Projects we support

Projects and initiatives

The Foundation has launched numerous ambitious projects and initiatives that benefit society. The topics are wide-ranging and include research, education, innovation, humanitarian and social projects. We award grants for projects based on applications received in open competition and for projects for which the Foundation takes the initiative.

Research Leader Programme

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to ensure that excellent research leaders have the opportunity to pursue ambitious and innovative projects.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is supporting LIFE, a new major not-for-profit learning initiative, to provide science education resources free of charge to schools throughout Denmark.

Copenhagen Bioscience Cluster

The Copenhagen Bioscience Cluster is a Novo Nordisk Foundation initiative that started in 2007 with the establishment of the first major research centre.

Steno Diabetes Centers

The Novo Nordisk Foundation, in collaboration with Denmark’s administrative regions, has taken the initiative to establish specialized Steno Diabetes Centers throughout Denmark.

Challenge Programme

With the Challenge Programme, the Novo Nordisk Foundation wants to support and promote world-class research that focuses on contributing to finding answers to today’s challenges in global technology or health.

BioInnovation Institute

BioInnovation Institute (BII) is a large new center that will help innovative entrepreneurs and talented researchers develop research projects to the point at which they attract crucial capital investment.

Young Scientists

The competition seeks to stimulate interest in the natural sciences among children and adolescents in Denmark.

PULSE is an innovative exhibition and reaseach project that aims to promote a healthier lifestyle for families with children.

Kim Gladstone Herlev, vice precident - Experimentarium

Cancer 2 – From Symptom to Treatment

The project aims to identify why people with cancer in Denmark are being treated later that people in similar countries.

Nobel Laureate Lectures

The Nobel Laureate Lectures aim to promote the natural science at the higjest level to inspire young reseachers and students.

Cancer 3 – Returning to Daily Life

The aim of the project is to optimize the rehabilitation of people with cancer after their treatment has ended. In the photo is professor Lis Adamsen (left), who leads the project.

Danish Diabetes Academy

The Academy's overall aim is to generate new knowledge on diabetes and new ways of treating and preventing it.

Bandim Health Project

The aim of the project is Guinea-Bissau in western Africa is to explore the non-specific effects of health interventions.

Bioinformatics Centre

The Centre seeks to achieve new breakthroughs and to solve problems within biology and medicine by the use of computers.

The Global Centre of Excellence in Primary Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Middle- and Low-Income Countries focuses on preventing chronic disease, one of the greatest challenges for global health. The picture is from a project in Uganda.

The Virtual Laboratory

The Virtual Laboratory unleashes creativity. Creating sustained interest in the natural sciences requires that upper-secondary students experience the creative aspects of science by participating in experiments that enable them to turn theory into practice.

Niels Bohr Archive

This project will investigate aspects of how the generation after Niels Bohr continued the research tradition at the Niels Bohr Institute. This important history is illuminated by a unique range of historical material in our archive. The project is also expected to reveal material that has not yet been preserved for posterity.

Finn Aaserud, Direktor - Niels Bohr Archive

European School Copenhagen

It is great news for all of Copenhagen that the Novo Nordisk Foundation has stepped up with a large donation to fund the new European School. The School means we will be able to attract well-educated international employees.

Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor - City of Copenhagen

Copenhagen International School Nordhavn

Ever since we began laying plans for a new school in Nordhavn, we have dreamed of creating the best possible framework for teaching science, health, information technology and athletics. The generous grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will help us to fulfil our dream.

Walter Plotkin, Director - Copenhagen International School

A New Natural History Museum of Denmark

A new international Natural History Museum of Denmark will safeguard the Museum’s invaluable collections for the future and will set new standards for research and for communicating the natural sciences.

Ralf Hemmingsen, Rector - University of Copenhagen

BIOPRO World Talent Campus

The collaborations and shared experiences of the BIOPRO World Talent Campus will help build a global network between students, universities and companies that can further enhance Zealand’s position as a hotspot within biotech manufacturing.

Jesper Bryde-Jacobsen, Managing Director - BioPro

EuroScience Open Forum 2014

The conference vision is to build bridges between science and society, including the private companies in which research and innovation play a pivotal role.

Morten Østergaard, Former minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education

Tracing The Major Heroes of Science

The TV series aims to stimulate interest in the natural sciences – especially among children and adolescents. August Krogh is one of the scientists profiled.

Bio Olympiad in Denmark

Well-educated young people are urgently needed within the natural sciences, and the Olympiad is therefore an important recurring event that hones the interest of students in biology through competition.

Erik Meineche Schmidt, Chair of the Organizing Committee and Former Rector of Aarhus University

MSc in Business Administration and Bioentrepreneurship

The BioBusiness and Innovation Platform will ensure that students acquire competencies within both the biosciences and business. This will give students a firm foundation for starting their own business or for mastering an exciting job in a life-science company in Denmark or abroad.

