Areas of support 

Applicants may apply for grants for projects that in creative and engaging ways communicate topics and facilitate fact-based public dialogue on challenges relevant to society within natural sciences research, technology development, sustainability, climate, energy production and health.  

Projects on these topics may involve all types of media, instruments and channels in order to;  

• contribute to inspire and engage broad target groups;  
• raise awareness of challenges relevant to society;  
• facilitate public, fact-based dialogue; and  
• increase the dissemination of reliable sources of natural science knowledge and counteract misinformation.  

For example, applicants may apply for grants for science journalism, television and documentary productions, podcasts, animated videos, communication through social media, lectures, makerlabs, seminars, workshop activities, theatre, festivals, or debate events. It is also possible to apply for small-scale pre-projects for DKK 100,000-150,000. A pre-project can be relevant to mature a following, larger project, e.g. by establishing collaborations or mapping needs and challenges. 

The projects’ target group(s) must be within the Danish Realm and can be children, young people and/or the general population. The project activities must primarily be made available to the target group(s) outside the education system.   

It is important to demonstrate that the chosen media is in accordance with the purpose and target group(s) of the project, and that the project is focused and coherent as well as based on selected, relevant activities and instruments. 

Applications on renewal of existing projects must include results from and evaluation of the preceding project. 

Funding 

A total of up to DKK 30 million is available for grants between DKK 100,000–6,000,000 for projects of up to 6 years duration.  

The project may be an independent, delimited project or a part of a larger project that is also supported by other partners. The project can also be a pre-project of up to DKK 150,000 to mature a larger project to follow. Please note that support of a pre-project does not guarantee support for the following project.   

Applicants may apply for funding for the following types of expenses in the project: 

• Salaries for employees or affiliated personnel at all staffing levels, including project management; 
• Salaries for substitutes or paying the salaries of replacements for early-childhood educators and teachers so that they can develop and/or participate in projects; 
• Researchers in permanent positions at universities and university colleges may apply for funds to pay for substitutes for the time they use in a development project if the project extends beyond the description of their duties in their position (such as communicating natural science research for target groups outside the university or university college); 
• Operating expenses: direct expenses for developing, implementing and operating projects, including materials and equipment;  
• Travel expenses in relation to the project, e.g. conference and workshop participation and presentation of results derived from the project; 
• Evaluation in connection with development projects;  
• External auditing costs if the administering institution is not subject to public audit. Institutions that are not subject to audit by public authorities can include expenses for this in the project’s last budget year; and
• Administrative support (up to 5% of the applicant’s overall budget and included in it) to cover administrative expenses directly related to the project being based at an administering institution. Please note, all administering institutions can apply for administrative support, including Danish universities. In this call it is not possible to apply for project supplement.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation will not award grants for; 

• commercial activities; 
• buildings; and 
• overhead (such as rent, electricity, water and maintenance). 

Language 

The application system is in English, but applications can be submitted in either Danish or English. The language chosen will not influence the assessment of the application. 

Application process 

The application must be completed and submitted using NNF’s online application and grant management system, NORMA. 

Before applying, it is important that applicants read the guidelines for applicants as it contain detailed information on the application process.  Please note that the section regarding administrative support (under section 1.4 Funding) has been updated in the guidelines for applicants on 2 August 2024. 

Assessment criteria 

The Foundation’s Committee on Science Communication and Debate will assess the applications based on the following criteria:  

• The project’s consistency with the purpose of the call for applications;   
• The capacity and qualifications of the applicant and the applicant’s institution with emphasis on the relevance for the given project;  
• The quality of the project in terms of reach, engagement and impact;  
• The originality, relevance and importance of the proposed project;  
• The justification of the project with regard to existing initiatives in the field; 
• The scalability and opportunities for national dissemination of the project;  
• The specified project goals (both short-term and long-term) and the alignment between project goals, the method of dissemination to the specific target group, and the resources used;  
• The project plan, method and feasibility of the project, including plan for evaluation and knowledge sharing;  
• The expected benefit for the specified target group and in the form of knowledge-building and long-term effects; and 
• The capacity and qualifications of any co-applicants and collaboration partners.