Novo Nordisk Foundation
Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme
Up to DKK 60M (~€8M) for research consortia tackling specific grand challenges in biomedical and health sciences.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme funds large-scale, ambitious research consortia tackling pre-defined grand challenges in biomedical, health, or sustainability-related sciences. Funding goes up to DKK 60 million (~€8 million) over 6 years. Each call focuses on a specific theme announced in advance — recent themes include metabolic health, neurodegeneration, microbiome research, antibiotic resistance, and sustainable protein production. Applications must come from consortia of 3+ research groups, ideally spanning multiple institutions and countries. Novo Nordisk Foundation favours excellent Danish-based research but increasingly supports international consortia. The scheme is among the most ambitious for health-related research in Europe in terms of scale. Highly competitive — typically fewer than 10 projects funded per theme per year.
Key facts
- Max budget
- DKK 60M (~€8M)
- Duration
- 6 years
- Consortium
- 3+ groups, multi-institution
- Themes
- Pre-defined annually
- Success rate
- ~5–10% per theme
Who is eligible?
- •Consortium of 3+ research groups
- •At least one applicant at a Danish research institution (or strong Danish partner)
- •Research aligned with the current Challenge Programme theme
- •Multi-year, multi-disciplinary project design
Frequently asked questions
+Does the consortium need to be fully Danish?
No, but the Danish connection must be substantial — typically at least one leading PI at a Danish institution, with meaningful Danish participation in the research and funding flow. International partners are welcome and often strengthen applications.
+How are Challenge Programme themes decided?
Novo Nordisk Foundation publishes themes annually, selected by their scientific advisory boards based on strategic health and sustainability priorities. Themes are announced months before the deadline, allowing consortia time to form.
+Is this only for medical research?
Primarily health-related, but broader themes (microbiome, sustainability in food systems, metabolic health) overlap with agricultural, environmental, and basic biological sciences. Check the current theme specifics before applying.
+How does the Challenge Programme compare to other NNF grants?
NNF also offers individual researcher grants (Laureate Research Grants, Ascending Investigator Grants) at smaller scale and shorter duration. The Challenge Programme is reserved for the largest, most ambitious consortium projects on pre-defined themes.
Related programmes
European Research Council
ERC Advanced Grant
Up to €2.5M for established research leaders with a 10-year track record of significant achievements.
European Research Council
ERC Synergy Grant
Up to €10M for groups of 2–4 principal investigators tackling ambitious problems that need complementary expertise.
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