Project Grants for Natural Science Education and Informal Learning Environments in Denmark

Applications can be made for support for projects within STEM education, science didactic research and experiences with science and technology in leisure time. This also applies to projects with a focus on sustainability, green transition and health.

Educational projects can be aimed at daycare, primary schools, upper secondary education as well as teacher and pedagogue education. Projects relating to the upcoming EPX education are also included in this call.

Funding Information

• A total of up to DKK 58 million is available for project grants of DKK 100,000 – 6,000,000 for a duration of up to 6 years

Eligible Activities

• For example, support can be applied for:
  • Development and implementation of methods, materials and resources for science pedagogy as well as teaching in the natural sciences, crafts and design, food science and mathematics.
  • Science competitions, talent offers and activities targeted at specific groups of children and students.
  • Development projects to improve the skills of teachers and educators.
  • Projects dealing with artificial intelligence, computational thinking and digital technology understanding.

Eligible Expenses

• Applicants may apply for funding for the following types of expenses directly related to the project:
  • Remuneration of employees or those associated with the project at all job levels, including project management, subject to the following:
  • Permanently employed researchers in permanent positions at universities and vocational colleges may apply for funding for salaries of research staff employed in connection with the project, but may not apply for funding for their own salaries.
  • Permanently employed researchers in permanent positions at universities advocational colleges may apply for funding for temporary cover for the time they spend on a development project if the project goes beyond their job description (e.g. development of teaching materials for target groups outside the university/vocational college).
  • Researchers who are not in a permanent position may apply for a research grant to cover their own salary for up to 2 years. Applicants for a research grant may not simultaneously be responsible for a major research project.
  • Salary funds for the release of teaching and educational staff in connection with the development and/or participation in projects. Please note that salary funds for temporary staff in connection with further education courses cannot be applied for in this call. Instead, reference is made to the Further Education Fund.
  • Operating expenses in the form of direct expenses for the development, implementation and operation of projects, including materials and equipment.
  • Transport expenses related to the project, e.g. in connection with conferences, workshop participation or knowledge sharing of results from the project.
  • Academic dissemination/knowledge sharing in the form of conferences, books, articles and other dissemination with direct origin in the project.
  • Evaluation and follow-up research in connection with projects.
  • External audit, if the administering institution is not subject to ongoing public audit. Institutions that are not subject to audit by public authorities must conduct an external audit during the grant period.
  • Administrative contribution (up to 5% of, and included in, the total budget of the application) to cover administrative expenses directly related to the anchoring of the applied project at the managing institution. Please note that all managing institutions can apply for an administrative contribution, including Danish universities. In this announcement, it is therefore not possible to apply for a project supplement.
  • Net expenses for capital VAT (for municipalities and regions). It is the responsibility of the municipality and/or region to thoroughly investigate capital VAT and related expenses in connection with an application, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation cannot provide further advice in this regard.

Ineligible Expenses

• The Novo Nordisk Foundation (the Foundation) does not provide support for:
  • Commercial purposes
  • Buildings
  • Overhead/indirect costs (e.g. rent, electricity, water and maintenance)
  • Double funding of projects:
  • If the applicant has received partial or full funding for the applied project from other sources, this must be included in the budget, as there must be no overlap in the budgets
  • If an identical or overlapping project application has been submitted to other grantors than the Foundation, this must be stated in the application
  • If the applicant receives funding for the project or parts of the project from other sources after submitting the application to the Foundation, the Foundation must be informed immediately

For more information, visit NNF.