1924
The Novo Nordisk Foundation was established on 1 June 1924
Our vision is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet
Vision
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.
World events such as climate change, food shortages, global public health and a pandemic affect our focus areas. In the coming years, we will increase our efforts to help to solve these urgent societal challenges.”
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen
Professor, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation
Selected projects and initiatives
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.
Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP)
With the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP), the Novo Nordisk Foundation takes a step towards reducing inequity in health by strengthening the education of nurses and other key health professionals in India, Kenya, and East Africa.
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.
Danish Centre for AI Innovation
The national centre owns and operates Gefion, one of the world’s most powerful AI supercomputers.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Vaccine Accelerator (NVAC)
Enabling the NIVI mission by providing industry-level expertise in vaccine development
Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator
The initiative aims to advance the cell therapy ecosystem and enable transformative treatments.
AMR Action Fund – global initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance
Several leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations have raised USD 1 billion to launch the AMR Action Fund. The aim is to bring two to four new antibiotics to patients by 2030.
Coronavirus initiatives
The Novo Nordisk Foundation is supporting a number of initiatives in relation to combatting COVID-19.
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW)
The Foundation awarded up to DKK 2.2 billion (EUR 300 million) over a ten-year period for the centre, which is established as a partnership between three leading research institutions.
PIG-PARADIGM – research into the intestinal resilience of piglets
The Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded DKK 150 million (€20.1 million) for an interdisciplinary research project that may lead to a reduction in the use of antibiotics in the pig farming industry.
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.
News
02 Jul 2025
New biofertiliser initiative aims to advance sustainable and affordable food production
27 Jun 2025
Challenge accepted: New funding for ambitious projects within biomanufacturing, cardiometabolic diseases, and artificial intelligence
25 Jun 2025
New Danish research centre to make designed proteins with vast potential
Supp
What do we support?
We support a wide range of projects and initiatives that benefit people’s lives, society and the planet. We have three focus areas.
Read more
Work
How do we work?
We provide support for projects in open competition and for stand-alone initiatives. In addition, we award numerous prizes for scientific research and education.
Read more
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Novo Nordisk Foundation is an independent Danish enterprise foundation. Characterised as a non-profit organisation, it supports philanthropic purposes using funds deriving from its ownership of and investment in companies and other financial assets.
DKK 10 billion
In 2024, the Foundation awarded a total of DKK 10 billion in grants for new projects and initiatives.
Novo Holdings
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. Read more at novoholdings.dk.
