Finance and funding support

Access to EU Finance provides an entry point for biotech companies seeking EU funding. It offers information on funding sources in the EU, including grants, loans, microfinance and equity options.

The STEP Portal consolidates all EU funding opportunities for biotechnologies and other critical technologies supported by the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP).

The Funding & Tenders Portal centralises applications for EU-funded programs. Use it to search for the biotech or biomanufacturing related projects in the grants and funding section below.

• Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It funds biotechnology and biomanufacturing through R&I projects driven by scientific opportunities.
• The European Innovation Council (EIC) supports biotech projects through grants, equity, and financing from multiple sources (also known as blended finance) for SMEs and start-ups.
• HERA Invest supports biotech research and development for health emergencies relevant to companies working in infectious diseases, vaccines, and diagnostics.
• The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI JU) is a public-private partnership that funds large-scale collaborations focused on health innovation, including biotech R&D in drug discovery and precision medicine.
• The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries. It accelerates the innovation of bio-based solutions, their market deployment, and the environmental performance of bio-based industrial systems.
• Processes4Planet (P4Planet) is an initiative that funds biotech projects in sustainable process industries, aiming to support EU Green Deal goals with bio-based manufacturing and bioprocessing solutions.
• The LIFE Programme funds environmental and climate action initiatives across the EU. LIFE is relevant for biotech and biomanufacturing projects in areas like sustainable production, environmental impact reduction, and bio-based economy solutions.
• The Innovation Fund supports biotech and industrial projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
• The EU4Health Programme (EU4H) is a program aimed at improving public health across Europe by funding projects that address health inequalities, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen health systems.
• The Digital Europe Programme funds biotech innovations that integrate digital solutions.
• The European Defence Fund (EDF) finances research on defence technology and technology with benefits both for civil and defence applications (‘dual-use technology’). It notably supports actions linked to “disruptive technologies based on concepts or ideas originating from “non-traditional defence’s state-of-art,” including biotechnologies.

• The European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF) offer loans, guarantees, and venture capital support for biotech companies, targeting high-risk, high-potential projects in health, green technology, and innovation.
• InvestEU offers financing and advisory services targeting high-risk, high-potential projects in health, green technology and innovation. The InvestEU portal proposes services to match company needs and financing offer and provides a single EU-wide database of investment opportunities.
• The InvestEU Advisory Hub helps projects reach the financing stage.

• The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funds research clusters, infrastructure, and biotech start-ups in underdeveloped regions.
• The European Social Fund (ESF) provides support for training and skill development in biotech, promoting workforce growth and regional economic resilience.
• The Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3) fosters interregional collaboration in innovation, supporting regions to invest in areas like biotech

• The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme connects biotech innovators with corporate partners.
• The Made in Europe Partnership promotes digital and sustainable innovation in manufacturing.
• The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) offers biotech companies targeted support through funding calls that finance innovation projects, accelerate startup growth, and provide valuable educational resources in health, food and manufacturing.