Novo Nordisk Foundation - Project grants supporting societal learning for the green transition

Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 17:34

Funds projects and initiatives that innovate, implement and scale up more sustainable behaviour and practices among individuals, communities and organisations in Denmark. Up to DKK 6 million for projects of up to 3 years. Supports community engagement, municipal development projects, partnerships connecting civil society, industry, government and research. Application deadline September 3, 2025, with recurring calls June 2026. For NGOs working on circular economy and plastic waste value chains in Denmark with emphasis on societal learning and behaviour change.

Source: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/project-grants-supporting-societal-learning-for-the-green-transition-2025/

Funding Details

Funder

Novo Nordisk Foundation

Funding Goal

Support projects and initiatives that innovate, implement, and/or scale up more sustainable behaviour and practices among individuals, communities, and organisations in Denmark. Projects should accelerate the green transition through social experimentation, knowledge generation, and collective learning. Focus areas include developing new social norms, enhancing institutional capacity for sustainable change, and strengthening incentives for green behaviour.

Funding Amount

DKK 200,000 to DKK 6 million per project; total pool DKK 35 million. Pre-projects of up to DKK 500,000 for up to 6 months also available. (200.000 € – 6.000.000 €)

Deadline

2026-06 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Applications submitted through the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant portal. Application guidelines PDF available on the grant page. Applications evaluated by the Committee on Society in the Green Transition. Contact: Janus Hansen (jhn@novo.dk) for scientific questions, Frederikke Stoustrup (frs@novo.dk) for administrative questions.

Target Region

Denmark (Danish Realm / Rigsfaellesskabet)

Contact

Janus Hansen, Senior Scientific Lead, Education & Outreach: jhn@novo.dk. Frederikke Stoustrup, Grant Specialist, Grant Management: frs@novo.dk

Last Checked

2026-03-13 17:40

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a project leader or responsible at the administering institution during the entire grant period
• Eligible institutions: NGOs, civil society organisations, public authorities, research institutions, private companies (non-commercial only)
• Project must be administered and have its primary focus within the Danish Realm (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands)

Project Scope

• Project must focus on societal learning and behaviour change for the green transition — not primarily educational, media, or vocational training activities
• Projects should demonstrate potential to markedly impact Denmark's green transition within a relatively short timeframe
• Collaborations between organisations with complementary competences are strongly encouraged

Required Documents

• Application requires project description, budget breakdown, and alignment with green transition goals

Constraints

• Commercial activities, buildings, and overhead (rent, electricity, maintenance) are not fundable
• Grants between DKK 200,000 and DKK 6 million; pre-projects up to DKK 500,000
• Maximum project duration: 3 years (6 months for pre-projects)

Summary

The Novo Nordisk Foundation offers project grants to support societal learning for the green transition in Denmark. The program funds projects that innovate, implement, or scale up sustainable behaviour and practices among individuals, communities, and organisations within the Danish Realm. Projects may use experimental approaches such as living labs, co-creation, or systems thinking to demonstrate how sustainable lifestyles can be compatible with a good quality of life. The program is open to a broad range of applicants including NGOs, civil society organisations, public authorities, research institutions, and private companies (for non-commercial purposes). Grants range from DKK 200,000 to DKK 6 million for projects up to 3 years in duration, with a total pool of DKK 35 million available. Pre-project grants of up to DKK 500,000 for 6 months are also available to help develop a larger project concept. For organisations working on plastic waste and circular economy in Denmark, this grant is relevant if the focus is on behaviour change, community engagement, or advancing social norms around sustainable consumption and circular practices. A Danish non-profit membership organisation working to build circular economy value chains for plastics could apply with a project that emphasises community engagement, awareness campaigns, or scaling sustainable plastic use practices. The call is recurring annually, with the next round expected in June 2026. Applications are evaluated by the Foundation's Committee on Society in the Green Transition based on potential to accelerate Denmark's green transition and inspire positive action.

Historical Context

This is a recurring annual call. The 2025 round opened June 10, 2025 and closed September 3, 2025, with results announced in December 2025. Next call expected June 2026.

Sources

• https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/project-grants-supporting-societal-learning-for-the-green-transition-2025/

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