Many scientific challenges that have large implications for health and sustainability can only be addressed through interdisciplinary efforts. With the Synergy Programme, the Novo Nordisk Foundation seeks to strengthen the synergy between researchers, across disciplines, organisations, and national borders. The goals of the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme are to:

• Enable creative, novel, high-risk/high-gain interdisciplinary research
• Provide long-term support of interdisciplinary collaborations and research ideas grounded in robust preliminary data
• Stimulate emerging research that spans across scientific disciplines and techniques
• Break down or overcome the barriers that hamper collaboration across disciplines
• Strengthen Danish research through internationalization
• Educate and train the next generation of researchers with interdisciplinary skills

The Programme is designed to fund research ideas grounded in robust preliminary data, which require and interdisciplinary approach and demonstrate the potential to have a high level of impact, i.e. high- risk/high-gain. Research must align with NNF’s strategic focus areas of Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, and Natural and Technical Sciences, with applicability in health or sustainability. Research within Social Sciences and Humanities can be an element of the proposal but cannot be the primary drive. 

Up to DKK 19.4 million over 4 years per grant. The total annual budget for this call is DKK 97 million.

Applicants with project ideas that have yet to secure preliminary data are encouraged to consider the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme as an alternative. AAU Fundraising & Project Management also offers support for this call.

For further information, please visit the call website

Please let us know if you need support with your proposal no later than: March 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.

The ISP supports collaboration between leading scientific experts to form a consortium of 2-4 research groups (main applicant plus 1-3 co-applicants). A project with all co-applicants within the same discipline as well as institutional department will not be considered eligible. The interdisciplinary consortium forming the application does not have to be new, the researchers may already have established interdisciplinary research directions together.

• The main applicant should be at least 50% associated to a Danish university, hospital or other non-profit research organisation that will be considered the host institution of the project for the full grant period and with full salary coverage (verified by the hosting letter). Levels of association of less than 50% at the Danish institution must be justified in the application. The applicant must be tenured or tenure track. 
• The research groups of the co-applicants can be either located in Denmark or abroad. The co-applicants should significantly contribute to the scientific advancement of the project and receive part of the funding, as detailed under the budget. Ideally, all applicants should have the same level of obligation and commitment to the project. 
• Collaboration with researchers in non-academic sectors is allowed, however industrial partner(s) cannot receive direct funding through this programme. 
• Research should be fundamental between technology readiness levels (TRL) 1 and 2, as defined by the European Commission. 
• Receiving the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme grant does not confer advantage in competing for the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme 
• Applicants with any current NNF grant are eligible, but if the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme proposal relates to the same or similar research, the new grant period must not overlap with the existing one. 
• Main applicants may only hold one active Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme or Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme grant at a time. 
• A researcher may participate as applicant on up to two proposals in total per year within the Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme and the Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme. The researcher may only submit one application as the main applicant. The proposed research must not overlap.

The profile of a potential main applicant/coordinator should be based on the following criteria:

• Has a project idea, which requires interdisciplinary collaboration. The proposed solution should have large societal impact within one of the three pillars in the Novo Nordic Foundation strategy: Health, Sustainability and/or the life science ecosystem.
• Preferably Professor or Associate Professor leading a Research Group. CV, including list of publications, is vital.
• Is up to date with international state-of-the-art in his/her field of research.
• Is a nationally and internationally recognized within the field.
• Has experience in writing applications in English (not necessarily NNF ISP projects).
• Has time, as well as the desire and willingness, to be responsible for a NNF ISP project.
• Has aligned his/her resources with the head of department.
• Has a network at national and international level and the ability to collaborate with research groups from other disciplines.
• Agrees to be the primary penholder in the application.

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 the Full Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme is the right fit for you and the research idea.
• Preparation of a timeline to ensure a smooth application process. 
• Two reviews of the application, including concrete suggestions for changes/additions/considerations.
• Review of the application budget. 
• Assistance with submission of proposal in Norma
• Annexes: Gather annexes from all partners and help with AAU's annexes.
• Set up of Teams group for all partners with AAU internal and external channels.

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 the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Full Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme.
• 360 degree inspection meeting – At the meeting the applicant pitches the project idea based on a 360 degree template (see Funding Toolbox), and the consortium, value creation, and implementation are discussed
• Bi-weekly status meetings until submission

Tools

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

• Annotated application template, which includes recommendations, clarifications, and examples embedded in the template text.
• Budget template

Tools for NNF ISP are available in the Funding Toolbox.

Review of application 

Fundraising & Project Management offers structured proposal feedback at least twice during the application process, supplemented by continuous advice throughout the writing phase. This includes:

• Two in‑depth reviews of the application, each 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.

These reviews support 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