The Novo Nordisk Foundation is excited to announce the four themes of its Challenge Programme 2025. The Programme addresses some of the major challenges facing society and the planet at large. It has a total budget of DKK 480 million (€64.3 million) and is now open for applications. Watch the Foundation’s leadership team explain the relevance of each new research theme in short films.
The Challenge Programme gives leading researchers the opportunity to assemble strong teams that can develop solutions to major challenges.
This year the Novo Nordisk Foundation has expanded the programme from three themes, with a total budget of up to DKK 360 million in 2024, to four new themes and a total budget of up to DKK 480 million in 2025. Each successful project applicant will receive a grant of up to DKK 60 million, over 6 years.
Members of the Foundation leadership team talk about the new research themes for the Challenge Programme 2025 in the short films below, giving examples of what the research supported within the themes may include, but will not be limited to. The Programme is now open to applications from researchers who want to engage in the following four themes:
The NNF Grand AI Challenge
The specific challenge of this theme is to develop and use artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for breakthroughs in science, technology, sustainability, and healthcare. The new Gefion supercomputer, dedicated to AI, may serve as a powerful computer platform to tackle this challenge.
Watch Lene Oddershede, SVP, Natural & Technical Sciences, explain the importance and relevance of this research theme here:
Ectopic fat and cardiometabolic disease
The specific challenge of this theme is to understand causal factors in the development and consequences of ectopic fat accumulation, identifying novel targets and precision medicine strategies in disease prevention and treatment, with a human-centric point of departure.
Watch Arne Astrup, SVP, Obesity and Nutritional Sciences, explain the importance and relevance of this research theme here:
Interactions of infectious diseases & CMD
The specific challenge of this theme is to understand the interactions between cardiometabolic diseases and infectious diseases and inform how best to reduce the morbidity and mortality of people and populations exposed to both types of conditions.
Watch Martin Ridderstråle, SVP, Medical Science, explain the importance and relevance of this research theme here:
Heterogeneity in biomanufacturing
The specific challenge of this theme is to understand the impact of heterogeneity in biomanufacturing and to develop novel approaches for detection, control, and mitigation throughout both upstream and downstream processing.
Watch Claus Felby, SVP, Biotech, explain the importance and relevance of this research theme here:
Global relevance
The four new research themes of the Challenge Programme 2025 reflect the Foundation’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge research and development within Denmark’s thriving scientific community.
The Foundation anticipates that this programme will significantly contribute to the development of the Danish research ecosystem, producing impactful solutions with global relevance.
For further information, please visit our Challenge Programme page.
