Purpose
The primary purpose of the Start Package grant is to make Danish universities or other research institutions more competitive when recruiting top researchers of any nationality. The aim is also to enhance researcher mobility across borders, among Danish universities and from industry to university.
The 4-year grant is intended to provide leverage for the hiring Danish university/research institution during recruitment and contract negotiations and to accompany the offer of one of the following positions:
Up to DKK 5 million for a tenure track position at the assistant professor level
Up to DKK 8 million for a time-unlimited position at the associate professor level
Up to DKK 10 million for a time-unlimited position at the full professor level
Up to DKK 10 million for a clinical- or clinical chair professor position with mandatory research responsibilities for a minimum of five years
A Start Package Grant will provide the host institution with funding that must be used in connection with the candidate’s establishment of an independent research group at the host institution.
Areas of support
The grant supports recruitment of researchers within medical sciences, life sciences, sustainability, or natural and technical sciences in fields that are in alignment with the Foundation’s 2030 Strategy. This includes:
- Preventing and managing cardiometabolic diseases
- Decreasing the burden and threat of infectious diseases
- Advancing and applying regenerative medicine
- Reducing inequity in health
- Sustainable and high yield agriculture
- Sustainable food for healthy diets
- High-impact climate change mitigation technologies
- Supporting society in the green transition
- Fundamental research with potential application within health or sustainability, for instance bioscience, metabolism, the microbiome, systems biology, natural and technical sciences, data and computer science, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, mathematical modelling, materials science, robotics, etc.
- Interdisciplinary research with potential application within health or sustainability
- Technology development with potential application within health or sustainability
Eligibility
Please consult the guidelines for detailed eligibility requirements concerning the recruiting institution, position, and candidate.
Application process
The application must be completed and submitted using the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s electronic application system NORMA which can be accessed using the Send application link at the top of this page.
Please read the Application Guidelines (available via the link at the top of this page) before starting your application. Additional essential information about the call and application process is provided here.
