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Novo Nordisk Foundation

NNF

The Novo Nordisk Foundation funds research and innovation in health, sustainability, and life sciences to improve human health and planetary sustainability.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Elisabeth Werner (Director-General Agriculture and Rural Development)

28 Jan 2026 · Introductions followed by a presentation of the Foundations’s key initiatives aimed at advancing innovative solutions for a sustainable agriculture

Meeting with Yvan Verougstraete (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Chemical Industry Council and

27 Jan 2026 · European Competitiveness Fund

Meeting with Daphne Von Buxhoeveden (Head of Unit Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority)

9 Dec 2025 · Exchange with Novo Nordisk Foundation on health emergencies preparedness and response.

Meeting with Esther De Lange (Cabinet of Commissioner Christophe Hansen), Maxi Espeter (Cabinet of Commissioner Christophe Hansen)

7 Nov 2025 · Mutual introduction and introduction of Novo Nordisk Foundation’s key initiatives on advancing innovative sustainable solutions for agriculture.

Meeting with Bertrand L'Huillier (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné), Vilija Sysaite (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné)

7 Nov 2025 · Biotech

Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner)

6 Nov 2025 · Future of European biotech sector

Meeting with Koen Jonkers (Head of Unit Joint Research Centre)

10 Oct 2025 · Brief exploratory discussion on the possibility for the Novo Nordisk Foundation to set up a scheme to allow scientists in European Member States to do a science for policy fellowship at the European Institutions

Meeting with Rasmus Nordqvist (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2025 · Circular Economy Act

Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

1 Oct 2025 · Innovation in grid flexibility and resilience, energy storage, and molten salt reactors/storage

Meeting with Dan Jørgensen (Commissioner) and

15 Sept 2025 · Competitiveness

Meeting with Jessika Roswall (Commissioner) and

15 Sept 2025 · current priorities

Meeting with Morten Løkkegaard (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jul 2025 · Biotechnology & FP10

Meeting with Ursula von der Leyen (President)

1 Jul 2025 · Introduction to the Foundation’s work and future ambitions; discussion of EU biotechnology policies

Meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva (Commissioner) and

25 Jun 2025 · - Startup and Scaleup Strategy and Scaleup Europe Fund - Life Sciences Strategy

Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jun 2025 · Debate on EU energy supply

Novo Nordisk Foundation urges EU to fast-track biotech approvals

11 Jun 2025
Topic — This consultation addresses measures to accelerate the transition of biotechnology to market.
Message — The Foundation requests the EU Biotech Act focus on areas most in need of support, primarily agriculture and food sectors. They also seek to stimulate private investments and create new large European funds for late-stage capital rounds.12
Why — These reforms would reduce operational hurdles and financial risks for their significant investment portfolio.3
Impact — Conventional fossil-based industries lose market dominance to mandated sustainable bio-based alternatives.4
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Meeting with Giulia Del Brenna (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

4 Jun 2025 · Novo Nordisk Foundation activities and possible synergies with DG GROW

Meeting with Gijs Schilthuis (Director Agriculture and Rural Development)

4 Jun 2025 · Presentation of the foundation

Meeting with Andreas Schwarz (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva), Elena Martines (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva)

3 Jun 2025 · Discussion on the design and governance of a possible Scaleup Europe Fund, including outreach considerations.

Meeting with Florika Fink-Hooijer (Director-General Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority)

20 May 2025 · Introductory meeting with Novo Nordisk Foundation

Meeting with Andreas Schwarz (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva), Elena Martines (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva)

25 Apr 2025 · Scale up financing in Europe

Meeting with Morten Løkkegaard (Member of the European Parliament) and Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust

8 Apr 2025 · FP10 (event)

Meeting with Stine Bosse (Member of the European Parliament) and BEAM Alliance and AMR Action Fund GP, LLC

28 Mar 2025 · Setting up event on AMR

Novo Nordisk Foundation Urges EU to Prioritize Life Sciences Innovation

27 Mar 2025
Topic — The consultation seeks input on a strategy to boost the European life sciences sector.
Message — The foundation recommends standardized guidelines for university intellectual property and increased funding for early-stage projects. They also propose large-scale funds for late-stage investment to keep startups in Europe.12
Why — The foundation would see its research projects reach the market faster with less bureaucratic friction.3
Impact — Regulatory safety advocates lose if the EU adopts a less cautious, innovation-first regulatory model.4
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Meeting with Andreas Schwarz (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva)

20 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the possible governance and operation of a public-private scaleup fund.

