Deadline: 03-Sep-2026
The Novo Nordisk Foundation supports “Project Grants for Societal Learning for the Green Transition” to promote sustainable behaviour, climate action, and community-driven environmental change across Denmark. Grants range from DKK 200,000 to DKK 6 million for projects lasting up to three years, focusing on behavioural change, citizen science, living labs, and cross-sector collaboration. Priority is given to initiatives in agriculture, food systems, and climate mitigation that strengthen public engagement and sustainable practices.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Green Transition Grants Overview
The programme is offered by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and aims to accelerate societal learning and behavioural change for a sustainable green transition across the Danish Realm.
- Core purpose:
- Support sustainable behaviour and lifestyle change
- Strengthen societal learning for climate action
- Encourage community and institutional participation in green transition
- Improve collaboration between citizens, research, government, and industry
- Key thematic areas:
Funding Details
The programme provides substantial funding for research and implementation projects focused on sustainability.
- Total funding pool:
- Up to DKK 35 million available
- Grant size:
- Minimum: DKK 200,000
- Maximum: DKK 6 million per project
- Project duration:
- Up to 3 years
- Eligible cost coverage:
- Salaries for project staff
- Operating and project expenses
- Project management costs
- Equipment and tools
- Travel and collaboration costs
- Communication, outreach, and dissemination
- Publication and conference participation
- PhD tuition fees (where relevant)
- Administrative costs (limited applicability)
- Danish university project supplements under national agreements
Priority Areas
The programme gives preference to projects with strong societal and environmental relevance.
- High-priority sectors:
- Agriculture and sustainable farming systems
- Food production and consumption systems
- Climate mitigation technologies
- Priority project types:
- Citizen science initiatives
- Living labs and real-world experimentation
- Public engagement campaigns
- Cross-sector partnerships
- Community-based sustainability interventions
Project Goals and Expected Outcomes
The programme focuses on long-term behavioural and systemic change.
- Expected outcomes:
- Increased adoption of sustainable behaviours
- Stronger public support for green transition policies
- Improved quality of life through sustainability
- Strengthened institutional and community capacity
- Scalable models for environmental change
- Key approach:
- Combine sustainability with improved wellbeing perceptions
- Focus on practical, testable, and scalable solutions
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
The programme is open to a wide range of organisations involved in non-commercial sustainability work.
- Eligible applicants:
- Public authorities
- Civil society organisations
- Charities and associations
- NGOs and advocacy groups
- Community organisations
- Think tanks and grassroots movements
- Research institutions
- Private companies (for non-commercial, non-profit projects only)
- Applicant requirements:
- Must act as project leader or responsible institution
- Project must be based in and primarily focused on the Danish Realm
- Must ensure proper project administration
Ineligible Costs and Activities
Certain costs and activities are not supported under this programme.
- Not funded:
- Commercial or profit-generating activities
- Building construction projects
- Indirect overhead costs such as:
- Rent
- Utilities
- Maintenance
- Financial transparency requirement:
- Applicants must disclose any overlapping funding from other sources for the same project
Application Expectations
Applicants must present well-structured, impact-driven proposals.
- Required elements:
- Clear project objectives and methodology
- Description of societal learning approach
- Defined stakeholder collaboration model
- Budget and funding justification
- Implementation timeline (up to 3 years)
- Strong proposals typically include:
- Cross-sector collaboration (government, academia, industry, civil society)
- Real-world testing or pilot initiatives
- Community engagement strategies
- Measurable sustainability outcomes
Conclusion
The green transition grant programme by the Novo Nordisk Foundation supports large-scale, collaborative projects that drive sustainable behavioural change and societal learning across Denmark.
- It is designed to:
- Accelerate climate-friendly behaviour
- Strengthen community participation in sustainability
- Support research and real-world experimentation
- Build scalable solutions for the green transition
- Connect citizens, institutions, and industries in shared environmental action.
For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.