For the 2026 application round, the Challenge Programme aims to fund exceptional research collaborations focused on one of four priority themes. A total budget of up to DKK 600 million (approximately EUR 80 million) will be distributed through individual grants ranging from DKK 40 to 75 million (around EUR 5.4 to 10 million), each supporting projects with a duration of six years.

The four themes for the 2026 call are:

Harnessing biology for climate-resilient and healthy soils
This theme addresses the urgent need to stop soil degradation and promote the restoration of healthy soils as a key natural resource. It seeks to deepen the fundamental understanding of how biological factors affect and interact with the physical, chemical, and other properties of soil.

Unravelling the pathways of human invasive fungal diseases
The goal of this theme is to investigate the mechanisms behind invasive fungal infections in humans, including virulence factors, host-pathogen interactions, and antifungal resistance, with the purpose of advancing diagnostics and developing improved treatments.

Modelling human cardiometabolic disease
This theme focuses on creating innovative translational models of human cardiometabolic diseases to better understand their underlying mechanisms and to enhance preclinical testing processes.

Biological systems under non-equilibrium conditions
The objective of this theme is to explore and reveal the mechanisms that drive the development, functionality, and self-organisation of biological systems operating under non-equilibrium conditions.

There are 2 stages to the application process:

Stage 1 consists of an expression of interest (up to 10,000 characters) with a preliminary budget. After the initial evaluation, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a proposal in Stage 2, consisting of a comprehensive application with a detailed project proposal (up to 30,000 characters) along with a detailed budget.

As part of the Stage 2 evaluation, the applicants will be invited to present and discuss their proposed research projects with the review committee in an online meeting.

The application must be completed and submitted using NNF's online application and grant management system, NORMA: https://norma.novonordiskfonden.dk

Call closes: Stage 1: 8 October 2025 14:00 (CEST) Stage 2: 4 February 2026 14:00 (CET)

Eligibility

The Challenge Programme supports collaboration between leading scientific experts to form a consortium of 2-4 research groups (main applicant plus 1-3 co-applicants).

1. The main applicant must be an independent tenured/tenure-track researcher with their own research group, employed at a European (European Union, Schengen Area plus United Kingdom) university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation, which will be the host institution and will be responsible for administration of the grant.

2. The main applicant must be employed at the host institution with at least a 75% commitment and must be guaranteed their own salary for the entire project period.

3. Co-applicant institutions may be located anywhere globally.

4. At least one applicant (either main- or co-applicant) must be at least 75% employed and have their research group at a Danish university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation.

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