Read the Full Report “Benefiting People and Society” Here
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Grant report 2020 Benefiting people and society 2 | The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 Content 04 Extraordinary year in the 24 The four grant-giving 51 Standard for good research shadow of the COVID-19 models practice crisis 26 Theme: Biotech 53 Data ethics 06 The 2019–2023 strategy 30 Theme: Pioneering research 54 Rules of eligibility 07 The decisions of the Board of Directors on grants 34 Theme: Supporting all 55 Research funding and costs career stages covered by NNF grants 08 Themes in grant-giving areas 56 Grants and payouts in 2020 10 Supporting the research, education and innovation 58 Committees environments 38 Impact assesment 60 Tables on committee 12 Theme: New foundations 40 Theme: Covid-19 members 16 Facts and figures 48 Diversity policy 79 Scientific and non-scientific- purposes 22 Policy on grant-giving 50 Code of conduct The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 | 3 Theme: New foundations Theme: Supporting all career stages Data ethics 12 34 53 22 48 56 Policy on grant-giving Diversity policy Grants and payouts in 2020 4 | The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 Extraordinary year in the shadow of the COVID-19 crisis 2020 was an extraordinary year for the Novo establishing two independent commercial The financial results of Novo Nordisk A/S and Nordisk Foundation. We once again increased foundations: the BII Foundation and the LIFE Novozymes A/S and the successful investments our total payout in 2020 for purposes that benefit Foundation. The purpose of the BII Foundation of Novo Holdings A/S enable the Foundation society and, for the second year in a row, we is to ensure that the efforts to promote excellent to continue to increase its grant-giving activities received a record number of applications from research and new ideas within the life sciences and thereby providing opportunities to scientific, applicants throughout Denmark and the other are translated into new scientific discoveries, into humanitarian and social purposes. Nordic countries. new products and solutions to benefit people and society. The purpose of the LIFE Foundation is to Continued support The Foundation awarded grants totalling DKK 5.5 strengthen interest and education in the natural In the coming years, the Foundation will billion and paid out DKK 4.6 billion for scientific, sciences among children and young people. Both continue to support research, education, humanitarian and social purposes, the highest foundations stem from large ambitious projects innovation and hospital activities as well as annual payout amount in the Foundation’s history. we started years ago and they now have optimal social and humanitarian causes that can improve framework conditions to fulfil their missions and people’s lives and contribute to the sustainable We supported more than 750 new projects goals as independent foundations. development of society. We will continue to within such areas as the medical sciences, support more initiatives that can help mitigate the natural and technical sciences, biotechnology, COVID-19 initiatives consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which diabetes treatment, education, innovation and In March 2020, the Foundation launched the first is not over yet. humanitarian and social causes. This reflects the of a series of COVID-19-related initiatives based on breadth of the Foundation’s grants. our desire to help to mitigate the consequences of We will also further strengthen all our other grant the pandemic. We did this as a supplement to our areas. We support the best projects and hope that these usual and already planned grant-giving activities. will lead to new scientific breakthroughs and the This report contains information about our grant creation of new knowledge and new solutions We also provided grants for TestCenter Denmark activities in 2020, including examples of the benefitting society. and supported global initiatives in areas with projects supported, our grant-giving policy and humanitarian crises. an overview of our scientific committees that New initiatives in 2020 included grants for several assess the applications for grants submitted to the research projects on the green transition, a high In total, we allocated DKK 420 million during 2020 Foundation. priority for the Foundation. The largest of these across 85 COVID-19-related projects. grants was DKK 750 million awarded to the Novo I hope you enjoy reading it. Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability The companies behind the increase in grants at the Technical University of Denmark, a In 2020, Novo Holdings A/S, the Foundation’s global leader in developing new knowledge wholly owned investment and holding company, and technology that can promote sustainable recorded income and returns of DKK 29 billion, Lars Rebien Sørensen solutions, especially in biomanufacturing. with just under half coming from the stake in Novo Chairman of the Board Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S, and just over Establishing new foundations half coming from Novo Holdings’ investments in Other significant initiatives in 2020 included other companies and financial assets. The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 | 5 6 | The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 The 2019–2023 strategy The Novo Nordisk Foundation Strategy 2019– 2023 presents the Foundation’s grant-giving areas, development targets and prioritized actions. Read more about our strategy on our homepage: www. Patient-centred and research-based care Education and outreach novonordiskfonden.dk Make Denmark a global leader in delivering Support general science education and cultivate care for people with diabetes and facilitate scientific and technical competencies and The Foundation’s pay-out has increased from DKK development of patient-centred and engagement. 3.6 billion in 2019 to DKK 4.6 billion in 2020. The researchbased care within diabetes comorbidities annual amount of grant-awarding has increased and other endocrine disorders. from DKK 4.9 billion in 2019 to DKK 5.5 billion in 2020. The NNF vision The vision of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Life science research and industrial applications Innovation is to contribute significantly to research and promoting sustainability Create and promote a life science ecosystem that development that improves the lives of people Act for and inspire the development of a more increases the capacity for research institutions, and the sustainability of society. sustainable world by supporting research that clinics and start-ups to mature and trans-late translate into life science solutions to benefit scientific discoveries into products and solutions The grant-giving areas and long-term goals people and the environment. for the benefit of people and society. Biomedical and health science research and Natural and technical science research and Social, humanitarian and development aid applications interdisciplinarity Improve lives and prospects of vulnerable Enable people to live healthier and better lives Catalyze natural and technical science research, children and youth through education, by facilitating research that advances knowledge particularly in fields with potential interdisciplinary competency development and health initiatives. of human health and disease, solves health application to the life and health sciences and challenges and develops the healthcare system. industrial biotechnology Read more about the strategies www.novonordiskfonden.dk/da/strategiog- maal/ The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 | 7 The decisions of the Board of Directors on grants The Board of Directors decides the Foundation’s Directors, or on behalf of the Board of Directors You can read more on the decision-making strategy, vision, payout ambition, the annual by 28 expert committees, the Chairmanship and process at the Foundation’s homepage: grant giving budget and the grants. The decisions the Executive Office that implement the Boards’ https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/about-the- on grants are decided directly by the Board of decisions. foundation/the-decisions-of-the-board-of- directors-on-grants/ 8 | The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant Report 2020 Themes in grant-giving areas Specific focus themes in the strategy period: Life science research and industrial applications • Facilitate knowledge-sharing and promoting sustainability dissemination of research results to guide Biomedical and health science research Industrial Biotechnology science teachers and policy makers. applications • Solve fundamental challenges within bio-based Health-related data science production and technologies. Vocational education and training • Development and exploitation of health- • Increase the skills and output of well-qualified related data for research and development of Plant Science and Agriculture and motivated graduates for vocational new diagnostics and treatments. • Provide more productive and resilient occupations, related to biotechnical and • Combining data-science with clinical plants by addressing challenges related to biomedical disciplines as well as IT and experience and designing new validation development and cultivation of plants. technology in general. models for personalized/precision medicine interventions. Food Biotechnology Science communication and informal learning • Develop sustainable and safe food products environments Innovative therapies feeding the growing population. • Raise awareness, knowledge and appreciation • Innovative therapies based on cutting edge • Environmental Biotechnology and Ecosystems of science and