New Exploratory Research and Discovery Grant Programme (Denmark)

Deadline: 19-Feb-2026

Overview of the NERD Grant

The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s NERD Grant Programme funds creative, exploratory, and ambitious research within natural and technical sciences. It is specifically designed for principal investigators (PIs) who propose groundbreaking scientific ideas with long-term potential in life sciences, health sciences, or sustainability.

NERD grants support one individual PI, offering substantial funding and a multi-year timeframe to pursue risky, unconventional, or transformative research.

Key Features of the NERD Grant

• Maximum Funding: Up to DKK 16 million
• Project Duration: 5–6 years (projects shorter than five years are not accepted)
• Eligible Research Areas: Natural sciences, technical sciences, life sciences, health sciences, sustainability
• Focus: High-risk, high-reward exploratory ideas
• Funding Type: Individual investigator grant

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is defined clearly to ensure fairness and alignment with the programme’s goals.

• Eligible Applicants
  • Researchers at any career stage after earning a PhD
  • Independent researchers who have already established their own research direction
  • Early-career researchers transitioning into independence
• Not Eligible
  • PhD students
  • Applicants whose total active grant portfolio exceeds DKK 4 million annually at project start
  • Researchers applying for another NERD, RECRUIT, or Investigator grant simultaneously
  • Applicants outside Denmark (projects must be anchored in Denmark)
• Institutional Requirements
  • The host institution must:
    • Provide necessary infrastructure, lab facilities, and research environment
    • Confirm the applicant meets funding-limit rules
    • Be a university or non-profit research institution in Denmark
    • Employ or affiliate the applicant at minimum 80% during project initiation

What the Grant Covers

NERD grants provide broad, flexible funding, including:

• Funding Allowed
  • PI salary
  • Salaries for research staff
  • PhD tuition
  • Operational costs and consumables
  • Research equipment
  • Travel, conferences, and training
  • Publication costs
  • Administrative support
  • Project supplements when justified
• Funding Not Allowed
  • Commercial or profit-driven activities
  • Institutional overhead costs
  • Duplicate funding of work already financed elsewhere

Why the NERD Grant Matters

This programme is one of the most significant long-term funding opportunities in Denmark. Key benefits include:

• Long-term stability: Up to six years of secure funding to pursue complex ideas
• Intellectual freedom: Encourages novel, bold, exploratory thinking
• Career advancement: Supports independence for early-career researchers and expansion for established investigators
• Impact potential: Designed for research that can transform life sciences, health sciences, and sustainability fields

How the NERD Grant Works

Step-by-Step Process

• Check Eligibility
  • Ensure you:
    • Hold a PhD
    • Are based at a Danish non-profit institution
    • Do not exceed the DKK 4M annual grant limit
    • Are not applying for any overlapping Foundation grants
• Prepare Required Documents
  • Applicants must submit:
    • Curriculum vitae (CV)
    • Full publication list
    • Research project summary
    • Detailed project proposal
    • Description of work plan, timeline, and objectives
    • Supplementary information (employment terms, research time allocation, active grants)
    • Hosting letter from the Danish institution
    • Reference list
• Submit the Application
  • Only one application may be submitted per cycle for NERD, RECRUIT, or Investigator categories.
    • Two-Stage Evaluation Process
      • The NERD assessment is designed to reduce bias and promote idea-focused evaluation.
      • Stage 1: Anonymous Scientific Review
        • Applicant identity removed
        • Evaluation focuses only on the scientific idea, novelty, and impact
        • Top-ranked proposals advance
      • Stage 2: Full Review
        • Committee examines CVs, publication records, and feasibility
        • Final ranking and selection takes place
• Awards and Project Initiation
  • Successful applicants must maintain at least 80% employment affiliation with the host institution in Denmark.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting overlapping grant applications → leads to automatic rejection
• Proposing projects shorter than 5 years → not allowed
• Including identifiable information in Stage 1 materials → may compromise anonymity
• Requesting funding for overhead or commercial activities → prohibited
• Failing to obtain a clear hosting letter → application considered incomplete
• Exceeding the DKK 4M annual grant limit → violation of eligibility rules

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can early-career researchers apply?

Yes. As long as the applicant has earned a PhD and meets institutional requirements, researchers at any career stage can apply.

2. Are collaborations allowed?

Yes, but all collaborator identities must remain anonymous during Stage 1. The PI remains the sole grant holder.

3. Can I apply if I have an existing NERD grant?

Active NERD, RECRUIT, or Investigator grant holders may only apply during the final year of their current grant.

4. Does the grant cover postdoc or PhD salaries?

Yes. Staff salaries, including postdocs and PhD tuition, can be fully covered.

5. Do I need to be based in Denmark?

Yes. The project must be anchored at a Danish non-profit research institution where the PI has at least 80% affiliation.

6. What happens if my institution cannot confirm infrastructure?

The application becomes ineligible. A hosting letter is mandatory.

7. Can overhead or indirect costs be included?

No. Overhead is strictly excluded from NERD funding.

Conclusion

The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s NERD Grant Programme offers one of the most substantial and flexible research funding opportunities available in Denmark. With up to DKK 16 million and a six-year timeline, it empowers innovative scientists to pursue bold, exploratory research that can significantly advance life sciences, health sciences, and sustainability. By understanding eligibility rules, preparing strong materials, and following the application structure, researchers can maximize their chances of securing this prestigious grant.

For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.