Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)

What Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) does

NIVI (Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity) is a public-private partnership between the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, established in December 2023 and operational from 2024, with the explicit aim of revolutionizing and accelerating vaccine development in Denmark by bridging academic research and industry innovation. The initiative operates through two linked entities: NIVI Research Center, an academic research center anchored at UCPH's Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM) in the Maersk Tower, and NIVI Development, a Novo Nordisk Foundation-owned limited liability company that drives translational development into Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies. Its research program is structured around four integrated thematic areas — Airway Immunity, Vaccine Platforms, Airway Delivery, and Respiratory Pathogens — with priority pathogen programs in tuberculosis, influenza, and Group A Streptococcus (GAS), and a stated long-term intent to build flexible pipelines that can respond to emerging respiratory pathogens.

NIVI's technology stack is differentiated by a portfolio of state-of-the-art vaccine platforms (mRNA, viral vectors, adjuvants including SSI's CAF cationic liposome series, and nanoparticle-based approaches) compared head-to-head within the same program, paired with proprietary airway-delivery formulations (intranasal and intrapulmonary), Th17 and tertiary lymphoid structure immunology research, and a human immune organoid facility derived from tonsillar tissue. Statens Serum Institut (SSI) is a core strategic partner, contributing BSL-3 animal facilities, decades of vaccine regulatory experience, and affiliated group leaders in TB vaccine and adjuvant research, while the Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed up to DKK 1.8 billion (of which up to DKK 1.425 billion is an eight-year grant to UCPH) to fund the program through Phase I (2024-2027) and a planned Phase II scale-up to 150-200 staff by 2028-2031.

Commercially, NIVI is not a product-selling enterprise; revenue mechanics are grant-driven rather than transactional, with any royalties or licensing income generated by NIVI Development contractually reinvested back into the initiative. The customer base is therefore effectively a single institutional funder (the Novo Nordisk Foundation), and the go-to-market motion is community- and event-led — building scientific reputation through publications, conference participation (e.g., World Vaccine Congress 2024), and industry partnerships rather than direct sales. As of late 2025, the initiative is in active recruitment with roughly 40 listed staff, a newly appointed Executive Director and CEO (Else Marie Agger, effective December 1, 2025), and ongoing integration of SSI researchers and UCPH principal investigators.

Name

Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)

Legal name

Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)

Website

https://niviresearch.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NIVI is a public-private partnership between the University of Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, conducting basic and translational research to develop novel airway-delivered vaccines against respiratory pathogens including tuberculosis, influenza, and Group A Streptococcus, with clinical-stage work handled through a foundation-owned translational arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vaccine Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Infectious Disease & Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines (emerging pathogens) (HLAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Vaccine research
• Immunology research
• Translational research
• Vaccine development
• Respiratory vaccines

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant: NIVI Research Center is supported by an eight-year grant of up to DKK 1.425 billion from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Any revenue generated by NIVI Development will be reinvested in NIVI.
2. Novo Nordisk Foundation Total Commitment: The Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed up to DKK 1.8 billion to NIVI, of which up to DKK 1.4 billion is a grant to the University of Copenhagen to establish NIVI Research Center.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

NIVI is a public-private partnership that conducts basic and translational research to develop new vaccines targeting respiratory-route pathogens, organized across four thematic areas: Airway Immunity, Vaccine Platforms, Airway Delivery, and Respiratory Pathogens (tuberculosis, influenza, Group A Streptococcus). It operates through two entities: NIVI Research Center (academic research arm anchored at the University of Copenhagen) and NIVI Development (a company advancing vaccine candidates through Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies).

