The non-dilutive funding opportunities are updated thanks to the FFund team.
Last update: Sep 2, 2024. If any question, please contact Lorina Gjonaj, COO – M +316 347 340 00 | lorina.gjonaj@ffund.nl
General Non-Dilutive Instruments
2024 Diagnostic innovations
PACE provides funding and support for innovative, high value, high risk, early phase drug discovery and diagnostic projects. We are looking to drive an exciting and diverse pipeline of early-stage in vitro diagnostics aimed at improving diagnosis of bacterial infections with high unmet need. Up to 8 applicants will be awarded grant funding, with projects expected to last up to two years. There will be awards of up to £300K for technical feasibility projects (Technology Readiness Level (TRL 3), and up to £1M for product development projects (TRL 4-5). Diagnostics innovators and developers worldwide are eligible to apply.
Funding Name: 2024 Diagnostic Innovations
Funding Organization: PACE
Amount of funding: Up to £5 million for up to 8 projects
Funding type: Grant
Close date: Expressions of interest are invited by 23:59 (GMT) on 30 October.
Duration of eligible projects: 24 months
Evaluation results expected: Jul 2025
Scope and Eligibility criteria:
We are looking for projects addressing unmet diagnostic needs for bacterial infections with the highest burden of antimicrobial resistance, which aim to:
1. Reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions.
2. Provide faster results to indicate which antibiotic should be used.
3. Catalyse the move to personalised, narrow-spectrum treatments.
We are prioritising projects that are developing diagnostic solutions in Urinary Tract Infections, Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Bloodstream Infections/Sepsis.
PACE is not just about grant funding; we offer a truly collaborative approach to project development and delivery. Those who secure funding will feel the wider value of a network of potential project partners and receive advice and guidance from some of the best in the field. And we’re there for the long run, so whether you move to the next stage of development or are not successful in securing a grant this time around, you can stay plugged into our community and continue to benefit from our expert ecosystem.
Our funding is open to researches in academia and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) worldwide, including consortia (large diagnostic industry partners permitted, but must cover own costs). Applications should have a single lead applicant, however co-applications are welcome.
Procedure and application process:
The expression of interest phase will be open from 26 September through to the closing date of 23:59 (GMT) on 30 October 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the full application stage in December 2024.
Catalyser will be available for all selected applicants to support them in developing their full applications, with an initial workshop to take place on 14 January 2025. Final funding decisions will be communicated in July 2025, with an expectation of project initiation within three months of receipt of the award letter. Key steps in the process are summarised.
Please note only applicants that have submitted expressions of interest will be eligible for full applications once selected.
For more information click here.
Eurostars-3
Eurostars is a joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission, co-funded from the national budgets of 37 Eurostars Participating States and Partner Countries and by the European Union. It aims to bring increased value to the economy, higher growth and more job opportunities. Eurostars is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners (large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects. By participating, organisations can access public funding for international collaborative R&D projects in all fields. Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation. Your consortium must spotlight an innovative SME as the main project participant.
Funding Name: Eurostars
Funding Organization: Eureka
Amount of funding per project: €500K per partner (varies per country)
Funding versus total project costs: 35-45% of total project costs (varies per country)
Funding type: Subsidy
Close date: 2 deadlines/year (September 12, 2024 and March 2025 – specific date still unknown)
Duration of eligible projects: 36 months
Evaluation results expected: December 2024
Scope and Eligibility criteria:
– Programme supporting R&D performing SMEs and their partners
– The development of new products, processes, and services
– The budget (excluding subcontracting) of the R&D-performing SME is equal to at least 50.00% of the total project budget
– At least 2 different partners from 2 different Eurostars countries
– No organization can be responsible for more than 75% of the total project budget.
– No participants from a given country may be responsible for more than 75% of the total project budget
– The project must be completed in 36M or fewer and the market introduction (or the start of clinical trials for life sciences projects) is planned to occur within 24M of the project’s completion
– Two application submission deadlines annually
To qualify as an innovative SME in the leading role, an organization must first comply with the EC definition of an SME. In addition, it must also meet the thresholds for dedicated R&D FTEs or turnover set by EUREKA.This and all other eligibility criteria are described in detail in the Guidelines. An explanation of the eligibility criteria imposed by the programme and the method of calculation are provided in detail in the Eligibility Guidelines.
