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Supporting research leaders at all career stages

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to ensure that excellent research leaders have the opportunity to pursue ambitious and innovative projects.

Latest news

Novo Nordisk Foundation awards grants totalling DKK 361 million to talented research leaders

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded 37 new grants through its major Research Leader Programme that supports leading researchers at different career stages. More than 200 researchers have now received grants through the Programme.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to enable outstanding research while supporting the development of research leaders. The Foundation has just awarded DKK 361 million for 37 new projects in Denmark and other countries. The projects focus on topics such as creating new knowledge on developing alternatives to antibiotics,..

Meet our recipients

Project examples

Major grant for mapping the mechanisms behind nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Grant awarded to solve the genetic riddle behind genetic disease and pregnancy loss
Grant for investigating the dynamics of the largest carbon store in soil
Grant to reveal the secrets of bacteria

DKK 2.4 billion over 5 years

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has allocated DKK 2.4 billion (€322 million) for its Research Leader Programme aimed at excellent research leaders at different stages of their careers.

Individual grants of up to DKK 10 million are awarded each year. The 5-year grants are awarded within the scientific fields:

  • Bioscience and basic biomedical research (2018- );
  • Clinical and translational research (2019- );
  • Data science research (2020- );
  • Endocrinology and metabolic research (2018- );
  • Industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology (2021- );
  • Plant science, agriculture and food biotechnology (2021- ); and
  • Biotechnology-based synthesis and production research (2019-2020).

The grants are awarded based on applications submitted in open competition. Calls for applications are typically open in late fall with deadlines in January.

See all Novo Nordisk Foundation calls here.