Novo Nordisk launches Prize to spotlight the next generation of women in science

Novo Nordisk has launched the Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize, opening applications to early and mid-career women in STEM whose work is shaping “Innovation, Leadership and Impact“ in science and medicine.

Named after the formidable Dr Marie Krogh (1874–1943) – a Danish physician, insulin pioneer, and one of the first women in Denmark to earn a doctorate in medicine – the Prize is more than symbolic. It pays tribute to a woman who defied her era, co-developing insulin treatment protocols alongside her Nobel Prize-winning husband, August Krogh, and turning diabetes into a treatable disease she herself lived with.

“Supporting the next generation of women in science and medicine isn’t just about equity, it’s about excellence. The Marie Krogh Prize highlights the kind of innovation and leadership that drives meaningful change in health outcomes, and I’m honoured to help recognise these future leaders,” said Professor Kathryn North AC, Director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

In a sector where women account for only 37% of university STEM enrolments and a staggering 15% of STEM jobs, this initiative is a pointed investment in Australia’s scientific and medical future.

The stakes? A $50,000 cash prize for the winner, plus $5,000 for each of the seven finalists. Finalists will be celebrated at a national awards dinner at Parliament House in Canberra in November 2025, where Professor Kathryn North AC will deliver the inaugural Marie Krogh Oration.

Beyond the money and the spotlight, finalists will be inducted into The Marie Krogh Alumni network, a long-term platform for collaboration, visibility and influence.

Dr Ana Svensson, Novo Nordisk Oceania VP of Clinical, Medical and Regulatory, said “Marie Krogh’s pioneering work in human metabolism and diabetes laid the foundations for Novo Nordisk’s commitment to improving the lives of people with serious chronic diseases through science. The Prize continues her legacy by investing in the next generation of women in STEM, so that future pioneers of science and medicine in Australia are recognised and supported.”

“By elevating the voices and work of early to mid-career researchers who are driving innovation and improving health outcomes, we aim to contribute to an environment where women in STEM are not an outlier, but celebrated as significant contributors to Australia’s medical innovation,” she added.

The Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize is an extension of the Marie and August Krogh Prize which was established in 1969 and is awarded annually to an outstanding health researcher in Denmark. 

Applications are now officially open, with eligible early to mid-career women in science or medicine urged to apply.

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