Procedure and application process: For more information click heree.
EIC PATHFINDER OPEN
The overall objective of the EIC Pathfinder for advanced research is to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies. It provides support for the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech research and development. Pathfinder projects aim to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities by realising innovative technological solutions.
Funding Name: EIC Pathfinder
Funding Organization: European Commission
Amount of funding per project: Up to €3M (total budget €136M)
Funding versus total project costs: 100% of eligible costs
Close date: March 2025
Duration of eligible projects: 3-5 years
Evaluation results expected: 5 months
Scope: You should apply if you are looking for support from EIC Pathfinder Open to realise an ambitious vision for radically new technology, with potential to create new markets and/or to address global challenges. EIC Pathfinder Open supports early stage development of such future technologies (e.g., various activities at low Technology Readiness Levels from 1 to 4), based on high-risk/high-gain science towards-technology breakthrough research (including ‘deep-tech’). This research must provide the foundations of the technology you are envisioning.
Before applying to this call, you should verify that your proposal meets all the following essential characteristics (‘Gatekeepers’):
– Convincing long-term vision of a radically new technology that has the potential to have a transformative positive effect to our economy and society.
– Concrete, novel and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough, providing advancement towards the envisioned technology.
– High-risk/high-gain research approach and methodology, with concrete and plausible objectives.
Eligibility criteria: Your proposal must be submitted by the coordinator, on behalf of a consortium including as beneficiaries, at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
– at least one legal entity established in a Member State; and
– at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
For this call, the EIC considers proposals with a requested EU contribution of up to EUR 3 million as appropriate. Nonetheless, this does not preclude you to request larger amounts, if duly justified.
Procedure and application process: For more information on procedures click here.
EIC TRANSITION OPEN
EIC Transition funds innovation activities that go beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of your novel technology from the lab to the relevant application environments (by making use of prototyping, formulation, models, user testing or other validation tests) as well as explorations and development of a sustainable business case and business model towards commercialisation into high potential markets.
Funding Name: EIC Transition
Funding Organization: European Commission
Amount of funding per project: Up to €2.5M (total budget €94M)
Funding versus total project costs: 100% of eligible costs
Close date: September 18, 2024
Duration of eligible projects: 3 years
Evaluation results expected: 5 months
Scope: EIC Transition projects should address, in a balanced way, both technology and market/business development, possibly including iterative learning processes based on early customer or user feedback. These activities should include, subject to the level of maturity of the technology, a suitable mix of technology development and validation activities to increase the maturity of the technology beyond proof of concept to viable demonstrators of the technology in the intended field of application (i.e., from minimum TRL 3 or TRL 4 up to Technology Readiness Level 5 to 6).
Your proposal must build on results already achieved within an eligible project that are, at least, at experimental proof of concept (TRL 3) or, ideally, technology validated in the lab level (TRL 4). Proposals building on project results at TRLs other than TRL3 or TRL4 are not eligible.
EIC Transition is restricted to proposals based on results generated by the following eligible projects:
– EIC Pathfinder projects (including projects funded under the Horizon 2020 EIC pilot Pathfinder, FET-Open, FET-Proactive, CSA and CSA Lump sum FET Innovation Launchpad, and FET Flagships calls)
– European Research Council Proof of Concept projects funded Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe.
– Research and Innovation Actions directly 38funded under Horizon 2020 Societal challenges and Leadership in Industrial Technologies and under Horizon Europe pillar II, with an eligible TRL.
– European Defence Fund (EDF), including the Preparatory Action on Defence Research, research projects, but only for proposals which are focused on civil applications (including dual use).
Eligibility criteria: You can apply for EIC Transition either as:
– A single legal entity established in a Member State or an Associated Country (‘mono-beneficiary’) if you are a start-up, SME or research performing organisation (university, research or technology organization)
– A small consortium of two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries, or
– A consortium of minimum three and maximum five independent legal entities.
If you are applying on the basis of an eligible project for which the grant is still active, you may apply if the project has been active for at least 12 months (i.e., the start date of the grant is more than 12 months before the date of the selected EIC Transition call cut-off).