Product overview

NIVI (Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity) is a public-private partnership between the University of Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, with Statens Serum Institut as a key partner. The initiative consists of two main entities: NIVI Research Center (NIVI-R), an academic research center conducting basic and translational research on vaccines targeting respiratory pathogens, and NIVI Development, a company advancing vaccine candidates through clinical development phases 1 and 2. The research program is structured around four integrated thematic areas—Airway Immunity, Vaccine Platforms, Airway Delivery, and Respiratory Pathogens—with focus on tuberculosis, influenza, and Group A Streptococcus. Revenue from NIVI Development is reinvested into the initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIVI Research Center Academic research center at the University of Copenhagen responsible for basic and translational vaccine research, discovery, and educational components of the NIVI initiative, targeting infectious respiratory diseases.
• NIVI Development Translational development company owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation that facilitates rapid development of new vaccine candidates by accelerating translation of research results into Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies, including Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79 million lives saved from TB since 2000 through global efforts, demonstrating potential impact of improved vaccines

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Statens Serum Institut (SSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025SSI is a key partner in the NIVI initiative with substantial expertise in vaccine design and development. SSI brings decades of experience within vaccine research, the only Danish BSL-3 animal facility for airborne infections, and research programs in TB vaccines and adjuvants. Researchers from SSI are joining NIVI Research Center as affiliated group leaders.
• University of CopenhagencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023NIVI is a public-private partnership between the University of Copenhagen and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. NIVI Research Center is anchored at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM) at UCPH. The partnership bridges basic science, innovation, clinical application, manufacturing, and regulatory considerations in vaccine development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Hilleman Laboratories: Hilleman Laboratories is a non-profit vaccines research and development organization focused on affordable vaccines for low- and middle-income countries. Comparable to NIVI as a grant-funded non-profit advancing novel vaccine platforms (including mucosal and adjuvant approaches) through public-private partnerships, targeting pathogens with high public health burden.
• International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI): IAVI is a non-profit scientific research organization that develops vaccines and antibodies for infectious diseases including HIV, TB, and emerging pathogens. Comparable to NIVI because it bridges academic basic research with translational vaccine development through public-private partnership funding and affiliated group leader structures.
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): CEPI is a global partnership that accelerates development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. Directly comparable to NIVI because both are public-private partnership models focused on preparing vaccines for epidemic and pandemic threats, with multi-pathogen respiratory targets (CEPI funds MERS, Nipah, Lassa, and increasingly TB and influenza platforms) and rely on grant-based funding rather than commercial revenue.
• AAHI (formerly Infectious Disease Research Institute): AAHI is a non-profit translational research organization specializing in immune adjuvant formulation and vaccine development for infectious diseases. Directly comparable to NIVI because of its deep adjuvant technology stack, focus on respiratory and global health pathogens, and public-private funding model.
• Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development (Baylor): The Baylor CVD is a leading academic non-profit vaccine development group that has advanced low-cost vaccines for hookworm, schistosomiasis, and other neglected diseases. Comparable to NIVI because it operates as an academic-anchored, grant-funded entity advancing vaccines through clinical stages with a focus on global public health.

Broad incumbents

• BioNTech: BioNTech is a leading mRNA vaccine company with infectious disease programs including influenza, TB, and malaria vaccine candidates. Comparable to NIVI because of overlapping target pathogens and mRNA platform expertise, but operates as a publicly listed commercial entity at much larger scale.
• Sanofi Pasteur: Sanofi Pasteur is one of the largest global vaccine manufacturers with broad respiratory and infectious disease portfolio. Comparable to NIVI in influenza and respiratory pathogen focus, but operates at global commercial scale with established manufacturing and distribution.
• Moderna: Moderna is an established mRNA vaccine and therapeutics company with a broad pipeline spanning infectious disease vaccines (including mRNA influenza and respiratory syncytial virus). Comparable to NIVI as a major respiratory vaccine competitor with proprietary mRNA platform technology, but operates as a commercial entity at much larger scale.
• GSK (Vaccines division): GSK has one of the world's largest vaccine businesses with established products for influenza, TB-adjacent indications, and respiratory infections. Comparable to NIVI in target pathogens (particularly TB and influenza) and adjuvant expertise, but operates as a major pharmaceutical incumbent with global commercialization capabilities.

Regional players

• Statens Serum Institut: Statens Serum Institut is a Danish state-owned research and production organization with deep expertise in vaccine design, adjuvants, and BSL-3 infectious disease research. Directly comparable to NIVI in vaccine R&D capability, geographic location, and technical specialty — and also a key strategic partner of NIVI, illustrating the overlap between peer and partner roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novo-nordisk-foundation-initiative-for-vaccines-and-immunity-nivi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)