Finn Valentin, Professor - Programme Director for BBIP

Program for Clinical Research Infrastructure

Research Fellowships on Talent and Transition

How can universities support and develop talent in Denmark? And how do students experience the transition from studying to their first job?

Young Scientists: A TV Project

“It is incredibly important to promote and publicize science and innovation: showing that curiosity, playing and wonder can result in great things. The Young Scientists competition has the full potential to show that making an effort has benefits.”

Ulrik Skotte, Producer - DocEye

Symposium on Scientific Creativity

Science Talent Academy

ScienceTalents seeks to strengthen the education chain by developing a new study programme. We want to establish active collaboration with upper-secondary schools, companies, research centres and universities working together to inspire and engage talented young students. Doing this will provide the impetus for them to continue improving their scientific skills.

Nynne Afzelius, Talent Manager - Sciencetalents

European Union Science Olympiad 2017

The EUSO highlights new and exciting aspects of the natural sciences. Previous participants tell us that competing in the EUSO represents a tremendous opportunity for scientific development and is a great social experience for young people.

Hans marker, chair, EUSO 2017

Nordic Mentor Network for Entrepreneurship

The Nordic Mentor Network for Entrepreneurship is a mentoring programme targeting promising early-stage projects and start-up companies within the life sciences in Denmark and the other Nordic countries. The objective is to help to test whether their ideas have international potential.

Danish Natural Science Marathon

“Much natural science teaching in Denmark still involves blackboard teaching and cookbook experiments. The Natural Science Marathon wants to change this by being a unique creative module targeting students and teachers in grades 5 and 6.”

Nanna Seidelin, Director, House of Natural Sciences

European Conference of Science Journalists 2017

Danish Robot Olympiad

In the World Robot Olympiad, 16- to 25-year-olds compete in constructing and programming robots. This improves the students’ innovative, creative and problem-solving skills

ATV – Science and Engineering-Project

Cirkus Naturligvis

Cirkus Naturligvis aims to create a sense of wonder, fascination and greater interest in the natural sciences among pupils in grades 4 to 10. Photo: Jens Andersen.

“We are striving to contribute to getting students more engaged in learning through a new project-based method. Further, the students will become increasingly exposed to the natural sciences without adding hours of instruction.”

Anette Clausen, Chair of the Kata Foundation

Tektanken (formerly known as Jet-Net.dk) is a nationwide network including companies and lower- and upper-secondary schools. Here students are working with original space technology developed by the Danish Aerospace Company in Odense, Denmark. Photo: ©House of Natural Sciences

At one of the Science Camps – a 2017 Chemistry Camp – professional and social skills combine with a view of getting young people to take an interest in science and technology.

Photo: Youth Science Association of Denmark

Copenhagen Plant Science Center

Metropolitan Honors College

Novo Nordisk Fonden har bevilget 1 mio. kr. til Professionshøjskolen Metropol til et for-projekt om udvikling af et talentprogram for naturfagslærerstuderende kaldet ”Metropolitan Honors College”.

A Sugar Theater

The exhibition will present current research by focusing on some of the many roles sugar plays in health and disease, also provide insight into why research is important for the health of both individual people and society as a whole. The exhibition is the result of close collaboration between artists and researchers from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

Conference on Health Innovation

New technology can help to improve the quality and effectiveness within the healthcare sector.

Collaborative Research Programme in Biomedicin Innovation Law (CeBIL)

Novo Nordisk Fonden har bevilget 35 mio. kr. til professor Timo Minssen, Det Juridiske Fakultet ved Københavns Universitet, til etablering af forsk-ningsprogrammThe Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant of DKK 35 million to Timo Minssen, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen for establishing a Collaborative Research Programme in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL).et Collaborative Research Programme in Biomedical Inno-vation Law (CeBIL).

Protein Research

Copenhagen Children’s Hospital (BørneRiget)

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is awarding a grant of DKK 60 million to Rigshospitalet related to the future Copenhagen Children’s Hospital (BørneRiget). The grant will create three professorships intended to move Rigshospitalet to the forefront of advanced surgery for children and adolescents. Illustration of entrance of the future Children's Hospital (BørneRiget). Illustation: 3xN.

Big Bang Conference

Talented and committed teachers are the single most important factor in getting children and young people to take an interest in nature and natural science subjects. A Big Bang conference gives teachers specific inspiration that they can take home, here on teaching about organs.

Photo: ©Astra Foto - Thomas Evaldsen

Professorship Programme in the Health Sector

Professorship Programme in Leadership in the Healthcare System

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