Meeting with Niels Flemming Hansen (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Mar 2025 · Food Innovators network

Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

15 Mar 2025

Although Europe has a strong research foundation, the region faces significant challenges that hinder the translation of scientific discoveries into market-ready innovations and the creation of startups and scaleups. Critical obstacles such as prolonged innovation processes, bureaucratic hurdles, and insufficient early and late-stage financing create barriers to bringing groundbreaking solutions to citizens and society. An EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy should navigate these challenges to enhance European competitiveness on a global stage. In particular, the strategy should include the following initiatives: 1) Increase investments in excellent research and translation: There is a need to increase funding for research and innovation in Europe. The European Research Council is already performing excellent work, which should be further strengthened. Furthermore, there is a need for better access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, business development support, and a network of industry experts and mentors, enabling excellent research to be translated into innovation and the creation of startups. 2) More early risk capital from the EU is needed: There is a need to increase early risk capital to drive development and to support the startups in this critical phase. The European Innovation Council has proven successful with its available funding for startups and SMEs through a blend of grants and investments. Another example is the BioInnovation Institute Foundation, which operates as an incubator to accelerate world-class innovation. Strengthening such initiatives is essential for supporting robust innovation ecosystems in Europe. 3) Launch European Late-Stage Ventures for scaling: Europe lags behind when it comes to venture capital investments despite recent increases in IPOs and large capital rounds. This results in many European companies relocating to other regions. To address this, new large European funds should be created for late-stage capital rounds before an IPO. 4) Shared guidelines for university technology transfer: Principles for handling IP rights at European universities in connection with startups should follow shared guidelines. Currently, institutions across Europe have different strategies for transferring IP rights, leading to varied commercialisation models and conditions. It should be easier for researchers and innovators to translate their research into new startups. 5) Promote early innovation through academia-industry collaboration: The translation of university research into innovation should be strengthened by providing companies with easier access to university research and collaborations. As an example, Danish universities, companies, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation have created an Open Innovation in Science model, which removes barriers to collaboration and access to research. Furthermore, developing leading innovation districts in Europe will enhance collaboration between researchers and industry. This will attract essential resources and foster knowledge sharing. 6) Faster approvals of Biosolutions and upscaling of innovative bioprocesses: Regulatory barriers often hinder innovation, and the EU seem more risk-averse compared to other markets. Encouraging regulatory bodies to adopt innovative approaches, such as regulatory sandboxes and pilot programmes, will help test and refine new regulatory models. The agri-food sector, in particular, is heavily regulated in the EU, where regulations can act as barriers to new green technologies and solutions such as biosolutions. There is a need to ensure faster approval for market entry of biosolutions, enable biomanufacturing at scale by shortening the path from lab to factory to market, support and develop a medium-to-large-scale, pan-European fermentation competence centre, improve acceptance of biosolutions among society at large, and direct innovation funds towards highly impactful solutions.
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Meeting with Andreas Schwarz (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva), Elena Martines (Cabinet of Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva)

13 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the potential governance and functioning of a public-private scaleup fund.

Meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva (Commissioner) and

6 Mar 2025 · Scaleup funding in the EU to support growth-stage Deeptech companies. The upcoming EU Life Sciences Strategy.

Meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva (Commissioner) and

3 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the possible structure, governance and operation of a public-private scale-up fund.

