equivalent) with the ambition and potential to rise to the highest international level. Ideal applicants should have 7–15 years of research experience after having received their PhD degree (excluding any leave of absence).
Distinguished Investigator
For outstanding Professors with novel research ideas and a track record of international leadership. Ideal applicants will have 15+ years of research experience after obtaining their PhD degree (leave of absence not included).

Areas of Support

Research proposals eligible for funding should address:

Development of new algorithms, methods, and technologies within data science or computational science, artificial intelligence (including machine learning and deep learning), statistics, bioinformatics, and other computational sciences (including mathematical modelling, simulations, cybersecurity, etc.) and/or
Applications of data science and computational sciences to areas of relevance to the Foundation’s strategy and grant awarding activities, including life science, biomedical and health science, public and global health, infectious disease, sustainability, green transition, agriculture, as well as natural and technical sciences.

For projects mainly concerned with methods development, it is important that the applicants argue convincingly for potential application and impact within NNF’s scientific focus areas (Health, Sustainability, Life Science Ecosystem). Conversely, projects that have their primary focus on the application side must describe and explain the novelty and impact of their data- and computational science approach, be it development of novel methods or novel applications of existing methods.

In general, projects without potential applications within NNF’s scientific focus areas and/or projects with no novelty in terms of development or application of computational methods will not be funded in this programme.

Projects where the primary focus is on financial or insurance, fraud detection, advertisement, commercial analysis, telecommunication, mass surveillance, defense, cyber security, gaming, etc., are considered outside of scope and will generally not be considered for funding.

Funding

Grant size: Up to DKK 14.7 million per grant over a period of up to five years.
Total annual budget: Up to DKK 99 million across all three career levels.

How to apply

The application must be completed and submitted using the foundation’s application system NORMA that can be accessed via the link “Apply now”.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🔬 1. Strong Alignment with Foundation Strategic Areas (Top Predictor)

NNF funding is highly aligned with its core priorities:

Biomedical & life sciences (major focus)
Cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular)
Biotechnology & biosustainability
Global health & sustainability

👉 Projects outside these domains have very low success probability

🎯 2. Clear Scientific Excellence & Innovation

Successful proposals demonstrate:

High-impact, cutting-edge science
Novel hypotheses or technologies
Potential to advance fundamental understanding

👉 NNF is highly competitive and expects top-tier scientific quality

🌍 3. Demonstrated Societal & Health Impact (Critical Predictor)

Strong emphasis on:
- Improving human health
- Addressing global challenges (e.g., climate, health inequity)
Large grants require “impact upfront” planning and alignment

👉 Impact is explicitly built into evaluation frameworks

🔄 4. Translational & Innovation Potential

Preference for:
- Translational research (bench → application)
- Biotechnology innovation
- Solutions that can scale or be implemented

👉 Increasing focus on innovation ecosystems and real-world application

🤝 5. Strong Institutional & Collaborative Environment

High success rates are associated with:

Leading research institutions
International collaborations
Multi-disciplinary teams

👉 NNF frequently funds:

Research centres
Large collaborative programs

👩‍🔬 6. Investigator Excellence & Leadership Potential

Strong publication record
Proven research leadership (for large grants)
For early-career:
- Clear independence trajectory

👉 NNF funds both:

Elite senior scientists
Emerging “future leaders”

🧪 7. Feasible, Well-Structured Research Plan

Clearly defined:
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Milestones
Realistic timelines

👉 Large grants require highly structured project planning

📊 8. Ability to Build Research Capacity or Ecosystems

NNF strongly values:

Creation of:
- Research centres
- Infrastructure
- Innovation hubs
Long-term impact beyond a single project

👉 Funding often goes to ecosystem-building initiatives

🌐 9. Global & Strategic Relevance

Increasing support for:
- International collaborations
- LMIC-focused health initiatives
Expansion beyond Denmark

👉 Reflects global health and sustainability priorities

📑 10. Strong Proposal Communication

Clear articulation of:
- Innovation
- Impact
- Strategic relevance
Studies show effective “promotional framing” improves success rates

👉 Communication style influences reviewer perception

📊 Summary: Key Predictors (Ranked)

Highest impact factors:

Strategic alignment (life sciences, health, sustainability)
Scientific excellence & innovation
Societal/health impact

Moderate predictors:
4. Translational potential
5. Investigator strength
6. Collaboration & institutional quality

Supporting factors:
7. Feasibility & planning
8. Ecosystem-building potential
9. Proposal clarity

💡 Insider Insight

Compared to other funders:

Novo Nordisk Foundation is:
👉 science-driven like ERC/AACR
👉 but also impact- and innovation-focused like industry funders

👉 Key evaluation question:
“Will this research create significant scientific breakthroughs AND long-term societal impact?”

Specialties

Data Science

Eligibility Requirements

All three career levels are open to research leaders employed and based in Denmark.
The project must be anchored at a university or other non-profit research institution in Denmark, which will be the administrating institution of the grant.
The applicant must be the principal investigator, and more junior applicants must act independently from more senior researchers at the host institution.
Applicants must contribute to educational or training activities within data science or computational science at their host institution and/or at other institutions in Denmark.

Eligible Countries:

Denmark

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Novo Nordisk Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Tuborg Havnevej 19 2900 Hellerup

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