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Project Grants in Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine

Novo Nordisk Fonden

Purpose

The objective of this call is to broadly promote Danish fundamental research impacting better health through knowledge by supporting projects of high international level within the field of bioscience and basic biomedicine which are relevant for understanding the human organism and/or the basal mechanisms underlying health and disease.

Annual theme 2025: T-cell Biology

Funding

A total of up to DKK 104 million is available for grants between DKK 1 million and DKK 4.5 million for projects lasting from 1 year to up to 3 years.

Included in the total grant capital of DKK 104 million is DKK 13 million reserved for grants within the annual strategic theme.

Research fields

The research fields central in the proposed project could be within (but not limited to): Molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics, modelling of biological systems, enzymology, genetics, microbiology, pharmacology, experimental physiology, biophysics, biochemistry, biology, and biostatistics etc. The supported research will typically be carried out in animals, model systems, cellular or subcellular systems, or in silico.

Application process

It is important, that the applicant carefully reads the 2025 updated version of “Information and Guidelines for Applicants – Project Grants in Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine” before initiating the application process, as this document contains the complete call as well as detailed instructions for the application process.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

A Vast and Visionary Philanthropic Force

NNF is the wealthiest charitable foundation globally, with a 2022 endowment of over DKK 1,114 billion (approx. €167 billion). It leverages its ownership of Novo Holdings to channel significant dividends into funding research, education, and sustainability initiatives. Between 2016 and 2022, it distributed more than US$4.5 billion, and in 2023 awarded DKK 9.1 billion (~€1.33 billion) to 751 new projects

Strategic, Career-Spanning Funding Programs

1. Research Leader Programme

A premier award offering up to DKK 10 million (~€1.3 million) per project over five years.

Supports independent researchers at various career stages in areas like metabolism, translational research, data science, and biotechnology.

In 2024 alone, NNF allocated DKK 427 million across 41 projects, including larger awards (~DKK 20 million) to attract top international talent

2. Challenge Programme

NNF’s largest open-competition funding mechanism, allocating up to DKK 75 million (~€10 million) per project over six years.

Focuses on grand societal challenges—e.g., climate-smart biology, cardiometabolic disease modeling—and is open beyond Denmark to researchers across Europe, Ireland, and the UK (2026 edition) .

Aligned Investment with Global Relevance

NNF funds projects tackling diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, sustainability, and the green transition—reflecting strategic alignment with global health and environmental priorities

This includes mission-driven investments like:

The NIVI Vaccine Initiative: ~DKK 1.8 billion for respiratory disease vaccines

Cellerator: ~DKK 950 million for cell therapy scale-up

Partnerships with Gates Foundation to develop sustainable food protein from CO₂

Infrastructure developments for antimicrobial resistance and metabolic research

Cutting-Edge Support for Data & AI

NNF champions data science and computational research through:

Data Science Collaborative Research Programme

Data Science Investigator Programme

Support for research infrastructure in AI, modeling, and big data across health and sustainability domains
These fields are supported with annual budgets up to DKK 75 million each, unlocking pathways for data-driven innovation .

Global Leadership in Health Challenges

NNF joined forces with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome, committing US$300 million over three years to tackle climate, nutrition, and infectious threats—underscoring its global influence in health equity .

It pledged nearly DKK 380 million (~US$58 million) to support the WHO, focused on non-communicable diseases and system resilience amid U.S. funding cuts.

Contributed ~US$87.5 million to Denmark’s national AI supercomputer (Gefion), a resource poised to accelerate breakthroughs in drug discovery and sustainability science .

Summary Table: Predictor Value of NNF Support

Programme / Initiative	Purpose & Impact
Research Leader Programme	Long-term funding (~DKK 10 M) to build independent research careers
Challenge Programme	Large-scale thematic grants (~DKK 75 M) for global societal challenges
Data Science Funding	Supports AI, modeling, and computational leadership across life sciences
Mission Health & Sustainability Initiatives	Drives infrastructure and translational breakthroughs (e.g., vaccines, cell therapy)
Global Partnerships	Boosts applicants’ global credibility and impact through high-profile collaborations

Why NNF Grants Signal Long-Term Success

Prestige & Scale: Highly competitive, high-budget grants—standing out on grants, CVs, and institutional profiles.

Cross-Career Reach: Awards span early-stage investigators to seasoned research leaders.

Strategic Diversity: Funding spans basic research, translational pipelines, sustainable tech, and infrastructure.

Global Ambitions: Facilitates international research collaboration and thematic innovation.

Visibility & Resourcing: Access to infrastructure, high-profile networks, mentorship, and long grant durations boost long-term career trajectories.

Specialties

Biomedical Engineering

Others

Eligibility Requirements

WHO: Principal investigators anchored in Denmark are eligible to apply. Applications from Ph.D. students and postdocs will not be taken into consideration. As this grant cannot cover salary of the grantee, the applicant must be guaranteed his or her own salary for the entire applied project period.

WHERE: The research activities applied for must be anchored at a university, hospital, or other non-profit research institution in Denmark.

WHAT: The application must describe a clearly defined research project with an appropriate budget.

Eligible Countries:

Denmark

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Novo Nordisk Fonden

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Tuborg Havnevej 19 2900 Hellerup Denmark

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