Meeting with Stine Bosse (Member of the European Parliament) and BEAM Alliance and AMR Action Fund GP, LLC

28 Feb 2025 · Setting up event on AMR

Meeting with Thomas Skordas (Deputy Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

5 Feb 2025 · Discussion on quantum, supercomputing and Artificial Intelligence ecosystems for life sciences

Meeting with Taru Haapaniemi (Cabinet of Commissioner Christophe Hansen)

5 Feb 2025 · Introduce Novo Nordisk Foundation’s key initiatives on advancing innovative sustainable solutions for agriculture.

Meeting with Claire Bury (Deputy Director-General Health and Food Safety)

4 Feb 2025 · Exchange on biocontrol and Commission biotech initiatives

Meeting with Stine Bosse (Member of the European Parliament) and BEAM Alliance and AMR Action Fund GP, LLC

31 Jan 2025 · European health policy

Meeting with Tomas Anker Christensen (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

28 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on the mission of Commissioner Jørgensen

Meeting with Dan Jørgensen (Commissioner) and

23 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views on ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply as essential for Europe's future and competitiveness.

Meeting with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jan 2025 · Pharmaceuticals

Meeting with Roberto Viola (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

19 Dec 2024 · European Quantum ecosystem

Meeting with Pascal Canfin (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Dec 2024 · Biotech

Meeting with Morten Løkkegaard (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Food innovations and biotech

Meeting with Niels Flemming Hansen (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Biotech

Meeting with Andreea Ticheru (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

1 Jul 2024 · The Communication on Biotech, presentation of the company

Meeting with Pernille Weiss-Ehler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Confederation of Danish Industry

21 Mar 2024 · Directive on Medicinal products for human use

Meeting with Juraj Nociar (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

21 Feb 2024 · New technologies in agriculture

Meeting with Pernille Weiss-Ehler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

23 Jan 2024 · Directive on Medicinal products for human use

Meeting with Asger Christensen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

6 Nov 2023 · Agriculture

Novo Nordisk Foundation urges scientific clarity in EU plant rules

30 Oct 2023
Topic — This consultation proposes a legal framework for plants developed through new genomic techniques.
Message — The foundation requests scientific evidence for modification limits and smoother risk assessment processes. They advocate for allowing organic farmers the choice to use these genomic techniques.123
Why — Efficient regulations would lower barriers for the foundation's research grants and commercial investments.45
Impact — Strict organic stakeholders lose the guarantee that organic products remain free from genomic modifications.6
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Meeting with Tiemo Wölken (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Affordable Medicines Europe

23 Oct 2023 · Pharma Revision (staff level)

Meeting with Pernille Weiss-Ehler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals

3 Jul 2023 · Directive on Medicinal products for human use

Novo Nordisk Foundation urges biosolutions to hit climate targets

23 Jun 2023
Topic — The EU is consulting on a greenhouse gas reduction target for 2040.
Message — The Foundation promotes "biosolutions" like genome editing and alternative proteins to decarbonize the food system. They suggest using "regulatory sandboxes" to bypass barriers and speed up innovation. They also advocate for a shift toward plant-based production and diets.123
Why — Accelerated market entry for biotechnology would directly increase the value of the Foundation's extensive investment portfolio.45
Impact — The livestock industry faces economic pressure from policies favoring animal-free models and reduced meat consumption.6
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Meeting with Pernille Weiss-Ehler (Member of the European Parliament)

8 May 2023 · Resolution on EU action to combat antimicrobial resistance

Meeting with Jorge Pinto Antunes (Cabinet of Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski)

30 Mar 2023 · The discussion will be focused on the up-coming legislation on plants produced by certain genomic techniques, and the revision of plant-proteins.

Meeting with Asger Christensen (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Mar 2023 · NGT and Nuclear Energy

Meeting with Jakob Wegener Friis (Cabinet of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni)

8 Mar 2023 · Exchange about policy priorities in the area of economic policy in the second half of the Commission mandate. Discussion about open strategic autonomy in relation to the NZIA and other strategic sectors for the EU economy.

Meeting with Christel Schaldemose (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Dec 2022 · health

Meeting with Alina-Stefania Ujupan (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager), Kim Jorgensen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

5 May 2022 · Research and Innovation, Digital education