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Eligibility

This programme is for ambitious talents driven to build a sustainable future for our global food supply. If you are a resilient problem-solver, ready to turn your passion for climate action into tangible systemic solutions, you belong here.

Review our formal eligibility criteria and candidate profile guidelines below for becoming a BioSustainability Design fellow.  

Formal Eligibility Requirements

You need to meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible for the BioSustainability Design Programme

  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience or
  • A relevant higher education degree (e.g., Master’s) + 3 years of relevant work experience 

 

Previous experience from the agri-food sector is useful, but not a requirement!

We value diverse, interdiciplinary backgrounds

Teams are built based on interdisciplinary strength. We therefore welcome applicants from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including (but not limited to): 

  • Sciences: Agricultural, Environmental & Food Sciences 
  • Technology: Engineering & Biotechnology 
  • Business: Business, Economics & IT  
  • Design and Society: Innovation, Design and Social Sciences 
  • Practice-based professions: Chef, farmer, hospitality etc. with deep industry insights 

  

Please note:  

  • We value practical expertise. If you have a non-academic background, such as a culinary chef with deep industry insight, we strongly encourage you to apply. 
  • A Ph.D. and other research positions taken on after completion of a master’s degree are considered relevant work experience in the programme. 

Programme requirements and logistics

Please ensure you can meet the following  commitments before applying:

  • Location and commuting: You must live within a reasonable commute to either Aarhus or Copenhagen (Taastrup). We require you to work from one of our fellow offices during the fellowship – please specify your prefered location when applying.

 

  • Field immersion: You must be able to take a longer commute during the 8-10 weeks of the field immersion period (September – November). Host companies may potentially be located in more rural areas or in other cities.

 

  • Team and host assignments: You will collaborate closely with a host company and a team that the BSD management team assigns to you. We base team and host matches on the profile combinations that create the best fit. Therefore, you will not get to choose your own collaboration partners in the BSD programme.

Visas and residency in Denmark

Important! If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you will usually need a residence and work permit to join the programme in Denmark. If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen and plan to stay in Denmark for more than 3 months, you will generally need an EU residence document. 

Please be aware that the Danish Technological Institute does not employ you during the fellowship. Hence, the fellowship itself cannot be used as grounds for a Danish residence or work permit. If you need permission to stay in Denmark, we kindly ask you to have the relevant permit or legal basis in place independent of your participation in BSD. 

Read more about the rules and search for information at the official portal for foreigners who wish to live or work in Denmark. 

New to Denmark

What We Look for in a Candidate

Beyond your professional experience, we seek individuals who possess key personal traits essential for innovation and collaboration. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate: 

  • An entrepreneurial mindset: You are proactive, see opportunities, and are motivated to drive projects from concept to execution. 

  • Adaptability and resilience: You can navigate uncertainty, learn from failure, and persevere through complex challenges. 

  • A deep commitment to sustainability: You are passionate about creating environmentally and socially responsible change in the agri-food sector. 

  • Curiosity and innovative thinking: You are a natural problem-solver who enjoys asking critical questions and exploring new perspectives. 

  • Collaboration skills: You are energised by collaborating with other people and can appreciate differences in approaches and personalities. 

Programme activities take place across Denmark, with fellows based at our offices in Aarhus or Copenhagen (Taastrup). When you apply, you must choose which location you would like to join. 

We are looking for people who bring not only relevant experience, but also a strong drive to create positive change. Fellows will be selected based on their professional background, their commitment to sustainability, and their potential to become leading change agents in the agri-food sector. 

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Ready to apply?

The BioSustainability Design Novo Nordisk Foundation Fellowship Programme is a paid, full-time 10-month programme. It is for people who want to upgrade their innovation skills and help shape a more sustainable future for the agri-food industry.

Have you checked all the eligibility requirements and are you ready to apply? Click the button below and submit your application for BSD today!  

How to apply

N.b. The deadline for applications has passed. The next round of applications opens in December 2026. 

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Do you have a question?

Please feel free to contact us, If you have any questions, at Info@biosustainabilitydesign.dk