topic Research

KMU-innovativ: Biotechnology

With a turnover of EUR 900 million, German biotechnology SMEs in 2007 spent EUR 890 million on research and development (R&D). This places the bio-tech SMEs top of the league for commitment to R&D. The high level of R&D expenditure is creating the basis for highly innovative products and future company success. At the same time, the innovation processes in biotechnology are particularly long and expensive and run a high risk of failure. This is why young biotechnology firms are forced to rely greatly on venture capital and public funding. According to their own figures, SMEs in the biotechnology sector received around EUR 48 million in public funding in 2007, mainly from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) biotechnology programme. Over the same period, these companies raised EUR 294 million in venture capital as well as a further EUR 185 million through IPOs and recapitalisations.

Within the BMBF's bio-technology programme, the earlier BioChance (1999-2003) and BioChancePlus (2004-2007) support measures were already tailored to the special needs of the still young biotech SMEs. With KMU-innovativ the goal of the BMBF is to strengthen innovation potential among small and medium-sized enterprises in cutting-edge research and to design research funding so as to make it particularly attractive to first-time applicant SMEs. To this end the BMBF has simplified and speeded up the application and approval process and extended the advisory services available to SMEs.

Procedure

Skilled advisers are available to answer your questions. The support service (Lotsendienst) will help you with basic questions on funding. Detailed, technical questions will be answered by the Jülich project management organization responsible for the "Biotechnology" area. For the submission of project outlines a special online tool is available.

Information on submission

Project outlines can be submitted at any time. Evaluation cut-off dates for project outlines are 15 April and 15 October.

Funding criteria

The main criteria for a positive funding decision are on the one hand the scientific/technical quality of the proposed project, and on the other hand its contribution to the company's development. The detailed evaluation criteria can be found in the funding regulations. Submitted project outlines will be assessed competitively.

Technology and application areas

The funding regulations for the KMU-innovativ Biotechnologie - BioChance scheme impose no restrictions on the topic to be addressed within biotechnology projects. Funding applications may therefore be submitted for R&D projects in any branch of the modern biotechnology sector.

Outlining tool

An easy-to-use, effective online tool is available for you to submit your project outlines. If you have any problems please contact the designated project management organization.