If you are applying on the basis of an eligible project which has already been completed, you may apply within 30 months of the completion of the project (i.e. the end date of the grant for the eligible project is less than 30 months from the date of the selected EIC Transition cut-off).
Procedure and application process: For more information on procedures click here.
EIC Accelerator OPEN
The EIC Accelerator supports high-risk, high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises and innovators to help them develop and bring onto the market new innovative products, services and business models that could drive economic growth. The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g., at least Technology Readiness Level 5). The EIC Accelerator looks to support companies where the EIC support will act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors necessary for the scale up of the innovation. Selected companies receive funding and optional equity, and are offered business coaching and mentoring services to scale up their innovation idea. In addition, they receive acceleration services to connect with investors, corporates and likeminded entrepreneurs.
Funding Name: EIC Accelerator
Funding Organization: European Commission
Amount of funding per project: € 0.5-2.5M (+€0.5-15M equity)
Funding versus total project costs: 70% of eligible costs (grant part)
Close date: Deadline 2024: October 3
Duration of eligible projects: 12-24 months (maximum)
Evaluation results expected: 3-6 weeks later (for 2nd and 3rd phase)
Scope: The EIC Accelerator helps you develop your business concept further into a market-ready product, service or process aligned with your company’s growth strategy. Activities could, for example, include trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication. If the activity concerns a primarily technological innovation, a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6-8 is envisaged for projects requesting grants-only. Projects are able to receive between € 0.5 and € 2.5 million in the form of grants. They can request a higher or lower amount when applying if justified accordingly. Projects should normally take 12 to 24 months to complete but could be longer in exceptional and well-justified cases.
Since 5 June 2019 the EIC Accelerator offers blended finance in the form of an optional investment in equity in addition to the grant, to single for-profit SMEs. Grants will finance activities from TRL 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will be funded through equity. The equity part is optionable when applying for the EIC Accelerator. The maximum of investment in the form of equity is € 15 million.
The EIC Accelerator provides:
a) grant component only (‘Grant Only’) that will take the form of a lump sum contribution via a grant agreement. Grant only shall be provided only once to any legal entity for the duration of the Horizon Europe programme (2021- 27).
b) blended finance support which is composed of:
– An investment component usually in the form of direct equity or quasi-equity such as convertible loans via an investment agreement.
– A grant component, that will take the form of a lump sum contribution via a grant agreement.
c) investment component only (Equity-Only) support to non-bankable SMEs, including start-ups, which have already received an eligible grant support, via an investment agreement.
Eligibility criteria: The EIC Accelerator is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) with radically new ideas underpinned by a business plan for rolling out marketable innovation solutions and with ambitions to scale up. It targets for-profit SMEs only, including young companies and start-ups, from any sector – there are no set topics. The EIC Accelerator is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) with radically new ideas underpinned by a business plan for rolling out marketable innovation solutions and with ambitions to scale up. It targets for-profit SMEs only, including young companies and start-ups, from any sector – there are no set topics.
To be an eligible applicant to EIC Accelerator, you must apply as one of the following eligible entities:
– a single company classified as a SME, and established within a Member State or an Associated Country; or
– a single company classified as a small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in a Member State or an Associated Country, but only for exceptional cases for rapid scale up purposes; or
– one or more natural persons (including individual entrepreneurs) or legal entities.
Large corporates, research centers or scientists cannot apply directly but they can participate in projects as subcontractors or third parties and don’t need to be established in an EU Member State or associated country.
Procedure and application process: For more information on procedures click here
The application process consists of a number of steps:
1. Short proposals which may be submitted at any time and which will be evaluated remotely by EIC expert evaluators on a first come, first served basis;
2. If successful, you will be invited to prepare a full proposal, where you will have access to support from EIC business coaches to develop your business plan;
3. Full proposals will first be assessed remotely by EIC expert evaluators. If successful, you will be invited to an interview with an EIC jury as the final step in the selection process;
4. If selected for (potential)funding, you will be invited to negotiate a grant agreement for the requested grant component (if you have applied for it) and to start the due diligence for the investment component (if you have applied for it).
EIC Accelerator challenge: Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for new variants of emerging viruses.
