Novo Nordisk Foundation
Overview
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Posted Opportunities 0
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Founded Since 1850
Company Description
Who are we?
We are an independent Danish foundation with corporate interests. We have the following objectives: to provide a stable basis for the commercial and research activities of the companies in the Novo Group (Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S), and to support scientific, humanitarian and social causes.
Our vision is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet
How do we work?
We support research, innovation, patient treatment and humanitarian and social causes through a wide range of grants. We also award numerous prizes that promote science and education.
Global challenges require global solutions and international collaboration. In the coming years, we will therefore initiate several major projects involving partners working across sectors, research disciplines and national borders.”Søren Nedergaard
Our five grant-giving models
We have different models for how we award grants for activities.
Open-competition grants
We regularly award research grants through open calls advertised to the academic research community. Researchers can apply for funding for their research projects in open competition for a limited number of grants.
Most grants are for shorter-duration projects focused on the proposed project itself. However, other types of grants include longer-duration research leader grants awarded to researchers at different career stages, which focus both on the project and on the applicant’s own opportunities to develop as a researcher.
In addition to our three strategic focus areas – health, sustainability and a strengthening of the life science ecosystem – we also support humanitarian initiatives and research in art history. You can read more about the specific open competition grants under “Apply for grants”.
Stand-alone grants
We award stand-alone grants within our focus areas. Decisions to award grants are based on peer review of the project or initiative.
These grants can include project grants, research leader grants, investigator grants or fellowships, infrastructure grants, collaborative research programmes, educational platforms, research centres and others.
Partnerships
These grants are awarded for engaged collaborations with public and/or private partners.
Impact investments
These grants target companies, such as start-ups, often as loans and investments, to support activities with a positive societal impact. TheRepair Impact Fund is an example.
Own initiatives
Grants for own initiatives typically start as local units of the Foundation but are then spun out – for example, as independent foundations – after approval by the Board of Directors. The BioInnovation Institute Foundation and the LIFE Foundation are examples of own initiatives.
Portfolio Board
The Foundation’s Portfolio Board monitors and evaluates our ongoing grant programmes and initiatives as well as our pipeline projects. The purpose is to ensure that our portfolio of activities across the focus areas serves to fulfil the Foundation’s strategic goals and that they achieve the expected impact.
What do we support?
We support a wide range of projects and initiatives that help to promote human health and the sustainability of the planet.
Our focus areas
Health
Infectious diseases, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease are a threat to global public health.
Sustainability
We must solve the climate crisis and develop tomorrow’s food production so that we can feed a growing world population in a sustainable way.
Life science ecosystem
A robust life science ecosystem is a prerequisite for scientific breakthroughs and the development of new technologies that can help to solve major societal challenges.
We award grants for projects based on applications we receive in open competition and for projects for which the Foundation takes the initiative. The aim is always to improve people’s lives by advancing health, through education and by developing a knowledge-based, sustainable society.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Professor, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation
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