About
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster is an international hub for cross-fertilization of ideas and collaborations between institutions, industries and disciplines.
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Mission & Vision
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster is a Novo Nordisk Foundation initiative started in 2012 and is aiming at connecting and fostering cross-collaboration between the large Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centres.
Since then, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster has expanded to include all Novo Nordisk Foundation grant holders as our stakeholders, and we work for improving the entire scientific landscape in the region by providing a framework for synergy and collaboration across institutions and research fields.
Vision
For Denmark to be a world leading powerhouse for life science research and innovation.
Mission
To develop knowledge-based environments in which innovative and talented people can carry out research of the highest quality and translate discoveries into new treatments and solutions.
Ambition
Increase the visibility of research and innovation in Denmark
Recruit highly skilled researchers and talent to Denmark
Stimulate cross-pollination between academia, hospitals and industry
Contribute to a knowledge-based society
In order to fulfill these ambitions, the Foundation funds a number of supporting Cluster activities designed to promote and encourage networking and knowledge-sharing activities, including cluster collaboration events, career days and lectures.
Activities & Meetings
To further promote and encourage collaboration as well as synergies, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has initiated a range of strategic networking and knowledge-sharing activities.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation continually strives to strengthen and expand the Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster.
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Strategic Activites
Researchers at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centers collaborate with numerous partners including some of the most prominent research institutions in the world, in both the public and private sector. To further promote and encourage collaboration and synergy, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has initiated a range of networking and knowledge-sharing activities, including cluster collaboration events, career days and lectures. These are driven by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster.
The ambition of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster Conferences is to host the world’s best scientific conferences for the world’s top researchers and innovators within strategic scientific focus areas.
We hope that you will join us for a thought-provoking conference in exclusive intimate settings, connecting with other interesting people around solving interdisciplinary scientific challenges.

Cross-cluster knowledge sharing events designed for and by you.
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Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster Lectures are open lectures with free registration – available for both physical and online participation.
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The Cluster Days are annual intense networking sessions for and by the major Novo Nordisk Foundation grant holders, research centres, investigator grant holders, Steno Diabetes Center researchers and Novo Nordisk Foundation staff and stakeholders.
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We support and drive interest groups advancing the skill set of individuals across institutions.
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Fully-funded four year PhD programme for international talents in an international first class scientific environment.
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The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centres
Our largest stakeholders are the six Novo Nordisk Foundation research centres each pioneering their field of research. Researchers in the Science Cluster collaborate with numerous partners including some of the most prominent research institutions in the world.
The first center established was the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, which was awarded DKK 600 million in 2007. Secondly, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research was established in 2010 with a grant of DKK 885 million. This grant was extended in 2018 with an additional DKK 885 million. The cluster of research centres was later accompanied by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, which was established in 2011 with a funding of DKK 700 million, receiving an additional extension and computational biology grant of DKK 208 million in 2016.
In 2021, the Novo Nordisk Foundation established the world’s first interdisciplinary research center that aims to develop scalable technology for capturing and recycling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) is hosted by Aarhus University but involves six international satellite institutions as well as industry partners. The ambition of the center is to make an important contribution in the effort to mitigate the climate crisis.
With an unprecedented DKK 2.2 billion grant, The Novo Nordisk Foundation also recently announced the establishment of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW). Formed in partnership between three leading research institutions, the centre will work towards developing stem cell-based medicine and finding treatments for incurable chronic diseases, benefitting patients all over the world.
Finally, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has also established the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease in collaboration with leading institutions in the United States at the Broad Institute. The center will facilitate close collaborations between the BROAD Institute and Danish researchers investigating the genetics and gene regulation of common complex disease, with an initial focus on type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Read more about our Partnerships and stakeholders, our Strategic initiatives, and the infrastructure of the Cluster.
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