Novo Nordisk Foundation Emerging Investigator Grants for Research in Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology

Funding over a maximum five year period to support experienced researchers seeking to establish a research group to conduct research with potential to address major challenges in industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology while based at an institution in the Nordic countries.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF – Novo Nordisk Fonden) is an independent Danish foundation that oversees the commercial and research activities of the companies within the Novo Group. NNF contributes around DKK 5 billion each year for scientific research and humanitarian and social purposes. Its grant programme focuses mainly on Denmark and the Nordic countries, but also includes funding for international collaboration, strategic international initiatives and awards for outstanding researchers.

NNF has allocated a total budget of DKK25 million in 2026 for the Emerging Investigator Grants for Research in Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology to support researchers at the senior postdoc or assistant professor level seeking to conduct research with the potential to address major challenges within industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology while based at a university or research institution in a Nordic country.

The grants are aimed at researchers at a career stage where they are ready to start their own independent research group, or existing group leaders in the early phase of starting their group. 

Proposed research should be fundamental in nature and have a strategic outlook to scaling potential, contribute to sustainability and, if relevant, increase productivity.

Topics of preference include:

• Use or engineering of biological/biotechnological tools, systems or microorganisms for synthesis and production of valuable products (eg 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.