RFAs: Challenge Programme – Harnessing biology for Climate-resilient and Healthy Soils

The Challenge Programme aims to contribute substantially to the development of Danish and European research ecosystems within research areas of strategic priority to the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The goal is to develop innovative solutions to major scientific challenges, supporting leading researchers to form a consortium united by a clear vision and mission.

Research outcomes will provide the scientific foundation for developing biotechnology- or nature-based solutions. The research is not expected to develop new technologies directly, but it should generate fundamental mechanistic insights that can inform solution development and guide future innovations. Supported research may include but is not limited to:

• Exploring how biological processes enhance soil health and resilience against climate fluctuations, including patterns and principles defining healthy soil biogeochemistry
• Examining the impact of soil functional biodiversity on overall soil health
• Investigating soil-microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil carbon content and water-holding capacity
• Investigating the role of soil biotic components, such as microbiomes, food webs, fauna, and viruses, and their interactions with minerals, water, and greenhouse gases
• Developing modelling and data-driven approaches to predict soil ecosystem resilience for agricultural management based on interactions between soil biota, physiochemical properties, and climate factors.

Funding Information

• A total budget of up to DKK 150 million (ca. EUR 20 million) is available for grants up to DKK 75 million (ca. EUR 10 million) for projects lasting up to 6 years.

Eligible Expenses

• Salary for technicians, analysts, and other technical assistance, including laboratory
• administrators.
• Salary for postdoctoral researchers.
• Salary for Ph.D. students.
• Salary for employees or project consultants at all staffing levels, including project management; however, main applicant and co-applicants cannot receive funding for their own salary.
• Operating costs: Direct expenses for developing, implementing, and operating the project, including materials, consumables, animals, services, etc., directly related to the project.
• Operating cost: related to the purchase of high-end compute power for use in the research project.
• Equipment: Provided it is essential for the proposed project and its use after completion of the project can be clearly justified.
• Infrastructure: required for the project.

Ineligible Expenses

• The Foundation will not award funding for:
  • Salary for the main- and co-applicants
  • Commercial activities
  • Overhead/indirect costs (such as rent, electricity, water and maintenance)
  • Double funding of projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• The main applicant must be an independent tenured/tenure-track researcher with their own research group, employed at a European (European Union, Schengen Area plus United Kingdom) university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation, which will be the host institution and will be responsible for administration of the grant.
• The main applicant must be employed at the host institution with at least a 75% commitment and must be guaranteed their own salary for the entire project period.
• Co-applicant institutions may be located anywhere globally.
• At least one applicant (either main- or co-applicant) must be at least 75% employed and have their research group at a Danish university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation.

Assessment Criteria

• The selection of the successful Challenge Programme applicants will be primarily based on the following criteria:
  • Scientific quality and impact
  • Scientific approach
  • Scientific environment and collaboration
  • Investigators´ track record.

For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.