COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2024, on its 100th anniversary, the Novo Nordisk Foundation reached a new milestone, awarding close to DKK 10.1 billion (EUR1.35 billion) to support nearly 1,800 new projects aimed at improving people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet.
The Foundation's support spanned a diverse array of initiatives, both within Denmark and globally, including projects focused on the green transition, advancement of new technologies, cardiometabolic diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.
"2024 was a highly impactful year for the Novo Nordisk Foundation," says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. "In addition to projects funded, we launched new international collaborations and expanded our geographical presence beyond Denmark."
It is the first time the Foundation has awarded more than DKK 10 billion in philanthropic grants and investments in a year, surpassing the DKK 9.1 billion (EUR1.21 billion) awarded in 2023.
"It is a great privilege to be able to contribute to science and innovation that will help create better lives and a more sustainable future. We want to recognise the invaluable contributions from our partners and grant recipients on this journey. By engaging in public and private partnerships in Denmark and abroad we aim to ensure that our efforts are in line with societal needs," says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.
"Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to further increase our grant-giving capacity thanks to the continued success of the Novo Group companies and the strong performance of Novo Holdings, our wholly owned holding and investment company," says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.
Major 2024 Novo Nordisk Foundation initiatives and grants include:
-- The first Novo Nordisk Foundation Global Science Summit
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/scientific-leaders-gather-at-globa
l-summit-in-denmark-to-advance-knowledge-and-solutions-on-health-and-sus
tainability/] held north of Copenhagen, which gathered 150 international
experts to discuss the interplay of major health and sustainability
challenges.
-- A global partnership
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/novo-nordisk-foundation-wellcome-a
nd-the-gates-foundation-join-forces-to-accelerate-global-health-equity-a
nd-impact/] with the Gates Foundation and Wellcome to address a series
of global health challenges.
-- The launch of Denmark's first AI supercomputer, Gefion
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/denmarks-first-ai-supercomputer-is
-now-operational/], powered by NVIDIA technology, to accelerate research
in academia and industry in areas including healthcare, quantum
computing, and the green transition.
-- The launch of the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/projects/partnership-for-education-of-h
ealth-professionals-pep/] (PEP) in Kenya, in partnership with the
Ministry of Health in Kenya and six African-based institutions. This
initiative aims to strengthen the education of health professionals in
cardiometabolic diseases.
-- A new office in Nairobi
[https://www.linkedin.com/posts/novo-nordisk-foundation_yesterday-novo-n
ordisk-foundation-opened-activity-7240328783105298438-ZCgc?utm_source=sh
are&utm_medium=member_desktop], Kenya, as part of the Novo Nordisk
Foundation's internationalisation efforts and increased engagement in
East Africa.
-- Regenerative medicine, with a focus on advancing and applying stem-cell
based therapies, was made an explicit part of the Novo Nordisk
Foundation's strategy
[https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnovon
ordiskfonden.dk%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fregenerativ-medicin-er-nu-en-eksplicit-del
-af-fondens-sundhedsstrategi-det-er-os-der-kan-tage-chancer%2F&data=05%7
C02%7CCIMS%40novo.dk%7C127d30d001df4ff0ec2008dd3ba6f666%7C76c2b272b23a43
ada882ecb6b900c431%7C0%7C0%7C638732310466811446%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8
eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFp
bCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9%2BNyLOe3dCg2d%2BVqaF8WzQlr82yG
5a06oy7q4d10sl0%3D&reserved=0].
-- More than DKK 2.8 billion (EUR375 million) awarded through grants in
open competition. This included:
-- Funding for six projects across three themes through the Challenge
Programme, with two projects seeking to advance nuclear energy research
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/novo-nordisk-foundation-grants-dkk
-120-million-to-advance-new-technologies-for-sustainable-and-continuous-
energy-supply/].
-- Funding for 41 exceptional researchers
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/novo-nordisk-foundation-grants-dkk
-427m-through-its-2024-research-leader-programme/] across various
scientific disciplines in grants through the 2024 Research Leader
Programme
-- A grant of DKK 500 million (EUR67 million) for the Ancient Environmental
Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/climate-resilient-crops-novo-nordi
sk-foundation-and-the-wellcome-trust-award-a-grant-of-up-to-dkk-585-mill
ion-to-the-ancient-environmental-genomics-initiative-for-sustainability/
]) project, which aims to enhance crop resilience and agroecosystem
sustainability. This project was also funded by Wellcome.
-- Launch of a partnership with CARB-X
[https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnovon
ordiskfonden.dk%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fnovo-nordisk-foundation-partners-with-carb
-x-to-fight-drug-resistant-infections%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCIMS%40novo.dk%7
C127d30d001df4ff0ec2008dd3ba6f666%7C76c2b272b23a43ada882ecb6b900c431%7C0
%7C0%7C638732310466790119%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydW
UsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7
C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YGz9sRGVx7MuSPsOg55fctCkAKOElsT5QAg7Q26Qhcw%3D&reserve
d=0] to support the early-stage development of tools to prevent,
diagnose and treat the most dangerous drug-resistant bacterial
infections.
-- A contribution of DKK 1 billion (£134 million) to the BRIGHT initiative
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/new-initiative-aims-to-strengthen-
the-bio-based-economy/] at the Technical University of Denmark, which
aims to accelerate the development of biosolutions and strengthen the
bio-based economy.
-- The Foundation's first major grant in the mental health space, an award
of DKK 150 million (EUR20.1 million) for "Best for Us
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/historically-large-donation-from-f
oundations-to-the-mental-healthcare-services-in-the-north-denmark-region
-will-ensure-rapid-and-targeted-action-for-children-and-adolescents-with
-mental-health-problem/]", a project aiming to help children and
adolescents affected by mental distress or mental illness. This project
was also funded by the Obel Family Foundation.
-- A DKK 202 million (EUR27.1 million) grant for Campus Kalundborg,
[https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/campus-kalundborg-takes-next-step-
to-become-a-leading-hub-for-education-research-and-innovation-within-bio
manufacturing-and-biosolutions/] aiming to create a unique educational
environment for students within the biomanufacturing and biosolutions
sphere.
In addition, the Foundation committed up to DKK 10 billion (EUR1.35 billion) to convert land in Denmark [https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/the-government-of-denmark-and-the-novo-nordisk-foundation-enter-into-collaboration-on-historic-new-approach-to-land-use-in-denmark/] to enable space for more nature and biodiversity and for agricultural production based on modern technologies. These funds are to be awarded for projects over a period of ten years, with the first grant being awarded in December 2024 for a rewilding project along the Kongeaen River.
Watch more: CEO Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen and members of the Foundation leadership discuss the why behind the Foundation's major initiatives in 2024 [https://vimeo.com/1049324477/846654cc82].
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.
www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en [http://www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en]
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Novo Nordisk FoundationCONTACT: Further information: Christian Mostrup, Director, Public
Relations, +45 3067 4805, cims@novo.dk
