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Novo Nordisk Foundation allocates DKK 50 million for emergency response to the coronavirus epidemic in Denmark

The Novo Nordisk Foundation will support projects that seek to mitigate the adverse health effects of the coronavirus epidemic in Denmark.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is spreading exponentially across the world, including in Denmark. The rate of transmission is extremely high, and the Danish Health Authority assesses that the disease burden of COVID-19 and the strain on the health system may be critical.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has therefore allocated DKK 50 million to support projects with a national focus that take the initiative to mitigate the adverse health effects of the coronavirus epidemic in Denmark. Applications may be submitted for scientific, information and outreach and social initiatives.

The projects should be able to be initiated immediately, and the knowledge from the projects should also be publicly accessible and be able to be used in similar situations in the future.

“We face very serious health challenges. In taking this initiative, we aim to support the management of the effects of the COVID-19 situation in Denmark to benefit both individuals and society as a whole,” says Lars Rebien Sørensen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

What grants can be applied for?

Applications may be submitted within three grant areas:

  • scientific projects that test new treatments, techniques and technologies or preventive initiatives that can rapidly be used to manage the challenges the health system faces in the current situation;
  • information and outreach initiatives that can improve the communication to the public and their understanding and knowledge about how the health aspects of the crisis are being managed; and
  • social initiatives designed to meet the special health needs of vulnerable groups affected by the crisis.

Applicants may apply for grants of up to DKK 5 million for a project. There is no application deadline, since the Foundation will assess the applications on an ongoing basis. Because of the severity of the situation, applicants will be notified within 48 hours.

Who may apply?

The applicants must be based at public institutions or authorities or private non-profit organizations such as NGOs in Denmark that are involved in combating the coronavirus epidemic. Read more about the application process, who may apply and what can be applied for here (currently only in Danish).

Strengthening efforts to combat future viral infections
This new initiative follows on from the Foundation’s announcement earlier in March that it has allocated DKK 20 million to support research and development that can help Denmark to strengthen its preparedness for and response to future new viral epidemics. Read more here.

Further information

Application inquiries: Eugenia Krasnopjorova, Project Specialist, [email protected], +45 4126 6120

Press contact: Christian Mostrup, Senior Programme Lead, Communications, [email protected], +45 3067 4805