The EIC Accelerator supports high-risk, high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises and innovators to help them develop and bring onto the market new innovative products, services and business models that could drive economic growth. The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g.,at least Technology Readiness Level 5).The EIC Accelerator looks to support companies where the EIC support will act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors necessary for the scale up of the innovation. Selected companies receive funding and optional equity, and are offered business coaching and mentoring services to scale up their innovation idea. In addition, they receive acceleration services to connect with investors, corporates and likeminded entrepreneurs.
Funding Name: EIC Accelerator (€50M)
Funding Organization: European Commission
Amount of funding per project: € 0.5-2.5M (+€0.5-15M equity)
Funding versus total project costs: 70% of eligible costs (grant part)
Close date: Deadline 2024: October 3
Duration of eligible projects: 12-24 months (maximum)
Evaluation results expected: 3-6 weeks later (for 2nd and 3rd phase)
Scope: To address this global challenge, this EIC Challenge will support the development of mAbs-based therapeutics against new variants of emerging pathogens of high concern, as a line of defence complementary to new vaccines.
Applicants to the Challenge can address:
• Broad-spectrum mAbs-based therapies.
• More effective mAbs-based therapies (e.g., address the issue of inter-individual variability).
• Clinical administration of broad spectrum mAbs-based therapeutics to outpatients with mild symptoms in overwhelmed hospitals or in dealing with hypersensitivity to treatment.
• Rapid production of mAbs-based therapies: technological innovations that can allow for the production of a mAb, including test batches during the development phase, with minimal lead time, enabling rapid availability of a product in the event of an outbreak.
• Administration of mAbs-based therapeutics: new technologies that can simplify the administration of mAbs, thereby extending the half-life of the antibody or injecting mRNA coding for a mAb.
Eligibility criteria: The EIC Accelerator is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) with radically new ideas underpinned by a business plan for rolling out marketable innovation solutions and with ambitions to scale up. It targets for-profit SMEs only, including young companies and start-ups, from any sector – there are no set topics.
To be an eligible applicant to EIC Accelerator, you must apply as one of the following eligible entities:
– a single company classified as a SME, and established within a Member State or an Associated Country; or
– a single company classified as a small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in a Member State or an Associated Country, but only for exceptional cases for rapid scale up purposes; or
– one or more natural persons (including individual entrepreneurs) or legal entities.
Large corporates, research centers or scientists cannot apply directly but they can participate in projects as subcontractors or third parties and don’t need to be established in an EU Member State or associated country.
Procedure and application process: For more information click here.
Please note that short application can be submitted any time.
Long-term Engaging Institutions and Programmes
barda
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, was established to aid in securing our nation from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as from pandemic influenza (PI) and emerging infectious diseases (EID). BARDA supports the transition of medical countermeasures such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics from research through advanced development towards consideration for approval by the FDA and inclusion into the Strategic National Stockpile. BARDA will draw on its extensive experience of successfully advancing promising medical countermeasures through late-stage development and provide $30 million during the project’s first year and up to $250 million during the five-year program.
Funding Name: Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
Funding Organization: BARDA
Amount of funding per project: € No maximum
Funding versus total project costs: 100%
Close date: None
Duration of eligible projects: Up to 5 years
Evaluation results expected: Unspecified
Scope: Due to the COVID-19 response, any white papers or full proposal submissions, other than those that are in support of COVID-19, will be put into a queue. Once the response to COVID-19 has subsided, we will resume normal review of submissions for other research areas of interest. BARDA will not be able to meet the timelines highlighted in the Broad Agency Announcement.
COVID-19 response related Areas of Interest includes:
• AOI 7.7.1 Diagnostic Assay for Human Coronaviruses
• AOI 7.7.2 Diagnostic Assay for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus
• AOI 7.7.3 Diagnostic Assay for Detection of COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibodies
• AOI 7.7.5 Screening Tests at Point of Care (2-minute Time to Result)
• AOI 9.2 COVID-19 Therapeutics
• AOI 17 Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Eligibility:
Applicants can be from any country.
Applicants may include single entities or teams from private sector organizations, government laboratories, and academic institutions.
