Recruitment Packages

Novo Nordisk Foundation

• Start Packages: Up to DKK 10 million as start package for recriuting top researchers of any nationality to time-unlimited research positions within biomedicine, biotech and tech/nat. The grant is intended to provide leverage for the hiring institution during contract negotiations and to accompany the offer of a time-unlimited position at the associate- or full professor level, or of a tenure track position at the assistant professor level, at a Danish university/research institution. A start package grant will provide the host institute with funding that must be used in connection with the candidate’s establishment of an independent research group at the host institution. Only applications submitted by the Head of the recruiting institution (i.e., the person with the authority to make employment decisions) will be considered for funding. If  the recruitment occurs within Denmark, the candidate must be offered a position with career progression. The call is open all year and grants are awarded four times per year, with a quarterly submission deadline.
• Recruit DTU can apply for around DKK 200 million each year for the recruitment of international researchers within natural and technical science research and interdisciplinarity (see themes in the guidelines), and biotechnology and sustainability (see themes in the guidelines). Up to DKK 20 million for recruitment of an assistant professor, DKK 30 million for recruitment of an associate professor, and 50 million for the recruitment of a professor for 7 years. From 2024-2028 NNF allocates DKK 200 million each year for the full RECRUIT programme (including sabbaticals).

Villum Foundation

• Villum Family and Onboarding package: The programme has DKK 16 million available for funding each year. The programme is only available for researchers, who are recruited internationally (including Danes) through the Villum Investigator programme or Villum Young Investigator programme, or have received a grant through the Villum International Postdoc programme. Please note that only the Human Resource (HR) Department can apply for the Family and Onborading package (around DKK 1 million per researcher) - and only when an eligible researcher has received a grant from one of the programmes mentioned above. HR contacts at DTU: Caroline Henault and Rebecca Graf.
• Villum Kann Rasmussen Professorship: The aim of the professorships, styled on the British tradition of endowed chairs, is to attract leading scientists to Danish universities by offering them prestigious, permanent positions. Since 2012 there has only been funded two Villum Kann Rasmussen Professorships.

Lundbeck Foundation

• Lundbeck Foundation Start-Up Programme: The purpose of the Lundbeck Foundation Start-Up programme is to support the development of Danish neuroscience by facilitating the process for recruiting researchers to Danish Universities or hospitals from abroad or from industry.  University or hospital leaders with hiring authority for permanent positions can apply for the grant. The research should be within the field of basic or clinical neuroscience, or science with clear relevance to neuroscience. The term ‘neuroscience’ is used here in its broadest sense, hence including medical, technical, natural and social sciences as well as humanities.