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Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme 2026

Novo Nordisk Fonden

Many scientific challenges that have large implications for health and sustainability can only be addressed through interdisciplinary efforts. With the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme, NNF seeks to strengthen the synergy between researchers, across disciplines, organisations, and national borders. The goals of the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme are to:

Enable creative, novel, high-risk/high-gain interdisciplinary research
Provide long-term support of interdisciplinary collaborations and research ideas grounded in robust preliminary data
Stimulate emerging research that spans across scientific disciplines and techniques
Break down or overcome the barriers that hamper collaboration across disciplines
Strengthen Danish research through internationalisation
Educate and train the next generation of researchers with interdisciplinary skills

Research areas:

The Programme is designed to fund research ideas grounded in robust preliminary data, which require and interdisciplinary approach and demonstrate the potential to have a high level of impact, i.e. high- risk/high-gain. Research must align with NNF’s strategic focus areas of Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, and Natural and Technical Sciences, with applicability in health or sustainability. Research within Social Sciences and Humanities can be an element of the proposal but cannot be the primary drive. Applicants with project ideas that have yet to secure preliminary data are encouraged to consider the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme as an alternative.

Funding

Up to DKK 19.4 million over 4 years per grant. The total annual budget for this call is DKK 97 million.

Application process

Please read “Information and Guidelines for Applicants” carefully before initiating the application process. Essential information about eligibility, required content, the evaluation criteria, budget structure, etc. is found in these guidelines.

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

Based on NNF funding programs and trends:

🥇 1. High Scientific Excellence (Top Predictor)

Requires:
- Strong publication record
- Proven track record

✔ Especially critical for:

Investigator grants
Center grants

🥈 2. Alignment with Strategic Focus Areas

Must align with:
- Diabetes, metabolism
- Biomedical sciences
- Biotechnology
- Sustainability

✔ Strong alignment significantly improves success

🥉 3. Innovation & Breakthrough Potential

Strong emphasis on:
- Transformative research

✔ High success:

High-risk, high-reward ideas

4. Large-Scale Impact

Preference for:
- Research with:
  - Global health impact
  - Societal benefits

5. Strong Leadership & PI Profile

Key factor:
- Established leadership
- Independent research track

6. Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Approach

Competitive proposals involve:
- Multi-institutional teams
- Cross-disciplinary research

7. Feasibility & Structured Project Plan

Must include:
- Clear milestones
- Detailed methodology

8. Translational Potential

Preference for:
- Research moving toward application

🧪 Common Funded Research Areas

Diabetes and metabolic diseases
Stem cells and regenerative medicine
Infectious diseases
Microbiome research
AI in life sciences
Industrial biotechnology

⚠️ Common Reasons for Rejection

Weak scientific track record
Poor alignment with priorities
Lack of innovation
Overly descriptive/basic research
Weak project structure

🧠 Bottom Line (Key Predictors Ranked)

High scientific excellence
Alignment with foundation priorities
Innovation and breakthrough potential
Strong leadership (PI profile)
Large-scale impact
Collaborative approach

Specialties

Biomedical Engineering

Others

Eligibility Requirements

Principles on eligibility include:

• The programme supports 2-4 research groups (the main applicant plus 1-3 coapplicants). A project with all co-applicants within the same discipline as well as institutional department will not be considered eligible. The interdisciplinary consortium forming the application does not have to be new, the researchers may already have established interdisciplinary research directions together.

• The main applicant should be at least 50% associated to a Danish university, hospital or other non-profit research organisation that will be considered the host institution of the project for the full grant period and with full salary coverage (verified by the hosting letter). Levels of association of less than 50% at the Danish institution must be justified in the application. The applicant must be tenured or tenure track.

• The research groups of the co-applicants can be either located in Denmark or abroad. The co-applicants should significantly contribute to the scientific advancement of the project and receive part of the funding, as detailed under the budget. Ideally, all applicants should have the same level of obligation and commitment to the project.

• Collaboration with researchers in non-academic sectors is allowed, however industrial partner(s) cannot receive direct funding through this programme.

• Research should be fundamental between technology readiness levels (TRL) 1 and 2, as defined by the European Commission.

• Receiving the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme grant does not confer advantage in competing for the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme

• Applicants with any current NNF grant are eligible, but if the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme proposal relates to the same or similar research, the new grant period must not overlap with the existing one.

• Main applicants may only hold one active Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme or Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme grant at a time.

• A researcher may participate as applicant on up to two proposals in total per year within the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme and the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme. The researcher may only submit one application as the main applicant. The proposed research must not overlap.

• NNF prohibits duplication of funding for project-specific expenses. Applicants must provide a comprehensive account of any funding applied for or received for the project, or any component thereof, in the budget of the application. Also provide a list of any submitted proposal in the last six months and potential submissions you plan to make in the next 6 months under ‘Supplementary information’.

• If the applicant receives partial or full funding for the project from other sources following submission of the NNF application, NNF must be contacted immediately.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Novo Nordisk Fonden

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Tuborg Havnevej 19 2900 Hellerup Denmark

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