Our vision is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet
Our focus areas
Health
Infectious diseases, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease are a threat to global public health.
Sustainability
We must solve the climate crisis and develop tomorrow’s food production so that we can feed a growing world population in a sustainable way.
Life science ecosystem
A robust life science ecosystem is a prerequisite for scientific breakthroughs and for developing new technologies that can help to solve major societal challenges.
CELEBRATING SCIENCE THAT SHAPES THE FUTURE
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize celebrates scientific discoveries benefitting people and the planet
News
Kei Sakamoto receives 2026 Diabetes Prize for uncovering what still works when insulin falters
One centre, two continents, new insights into disease
Novo Nordisk Foundation renews commitment to investigate genomic mechanisms of disease at Broad Institute in collaboration with Danish scientists
Our Impact
Explore stories and numbers that show how our work benefits people and the planet.
Selected projects and initiatives
Danish Centre for AI Innovation
The national centre owns and operates Gefion, one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator
The initiative aims to advance the cell therapy ecosystem and enable transformative treatments.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease
With a USD 47.5 million commitment over a five-year period, the Foundation supported the establishment of a centre for genomic research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston (US).
Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center
The centre aims to identify innovative solutions to capture and recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and thereby contribute to reducing the rise in global temperature.
Challenge Programme
The Challenge Programme aims to contribute substantially to the development of Danish and European research ecosystems within research areas of strategic priority to the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
BioInnovation Institute Foundation
Helping life science start-ups bring research to market
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)
NIVI aims to develop new or improved vaccines for some of the deadliest respiratory diseases.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme
Pandemic Antiviral Discovery (PAD)
Together with Open Philanthropy and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation made an initial commitment of up to USD 90 million in coordinated funding towards the initiative in 2022.
Research Leader Programme
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to ensure that excellent research leaders have the opportunity to pursue ambitious and innovative projects.
Our grants
The Novo Nordisk Foundation awards grants based on applications in open competition and supports a wide range of areas within health, sustainability and life science.
INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW
Explore our work
Discover a selection of projects and initiatives supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Navigate through an interactive experience and learn more about the projects and initiatives we support across science, health, education, and society.
Novo Holdings A/S
The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s investment activities are carried out by the Foundation’s fully owned subsidiary Novo Holdings. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to be a supportive owner of the Novo Group companies and to generate long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