Procedure and application process: For more information click here.
carb-x
Accelerating global antibacterial innovation – Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global non-profit partnership accelerating antibacterial products to address drug-resistant bacteria, a leading cause of death around the world. The CARB-X portfolio is the world’s most scientifically diverse, early development pipeline of new antibiotics, vaccines, rapid diagnostics and other products. CARB-X is the only global partnership that integrates solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening bacterial infections, translating innovation from basic research to first-in-human clinical trials.
Funding Name: CARB-X
Funding Organization: CARB-X
Amount of funding per project: Total budget €480M
Funding versus total project costs: Unspecified
Close date: Unspecified
Duration of eligible projects: Unspecified
Evaluation results expected: Unspecified
Scope: The CARB-X 2024 funding round has four distinct themes.
1. Therapeutics for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens: The scope is restricted to direct-acting small-molecule therapeutics (or small molecules that can be used in combination with an existing drug that can restore the potency of that drug to clinically useful levels in an in vitro MIC assay by inhibition of a specific resistance mechanism). Molecules with properties that will deliver an IV route with an oral stepdown are preferred.
2. Prevention of invasive diseases: Novel approaches to prevention of invasive disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli are sought. Given the history of challenges in drug development in this arena, modalities other than vaccines are preferred; however, if a vaccine is proposed, a novel aspect (e.g. adjuvant strategy or vaccine composition) that makes a compelling case must be underscored.
3. Diagnostics for neonatal sepsis: Consistent with our “Aligned by Design” strategy, we seek diagnostics to support the growing portfolio of potential maternal vaccines to prevent neonatal sepsis. Products focused on rapid triage, bacterial identification and/or antibiotic susceptibility testing are sought. Time-to-result and cost-of-goods are key criteria, and small-sample volumes are critical for this patient population. Pathogen ID and AST Products must focus on priority pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii.
4. Proof-of-concept for alternative sample types for diagnosing lower-respiratory-tract infections: Consistent with our “Aligned by Design” strategy, we seek diagnostics to support the many therapeutic projects focused on lower-respiratory-tract infections (LRTI). Owing to the challenges with BAL samples, as a first step, projects that can demonstrate proof-of-concept data with alternative sample types are sought.
Eligibility:
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for all four themes may be submitted from 23 September 2024 at 10:00 ET to 4 October 2024 at 23:59 ET. In the EOI, you will be asked to answer a series of questions about your proposed project and will be given the opportunity to share pertinent, non-confidential details, in free text. Your application will be judged on the merits of its scientific content; describe your science with as much data as possible. Please do provide sufficient data to allow a knowledgeable scientist to get a reasonable sense of the therapeutic/preventative/diagnostic. Do not provide other manuscripts, references, citations or similar. Note that the form can only accept text; you may not enter tables or graphics. Do not include foundational information regarding the significance of antibiotic resistance; this is not necessary, as the reviewers understand this.
Procedure and application process: For more information click here.
InnovFin Infectious Diseases
The InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility (IDFF) provides financial products ranging from standard debt to equity-type financing for amounts typically between €7.5 million and €75 million, to innovative players active in developing innovative vaccines, drugs, medical and diagnostic devices or novel research infrastructures for combatting infectious diseases.
Funding Name: InnovFin Infectious Disease
Funding Organization: European Investment Bank
Amount of funding per project: €7.5-75M
Funding versus total project costs: Unspecified
Close date: Unspecified
Duration of eligible projects: Unspecified
Evaluation results expected: Unspecified
Scope: Project costs may include clinical trial costs, set-up of commercialisation such as market access, development of prototypes or industrial roll-out of novel equipment, pre-clinical R&D costs and working capital requirement.
The product is being made available directly through the European Investment Bank.In addition, it should have passed successfully through the pre-clinical stage or through the proof-of-concept stage (in the case of medical and diagnostic devices). Funding can be invested in research infrastructure that provides facilities, resources and related services for use by the scientific community to conduct top-level research in the ID field.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility (IDFF) funding, counterparties must comply with the following criteria:
The promoter should be a large pharmaceutical company, a mid-cap or a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), a research institute/organisation, a university, a non-profit entity or a special-purpose vehicle (SPV). Promoters, sponsors and/or operators must be willing to substantially co-fund the project.
Procedure and application process: For more information click here.