From cleaner hydrogen production and advanced medical treatments to AI hardware and sustainable materials, Europe’s next wave of research based companies is receiving fresh support as the BioInnovation Institute commits €9.52 million in convertible loans to 17 startups selected for its Venture Programme.
€560,000 for Each Startup
The Copenhagen based BioInnovation Institute, or BII, will provide each company with a €560,000 convertible loan. Alongside the financing, the startups will gain access to BII’s innovation platform, laboratory infrastructure and network of entrepreneurs, scientific experts, industry partners and investors.
The programme is designed to help founders move promising technologies from universities, hospitals and research laboratories towards commercially viable products and scalable businesses.
The latest commitment follows the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s announcement of €736 million in additional funding for BII. The backing is intended to help the institute expand its activities across Europe and increase the number of startups it supports annually from approximately 20 to 30, with further companies potentially supported through partnerships.
From Research to Commercialisation
BII’s Venture Programme supports companies working across healthcare, biotechnology, climate technology, advanced materials, education and other research intensive fields.
Participating startups receive assistance with business development, scientific progress, team building and preparation for future fundraising. Access to laboratory facilities in Copenhagen is particularly important for companies developing physical technologies, therapeutics, diagnostics and industrial processes that require specialised testing and validation.
BII Chief Business Officer Trine Bartholdy said the institute sees an opportunity to bring more research from European universities and hospitals into the market. She added that successful commercialisation requires more than capital, including access to relevant expertise, infrastructure and partnerships.
A Diverse Technology Portfolio
The 17 companies in the new cohort are developing technologies aimed at addressing challenges in healthcare, sustainability, industrial efficiency and computing.
Fibernex is working on porous nanofibre electrodes for more efficient green hydrogen production, while KhaosGuard is developing mid infrared laser systems to measure greenhouse gas emissions in industrial facilities.
Launch Bioindustries is using fermentation to turn organic waste into sustainable biomaterials, including alternatives to fossil based plastics. React Foods is developing yeast proteins using carbon dioxide and renewable energy, while PureSurf is creating bio based surfactants from renewable raw materials.
Other climate and industrial technology companies include Reformable, which is developing processes to convert methane and carbon dioxide into syngas, and Lucore Technology, which is building photonic hardware intended to make AI computing faster and more energy efficient.
Advancing Healthcare and Biology
Healthcare is another major focus of the cohort. Sylvia Health is developing less invasive solutions for women’s pelvic floor and reproductive health, while Corcellys Therapeutics is working on regenerative cell therapies for diseases affecting the surface of the eye.
Alvara Therapeutics is developing small molecule medicines for chronic kidney disease. Aperio Therapeutics is focused on long acting biological treatments related to energy deficiency and cellular signalling.
Epimass is developing real time mass spectrometry technology for analysing surgical smoke and airborne particles, with possible applications in cancer diagnosis. IQopta is applying AI to medical imaging workflows used in drug development and clinical trials, while Affinity AI is using artificial intelligence to design protein binders for therapeutics, diagnostics and biomedical research.
Building Europe’s Deep Tech Pipeline
The cohort also includes Human Thinking, which is developing educational AI agents designed to support critical thinking, Copenhagen Microsystems, which is building equipment for three dimensional micro and nanostructures, and Lizard Photonics, which is developing compact photonic systems for data centres, AI, quantum technology and advanced sensors.
Bartholdy said BII’s role is to bring together funding, expertise, infrastructure and partners so founders can focus on developing their technologies and building internationally relevant companies.
With support for more than 140 companies since its establishment, BII is now seeking to extend its model beyond Denmark and strengthen connections between European researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.
