The Novo Nordisk Foundation offers three different infrastructure grants:

1. Exploratory Research Instrumentation
2. Large Equipment and Facilities
3. Equipment Upgrade

1.      Exploratory Research Instrumentation

NNF wishes to strengthen the Danish research and innovation environments by supporting the development of new research instrumentation and methodology that is not commercially available today and/or is significantly more sustainable or otherwise advantageous than commercially available solutions. 

The instrumentation and/or methodology to be developed should enable research and development within NNF’s strategic focuses on biomedicine and health sciences, sustainability and biotechnology, natural and technical sciences as well as data science.

A total of up to DKK 21 million is available for grants between DKK 2 million and DKK 7.6 million for projects lasting up to four years. 

For further information, visit the call website.

2.      Large Equipment and Facilities

With the Large Equipment and Facilities call, the NNF wishes to strengthen the Danish research environment by supporting the establishment and maintenance of open-access infrastructures needed to achieve excellence in research and innovation.

The infrastructure applied for should enable research and development within NNF’s strategic focuses on biomedicine and health sciences, sustainability and biotechnology, natural and technical sciences as well as data science. 

A total of up to DKK 150 million is available for grants between DKK 5 million and DKK 25 million for projects with a duration of up to six years.

For further information, visit the call website.

3.      Equipment Upgrade

NNF wishes to ensure that the Danish research, innovation, and industry environments have continued access to timely research infrastructures by supporting the maintenance and upgrade of NNF funded research infrastructures.

The infrastructure applied for should enable research and development within NNF’s strategic focuses on biomedicine and health sciences, sustainability and biotechnology, and natural and technical sciences as well as data science.

A total of up to DKK 13 million is available for grants up to DKK 3 million lasting up to 4 years.

For further information, visit the call website.

Please let us know if you need support with your proposal no later than: October 1st 

Applications that do not meet this deadline will not be guaranteed support from Fundraising & Project Management.

The application process consists of a one-stage submission using NNF’s online application and grant management system, NORMA.

Your local funding advisor is your first point of contact for support. 

Find more information on which instruments and what type of support F&P offers here.

Find our annual wheel of funding here.

AAU Seed Money can be used to support the preparation of an application, including activities such as proposal writing, meetings with potential consortium partners, and involvement of an external consultant.

AAU Seed Money is available both at faculty level and through AAU’s missions. For details on available funding amounts, application deadlines, and specific faculty requirements, please contact your local funding advisor.

1. Exploratory Research Instrumentation

• The applicant must hold a PhD degree and should be employed with a primary affiliation (at least 80 %) as postdoctoral researcher, (senior) scientist, assistant professor, associate professor, professor, or academic technical staff (“AC-TAP”) at a university or other not-for-profit research institution in Denmark. 
• The applicant should have a documented interest in instrument and/or method development and significant expertise relevant for the project at a level corresponding with the applicant’s career stage. 

2. Large Equipment and Facilities

• The applicant, who should hold a PhD, must be employed and have his/her primary affiliation as senior scientist, academic technical staff (“AC-TAP”), associate professor, or professor in a time-unlimited position, at a university or other not-for-profit research institution in Denmark. The applicant must be able to account for own salary during the grant. The applicant must document expertise at the highest level within the relevant research field. 
• The research infrastructure must be anchored at a Danish research institution with expertise within the relevant field. This is to ensure that the infrastructure develops in parallel with the scientific progress in the area, and that there are qualified personnel to operate and maintain the equipment, as well as to supervise others in its use. 
• Besides the applicant, there must be a group of 3-5 core collaborators associated with Danish research environments, committed to be core users of the equipment or facility. 

3. Equipment Upgrade

• Only applications submitted by a grant holder of a grant within the ‘NNF Research Infrastructure Programme – Large Equipment and Facilities’ will be considered for funding.

There are not regular information meetings for each NNF call, but NNF visits AAU once a year (usually in November) to present all their calls at once. However, questions regarding the call should be addressed directly with the relevant contact persons at NNF.

There are no courses available at the moment.

Fundraising & Project Management offers:

• Assistance in assessing whether NNF Infrastructure Grants is the right fit for you and the research idea.
• Preparation of a timeline to ensure a smooth application process. 
• One review of the application, including concrete suggestions for changes/additions/considerations.
• Review of the application budget. 
• Assistance with submission of proposal in Norma

Meetings

Fundraising & Project Management offers:

• Get Started meeting - At the meeting an agreement is made on support/expectations and the involvement of both Fundraising & Project Management and the local funding support team at department level. In addition, the applicant will be advised on the time schedule and the application process. If necessary, a brief introduction to Novo Nordic Foundation and the NNF Infrastructure Grants can be provided.
• Status meetings when required until submission 

Tools

Fundraising & Project Management offers a range of tools that are helpful when applying for NNF Infrastructure Grants, such as:

• Application template
• Budget template

Tools for NNF Infrastructure Grants are available in the Funding Toolbox.

Review of application 

Fundraising & Project Management offers one structured proposal feedback during the application process. The feedback includes:

• An in‑depth review of the application, providing concrete suggestions for changes, additions, clarifications, or strategic considerations.
• Feedback aimed at strengthening coherence, alignment with call expectations, clarity of narrative, and overall competitiveness.

The review supports the applicant in refining the proposal and ensuring a high‑quality final submission.

Submission

Fundraising & Project Management offers administrative support regarding questions about submission in Norma.

Budget

The budget is managed at the department level, with Fundraising & Project Management providing guidance, recommendations, and alignment support as needed. For further information, please contact your local funding advisor.

The application support process is evaluated twice a year by means of an online survey to coordinators.

No project management is offered from F&P