Biotech startup funding and grants

IHI Joint Undertaking (EU and life-science industry)Grant

Innovative Health Initiative (IHI)

An EU–industry partnership funding consortia in health research and healthcare, with a total budget of €2.4 billion shared between the EU and life-science industry associations.

EIT HealthPrize

EIT Health Catapult

Competition and training for life-science and health-tech start-ups with fewer than 50 employees, incorporated in an EU or Horizon Europe associated country. Each winner receives a €30,000 cash prize.

Swissmedic Innovation Office

Regulatory advice, not funding: Swissmedic supports developers of innovative therapies and, since 2025, advises start-ups and academic institutions on trials of conventional medicinal products.

Basel Area Business & InnovationSupport & coaching

BaseLaunch

A biotech venture programme in Basel with financing of up to CHF 500,000, plus access to partners, investors and labs.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.