Event by Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster

    Call deadline: conference organisation

    Call for the organisation of a Copenhagen Bioscience Conference

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    07 November 2019

    1. PURPOSE
    The Novo Nordisk Foundation wishes to strengthen the Danish research environment within life sciences by supporting international scientific knowledge sharing and networking. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has developed and implemented since 2012 two yearly Copenhagen Bioscience Conferences (CBC) with the aim to showcase excellent science and foster new research collaborations and networks. The CBCs have in the past always been organised in collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centers. Now it is for the first time possible to apply for the co-organisation of a CBC. The CBC showcase frontier science and intend to give the opportunity to discuss unpublished research. The CBC concept includes full-time attendance of all participants in both scientific and networking sessions during a 3½-day stay in a retreat-like setting, secluding participants from outside interruptions. More information about the Copenhagen Bioscience Conferences can be found if you click here. You can also watch the video with Kim Bak Jensen, chair of the scientific organizing committee for the ‘Intestinal organoids’ conference held in September 2019. Click here to see the video.

    This is a call for applications to co-organise a CBC in close collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Successful applicants will become part of the organising committee that is responsible for the scientific programme, invitation of the speakers, promotion of the conference in their scientific networks, and selection of the participants. The Novo Nordisk Foundation will manage organisational, logistical and financial matters with regards to the conference. Please find an empty draft programme here: CBC Program template.

    The conference dates are fixed. Applicants apply for organising a conference on 22-26 November 2020. The conference concept is pre-defined, and the venue is Favrholm Campus, north of Copenhagen. The budget for the conference is pre-granted and will be managed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The conference will host approximately 160-200 participants, including selected participants, invited speakers, editors and organisers. Research themes with the potential to gather researchers from different fields and/or research themes focusing on a pressing need, are encouraged.

    We encourage all applicants to contact Laila Schultz (lsc@novo.dk) or Sophie Labrosse (sfeb@novo.dk) at the Novo Nordisk Foundation for any information, discussions about eligibility or the concept of the Copenhagen Bioscience Conferences.

    2. ELIGIBILITY
    The main applicant must be employed as a senior scientist, associate professor or professor, and be the recipient or part of one of the Novo Nordisk Foundation research grants of at least 3 years and a grant sum of at least 9 million DKK, or be employed by one of the NNF Research Centers (NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research, NNF Center for Biosustainability, NNF Center for Protein Research, NNF Center for Stem Cell Biology) or a Steno Diabetes Center.

    It is required to have five to eight co-applicants, that will become part of the organising committee, to complete the application. It is recommended that co-applicants know each other well to be able to divide the workload. They can be based in Denmark or abroad. All applicants commit to being active and engaged participants in the organising committee. This commitment includes:
    – Participating in a start-up meeting with the full committee one year before the conference date. An exception can be made for any international member of the committee.
    – Drafting a full scientific programme in collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
    – Inviting speakers to the conference.
    – Actively promoting the conference and encourage abstract submission in their scientific networks.
    – Reviewing and scoring abstracts received through the NNF online application platform.
    – Participating in a full day evaluation meeting at the NNF to select participants and short talks from the submitted abstracts. Again, an exception can be made for an international member of the committee.
    – Being present at a 1-hour kick-off meeting a few hours before the official start of the conference.
    – Being actively engaged during the entire conference.

    3. RESEARCH FIELDS
    Conference topics are welcome within the various scientific topic areas otherwise funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, i.e.
    1. Biomedical and health science research and applications
    2. Life science research and industrial applications promoting sustainability
    3. Natural and technical science research and interdisciplinarity
    4. Patient-centred and research-based care
    For more information on what the Novo Nordisk Foundation supports, please visit: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/strategy-and-goals/

    4. APPLICATION PROCESS
    The application form can be downloaded at the following webpage: Application form
    The application form must be completed by 7 November 2019 and sent to Laila Schultz (lsc@novo.dk) and Sophie Labrosse (sfeb@novo.dk), who will send you a confirmation when received.

    IMPORTANT! The Novo Nordisk Foundation does not provide feedback if your application is not selected for funding.

    5. SELECTION PROCESS
    Applications will be evaluated based on:
    – scientific relevance of the topic,
    – balanced composition of the speaker list in terms of gender, scientific field and career level, and geographic spread,
    – scientific and organisational experience of the main applicant and co-applicants,
    – balanced composition of the organising committee, in terms of gender, scientific field and career level.

    6. IMPORTANT DATES
    Application deadline: 7 November 2019
    Evaluation of applications: November 2019
    Applicant notification: End of November 2019
    Start-up meeting: December 2019