Søren Nedergaard, Chief Portfolio Officer at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Johnny Mogensen, Director of NordForsk, signing the agreement. (Photo: Novo Nordisk Fonden)
Historic agreement with Novo Nordisk Foundation strengthens Nordic research co-operation
Press release: 15.09.2026
The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) and NordForsk have signed a framework agreement to fund Nordic research co-operation over the period 2026–2030. The agreement will strengthen the scope of open, competitive calls across the Nordic region.
During the first part of the agreement period, NNF will contribute up to 50 million Danish kroner to NordForsk's calls, with the possibility of additional contributions later in the period.
“This is a historic agreement. It is the first time that a private research foundation has entered into a binding collaboration of this kind with an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The agreement will contribute to a significant strengthening of Nordic research co-operation and enable us to ensure that even more excellent research is carried out in the Nordic region,” says Johnny Mogensen, Director of NordForsk.
“For us at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, it is a core priority to strengthen Nordic collaboration in research and innovation. NordForsk is a unique institution in this regard, as it provides access to open calls across the Nordic countries,” says Søren Nedergaard, Chief Portfolio Officer at the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Strengthening the Nordic Region’s position as a leading research area
Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, sees the agreement as an example of how Nordic research co-operation can bring together efforts across sectors and countries.
“The societal challenges we face today cannot be solved by any single actor alone. This agreement is an important step towards strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors. Together, we can give research projects greater momentum, strengthen the Nordic region’s position as a leading research area, and bring us closer to the vision of becoming the world’s most sustainable and integrated region,” says Ellemann.
The purpose of the agreement is to ensure clarity and transparency in future collaborations on calls and research projects. Funding from NNF may be used for co-financing in the fields of health, sustainability and life sciences. Both parties emphasise that these funds are intended to complement, not replace, contributions from national funding sources.
The agreement covers the period 2026–2030. NordForsk will be responsible for calls, project follow-up and administration, while a joint management-level contact committee will be established to meet annually and prioritise and monitor the collaboration.
