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Emerging Investigator grants for research within Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology 2024 – Nordic Region

Call opens
7 November 2023
Call closes
10 January 2024 2:00pm (CET)
Announcement of results
April 2024
Recurring calls
Expected November 2024
Application guidelines

Purpose

The Novo Nordisk Foundation wishes to make significant contributions to the sustainability of society and the environment. The Emerging Investigator grants support upcoming and highly promising research leaders within Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology in the Nordic countries. The intention of the grant is to enable excellent scientists to establish their own research group or to further strengthen their recently started group.

The proposed research should address major challenges within industrial biotechnology or environmental biotechnology. The research should be fundamental in character but have a strategic outlook to scaling potential(s), contribute to sustainability and, if relevant, increase productivity.

The proposed research must involve a clear element of biotechnology*, and the research projects should preferably include one or more of the following topics:

  • Use or engineering of biological/biotechnological tools, systems or microorganisms for synthesis and production of valuable products (e.g. energy, fuels, chemicals, proteins, and materials)
  • Development of technologies and processes for bioproduction
  • Improvement of the efficiency and/or sustainability of biomanufacturing
  • Use or engineering of biological/biotechnological tools, systems, or microorganisms to protect or improve the environment
  • Understanding, protection, or manipulation of natural or industrial ecosystems in relation to application of biotechnology
  • Data science to advance research within industrial or environmental biotechnology, including related ecosystems research

Please note that proposals focusing on plant science, agriculture and food biotechnology should be submitted to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Plant Science, Agriculture and Food Biotechnology, while proposals with a focus on pharmaceuticals and therapeutics should be submitted to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine.

*For the biotechnology requirement, the OECD short definition of biotechnology will be used as a reference for assessments. The OECD single definition of biotechnology is “the application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services.”

About the grant

Amount

Up to DKK 10 million per grant

Location

Denmark, Nordic Countries (excl. Denmark)

Career stage

Research Leaders (junior/non-tenured)

Research area focus

Industrial and environmental biotechnology

Committee

Komite for Industriel Bioteknologi og Miljøbioteknologi

Contact

For grant inquiries
Henning Jørgensen
Senior Scientific Manager, Ph.d.
[email protected]
Torben Vedel Borchert
Scientific Director
[email protected]
Panagiotis Tsapekos
Scientific Manager
[email protected]

Eligibility

Researchers from across the world at the level of senior postdoc, senior researcher, assistant professor, or newly employed associate professor (or any level equivalent to one of these positions) with the academic potential to establish an independent research program at a university or other non-profit research institution in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden are eligible to apply for the Emerging Investigator grant.

Funding

Grants can support research activities for a total budget of up to DKK 10 million over a 5-year grant period.

Grant funding is available for:

  • Salary for the applicant
  • Salary for employees
  • PhD tuition fee
  • Operating expenses
  • Bench fee
  • Equipment
  • Conference participation
  • Travel
  • Publication costs
  • Direct administrative expenses

Application process

Applications must be completed and submitted using the online system following the instructions in the “Information and guidelines for applicants”. Additional essential information regarding eligibility, funding and the application process is found in this pdf.

Click here to see a list of former grant recipients.

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