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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.

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Novo Nordisk Foundation grants DKK 427m through its 2024 Research Leader Programme

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to support researchers at various stages of their careers, providing them with the necessary resources to conduct groundbreaking research. Since 2018, more than 240 researchers have received grants.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has allocated DKK 427 million in grants through its 2024 Research Leader Programme, supporting 41 exceptional research projects across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. The recipients represent a diverse range of institutions from all over Denmark as well as the other Nordic countries, including Aalborg..

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.