Start Package Grants – for faculty recruitment Q4 2026
Supports recruitment of top researchers to Danish institutions to establish independent research groups in health, life sciences, and sustainability, aligned with Novo Nordisk Foundation’s 2030 Strategy.
Funder: Novo Nordisk Foundation
Due Dates: October 8, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to DKK 5M (assistant prof.), DKK 8M (associate prof.), or DKK 10M (full/clinical prof.) per grant over 4 years
Summary: Supports Danish institutions in recruiting top researchers to establish independent research groups in alignment with Novo Nordisk Foundation’s 2030 Strategy.
Key Information: Only applications submitted by the person with appointment authority at the recruiting institution are eligible.
Description
The Start Package Grants are designed to enhance the competitiveness of Danish universities and research institutions by supporting the recruitment of excellent researchers from any nationality. The program aims to strengthen researcher mobility internationally, within Denmark, and from industry to academia. Funding is provided to help the host institution establish the recruited researcher’s independent research group. Supported positions include assistant professor (tenure track), associate professor, full professor, and clinical/clinical chair professor roles, with research areas spanning medical sciences, life sciences, sustainability, and natural and technical sciences. Projects must align with the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s 2030 Strategy, focusing on health, sustainability, and life science ecosystem priorities.
