BioInnovation Institute backs 17 early

BioInnovation Institute (BII) is providing €9.52 million in convertible loans to 17 research-based startups selected for its Venture Programme, as the Danish innovation institute scales its support for early-stage companies across Denmark and Europe.

Each company will receive a €560,000 convertible loan alongside access to BII's innovation platform and support network.

The latest cohort follows the Novo Nordisk Foundation's announcement of €736 million in additional funding for BII, which will support the institute's plans to expand its activities across Europe and increase the number of startups it backs annually from around 20 to 30, with the potential to support additional companies through partnerships.

The 17 companies are developing technologies across healthcare, biotechnology, climate and other research-driven fields. Through the Venture Programme, they will receive support aimed at helping them turn research and early-stage technologies into commercially viable businesses.

Alongside financing, participating companies gain access to BII's facilities in Copenhagen, including laboratory infrastructure, as well as its network of entrepreneurs, experts, partners and investors. The programme also provides support across business, scientific and team development, including preparations for future fundraising.

We are facing a historic opportunity to bring even more of the strong research being conducted at Danish and European universities and hospitals out into the world. The 17 companies represent exactly the potential we want to help unlock - research with the potential to become new technologies, products and companies that can make a real difference,

said Trine Bartholdy, Chief Business Officer at BII.

BII is also looking to extend its activities beyond Denmark as it seeks to strengthen links between European research institutions, entrepreneurs and investors. Its longer-term goal is to help more technologies emerging from universities and hospitals progress from research towards commercial applications and internationally scalable companies.

Bartholdy noted that turning advanced research into a scalable business is a complex process that requires not only funding, but also access to the right expertise, partners and infrastructure.

Our role is to bring these different elements together around the founders, so they can focus their time and energy on developing their technologies and building companies with international potential,

Since its establishment, BII has supported more than 140 companies. With the additional backing from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the institute plans to scale its model across a broader range of research areas while expanding its role in the European research-based startup ecosystem.

The 17 companies joining BII's Venture Programme are: