Discover Funding Opportunities

Novonesis Biotechnology Prize

The Novonesis Biotechnology Prize is awarded annually to recognize outstanding European research or technology achievements that contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable biotechnology solutions for the benefit of people and the planet. The Prize raises awareness of basic and applied biotechnology research in areas such as biomanufacturing, industrial, environmental, food, or plant biotechnology. The Prize consists of a funding amount for the awardee's research (DKK 4.5 million), a personal award (DKK 0.5 million), and an international symposium within the awardee's field of research. The award is made through a nomination process by a prize committee after a confidential review of nominees who have made important contributions to European Science with a current position and active research program at a public or non-profit research institution in Europe.

Distinguished Innovator Grant

The Distinguished Innovator Grant (Sustainability & Health) is designed to accelerate commercialization of research findings and development of novel technologies within sustainability or health. The grant is aimed at senior faculty members or researchers with a proven track record within innovation, including previous experience of academic innovation projects and experience with establishing patents and spinouts from academia. The Sustainability area seeks to support innovative research within agriculture, food, industrial and environmental biotech, carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies, nitrous oxide and methane emissions, and quantum technologies. The Health area seeks to support innovative research within med-tech, industrial biotech, pharma, and quantum technologies, with particular focus on cardiometabolic diseases as well as infectious diseases and preventive solutions. The projects must have a clear outlook to scaling potentials and later commercialization possibilities. The grant is pre-CVR, meaning it is intended to support projects before company establishment.

Pioneer Innovator Grant

The Pioneer Innovator Grant supports innovative research within two areas: Health and Sustainability. The Health track focuses on med-tech, industrial biotech, pharma, and quantum technologies, with particular emphasis on cardiometabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and preventive solutions. The Sustainability track supports agriculture, food, industrial and environmental biotech, carbon capture and storage, emissions reduction, and quantum technologies, with focus on sustainable agriculture, food for healthy diets, and climate change mitigation. Both tracks aim to accelerate the commercialization of research findings and development of novel technologies. The grant seeks to support novel academic science-based discoveries with commercial potential, stimulating the evaluation of ideas and supporting experiments leading to proof-of-concept or beyond. Projects must have clear outlook to scaling potentials and commercialization possibilities, and be directly linked to improving lives of patients and health of people or sustainability.

Start Package Grants – For faculty recruitment Q1 2026

The primary purpose of the Start Package grant is to make Danish universities or other research institutions more competitive when recruiting top researchers of any nationality. The aim is also to enhance researcher mobility across borders, among Danish universities and from industry to university. The 4-year grant is intended to provide leverage for the hiring Danish university/research institution during recruitment and contract negotiations. A Start Package Grant will provide the host institution with funding that must be used in connection with the candidate's establishment of an independent research group at the host institution. The grant supports recruitment of researchers within medical sciences, life sciences, sustainability, or natural and technical sciences in fields that are in alignment with the Foundation's 2030 Strategy. This includes areas such as preventing and managing cardiometabolic diseases, decreasing the burden of infectious diseases, advancing regenerative medicine, reducing health inequity, sustainable agriculture, sustainable food for healthy diets, high-impact climate change mitigation technologies, supporting society in the green transition, and fundamental research with potential application within health or sustainability.

Volontärprojekt (Volunteer Projects) - Europeiska solidaritetskåren

Europeiska solidaritetskåren (European Solidarity Corps) provides opportunities for organizations to host or send young volunteers for projects lasting between two and twelve months, either abroad or in their home country. Organizations can apply for funding to receive and send volunteers to projects that support local communities. This may include organizing activities for young people, supporting integration activities, or contributing to environmental and sustainability initiatives. Organizations that host or send volunteers receive funding for mentoring the volunteer and covering their living costs (accommodation and food allowances). To participate, organizations must first obtain a Quality Label certification from MUCF, which is valid for the entire program period (2021-2027). Volunteers receive travel grants, pocket money, language courses, and accommodation. No prior knowledge or specific qualifications are required to become a volunteer. For volunteers to participate in their home country, they must be young people with limited opportunities.