In 2025, the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded DKK 11.8 billion (€1.6 billion) to support more than 2,200 projects aimed at improving people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.
The projects supported cover the full range of the Foundation’s grant-giving areas, including key topics such as tackling cardiometabolic diseases, addressing antimicrobial resistance, supporting the development of more resilient and climate-friendly food systems, and harnessing the potential of new technologies.
“2025 was an extraordinary year for the Novo Nordisk Foundation as we increased our support of research, education, and innovation that can strengthen societies and improve lives. We do this in close partnership with people and organisations who share our vision of a healthier future for people and the planet,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
While having Denmark as its centre of gravity, the Foundation continues to have an international outlook and collaborate with global partners. In 2025, we launched major initiatives with the Gates Foundation and Wellcome to address challenges in relation to food security, climate change, and antimicrobial resistance.
We also participated in key events such as the World Economic Forum, World Health Assembly, and the United Nations General Assembly, with the aim of raising awareness of cardiometabolic and other non-communicable diseases in collaboration with major partners.
The Foundation has a strong focus on providing grants through open competition to stimulate researchers’ own ideas and innovative research. In 2025, several of our open competition programmes were extended in scope, both in terms of funding and geographical focus, so that grants are now available for applicants from the Nordic countries and Europe.
“Every year reminds us that meaningful progress is built over time, through collaboration, curiosity and a willingness to pursue bold ideas,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.
“Despite turbulent times in many parts of the world, we will continue to support both long-term initiatives and projects that can help turn scientific insight into more immediate impact for the benefit of society.”
The DKK 11.8 billon awarded in 2025 is the largest amount ever awarded by the Foundation in a single year, surpassing the DKK 9.1 billion (€1.21 billion) awarded in 2023 and the DKK 10.1 billion (€1.35 billion) in 2024.
Highlights from 2025
- The Foundation entered into a strategic framework agreement with the World Health Organization, committing up to DKK 380 million over the next four years. Efforts will focus on addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with emphasis on cardiometabolic diseases, critical gaps in the health workforce, inequity in access to quality NCD services as well as antimicrobial resistance.
- The Foundation renewed the Acetate Consortium for another two years in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, committing DKK 162 million in joint funding. The initiative aims to mitigate food insecurity and climate change by developing new food prototypes using CO₂ as raw material.
- To strengthen the Nordic region’s position in quantum technology and research, the Foundation also invested a total of DKK 600 million together with the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) in the establishment of QuNorth, a new initiative with the mission of acquiring and operating the world’s most powerful commercial quantum computer.
Read more about our work in 2025 in our Year in Review.
