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Novo Nordisk Foundation Expands Its Challenge Programme Globally

In a groundbreaking move, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has announced the expansion of its Challenge Programme to include participation from researchers outside Denmark for the very first time. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering international collaborations in research aimed at addressing pressing global health and environmental issues. Notably, researchers in the European Schengen area, as well as those from Ireland and the UK, are now invited to lead projects that seek to innovate in four key thematic areas of research.

Established in 2014, the Challenge Programme represents the foundation's largest open competition grant initiative. The programme is designed to finance ambitious research projects that tackle some of the most significant global challenges currently faced by society. With the increasing need for collaborative scientific efforts, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has increased the funding allocation for each grant by 25%, bringing the total budget to DKK 600 million (about €80 million) for the 2026 edition. Each grant now provides up to DKK 75 million (€10 million) over six years, allowing for comprehensive and sustained research efforts.

A Global Commitment to Research
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, emphasized the foundation's commitment to addressing major health and environmental issues through this expansion. He stated that this initiative demonstrates their dedication to a global mission of improving health and sustainability, reflective of the foundation's ongoing internationalization efforts.

Themes of the Challenge Programme for 2026
Each year, the Challenge Programme focuses on varying themes that reflect current global priorities. For its 2026 edition, the programme has defined four pivotal themes:
1. Harnessing Biology for Climate-Resilient and Healthy Soils: This theme aims to explore biological solutions that contribute to more resilient agricultural practices and healthier ecosystems.
2. Unraveling the Pathways of Human Invasive Fungal Diseases: Understanding these complex diseases is critical for advancing medical science and improving health outcomes.
3. Modelling Human Cardiometabolic Disease: This research is vital for creating improved intervention strategies for cardiometabolic diseases, which are significant public health challenges.
4. Biological Systems Under Non-Equilibrium Conditions: Investigating how biological systems behave under stress and unexpected conditions can provide insights into resilience and adaptability.

With the competition now open to international researchers, the foundation encourages expressions of interest by 8 October 2025, aiming to announce the final awards in May 2026. This collaborative effort aims to attract the best minds from various disciplines to address global challenges through innovative research.

To date, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded nearly DKK 2.8 billion (€375 million) through the Challenge Programme, funding close to 50 distinct projects since its inception. In 2024, marking its 100th anniversary, the foundation reached a milestone by awarding nearly DKK 10.1 billion (€1.35 billion) to support significant projects contributing to health advancements and sustainability efforts worldwide.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Founded in 1924 in Denmark, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with a philanthropic mission. The foundation seeks to enhance public health while promoting sustainable societal development. Its strategic focus lies in research and innovation, particularly in combating chronic diseases and facilitating a greener transformation of society. The increase in grants signifies its commitment to international collaboration and addressing pressing global issues through science.

For more details regarding the 2026 Challenge Programme and grant eligibility, interested parties can visit the Novo Nordisk Foundation website.

This expansion of the Challenge Programme not only inspires innovation in research but also sets a precedent for future collaborations, driving the global scientific community towards addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our time.