The Novo Nordisk Foundation wants to support high-quality research which complies with the Foundation’s standards for good research practice.

All applicants must confirm that they will comply with the Foundation’s standards for good research practice in order to be eligible for grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

1. Laws and Regulations

The grant recipient must comply with generally recognised standards for good research practice[1] – as a minimum the rules of the research institution in question – as well as all relevant laws and regulations in the country in which the grant is utilised.

The researchers must also comply with ”The Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity[2]” from the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, if they are grant recipients or apply for grants and intend to conduct their research in Denmark.

The grant recipient must comply with the international and national rules on animal welfare, cf. the regulations of the Danish Animal Experiment Inspectorate[5].

The grant recipient must comply with all laws and regulations on bribery and corruption in the country in question, and must refrain from engaging in such activities in any form[6].

2. Labour Practices

Employees on the project

– Must be paid, as a minimum, in accordance with the applicable collective agreement

– Must have working hours and holidays in accordance with the national rules

– Must have the right to organise and negotiate collectively to the extent that it is standard practice or permitted legally

– Must not be discriminated against on grounds of race, gender, national origin, religion, political affiliation, age, disability etc.

– Must be treated with respect and dignity.

3. Working Environment

The grant recipient’s institution must provide the employees on the project with a safe and healthy workplace.

4. Environment

In general, the grant recipient must, when conducting the research in question, minimise adverse impacts on the environment to the greatest possible extent.

This must be achieved specifically by

– Complying with environmental laws

– Establishing systems to ensure safe handling, storage etc. of raw materials, utensils, waste etc.

– Avoiding contamination of the local environment

– Improving environmental performance continuously.

In Case of Non-Compliance

If the Foundation learns that a grant recipient has or may have violated the Foundation’s Standards, the claim will be submitted to the grant recipient for comment.

If a decision made by a relevant body indicates that the Foundation’s Standards have been violated, or if the Foundation otherwise deems that the Standards have been violated, the Foundation may discontinue payment during the grant period and the Foundation may require the repayment of funding already disbursed.

The Foundation may decide to deny future funding to the grant recipient.

Updated February 11, 2015 by JxpL

[1] Examples: The Swedish Research Council (2006) ‘Good Research Practice – What is it?’; The Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation (2009) ‘Guidelines for Good Research Practice’; Medical Research Council (2005) ‘Good Research Practice’.

[2] http://ufm.dk/publikationer/2014/the-danish-code-of-conduct-for-research-integrity?searchterm=code%20of%20conduct

[3] The Nuremberg Code, see  http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/archive/nurcode.html

[4] Declaration of Helsinki, see the website of the World Medical Association, http://www.wma.net/, http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/index.html

[5] Danish Animal Experiment Inspectorate regulations, see http://www.foedevarestyrelsen.dk/fvst_ansvar_opgaver/Sider/Dyreforsoegstilsynet.aspx (in Danish)

[6] The UN convention against corruption, see the website for the United Nations, Office of Drugs and Crime, http://www.unodc.org/  og http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/corruption/index.html?ref=menuside