The Novo Nordisk Foundation supports research in diverse fields including molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics, genetics, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, biophysics, biochemistry, biology, and biostatistics. Research may be conducted using animal, cellular, subcellular, or in silico models.
Applicants must apply under one of the following areas most relevant to their project: endocrinology and metabolism, clinical and translational medicine, industrial and environmental biotechnology, plant science and food biotechnology, or natural and technical sciences.
A total of up to DKK 112.5 million is available for funding, with up to DKK 62.5 million prioritised for international recruitment. For candidates relocating to Denmark, additional funding of up to DKK 12.5 million and two extra years may be allocated, totalling up to DKK 25 million over seven years.
For non-relocating grantees, approximately DKK 2.5 million per year may be awarded over five years, for a total of up to DKK 12.5 million per grant.
Applicants should be associate professors, though applications from assistant professors, senior researchers, or those in similar research positions will be considered if they meet all other eligibility criteria. Professors, including MSO, are not eligible for this particular call but may apply for the Foundation’s Distinguished Investigator grant.
The applicant cannot be a group leader in a Novo Nordisk Foundation research centre where support is included in their affiliation. Applicants must not hold a grant portfolio exceeding an annual total of DKK 4 million in the project’s starting year.
The grant is intended for full-time researchers, and those with clinical obligations are ineligible. Recipients must contribute to pre-graduate teaching at their host institutions, and the grant cannot be used to hire teaching substitutes.
The research must be anchored at a university, hospital, or other non-profit research institution in Denmark, and applicants must be employed and have their primary research group based in Denmark during the project period, though minor affiliations abroad are allowed.
The application must describe a clearly defined project with an appropriate budget, which may be independent, delimited, or part of a larger ongoing project. In cases of collaboration, the applicant must remain the main driver, and co-applicants are not permitted.
Eligible expenses include salary support, tuition fees for PhD students, consumables, research animals, sequencing or analysis services, equipment (up to 20% of the total budget), travel, conferences, publications, and project supplements where applicable. The Foundation does not fund commercial activities, indirect costs, or double funding of projects.
Applications will be assessed by the Committee on Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine based on scientific quality and impact, approach, environment, collaboration, and investigator track record, including training, expertise, independence, and leadership potential. Past mobility and international experience are considered advantageous.
Applicants must provide a CV of up to 4,000 characters, including a bibliographic overview, teaching obligations or plans, and up to 10 relevant publications within a 5,000-character publication list, with a link to a full profile on Google Scholar, Web of Science, or Scopus.
Supplementary information should outline employment terms, current funding situation, and the percentage of research time dedicated to the proposed project. Applicants who are borderline concerning eligibility must justify their classification as Ascending Investigators.
The deadline for applications is 13 January 2026.
For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.
