Program
Biotech Booster
The Biotech Booster program helps researchers and founders in the Netherlands turn promising biotechnology discoveries into innovations that can make a real difference for society. We bridge the gap between scientific research and society, supporting early-stage projects in their journey from idea to market-ready innovation.
Curious what joining the program could mean for you?
Discover below what Biotech Booster can offer.
Subsidy round status:
2027: opening soon
Financial support
Mentorship
Network
120+ projects
About the Biotech Booster Program
Why join Biotech Booster?
The Biotech Booster program helps you turn your biotechnology discovery into real-world impact. We support early-stage innovation projects and their project leaders with the funding, personalized training, mentorship and network they need to bring their innovation to the market. Along the way, you’ll develop your entrepreneurial skills, expand your network, learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and connect with a community of ambitious peers. Together, we help you move your innovation forward and turn its potential into real-world impact.
Note: Biotech Booster funding is intended for early-stage business development to commercialize technologies and bring them to market, not further fundamental research.
What do you get?
- Access to funding support
- A community of 120+ fellow biotech innovators
- One-on-one guidance
- Access to experts, partners and investors
- Intensive coaching
- Peer-to-peer learning
Who can apply?
The program is open to early stage biotech researchers and entrepreneurs that are working on the following:
Level 1
Proof-of-Principle
Innovation Readiness Level 2-3*
An idea that could work on scientific grounds, but whose practical operation and commercial feasibility has yet to be demonstrated.
Level 2
Proof-of-Concept
Innovation Readiness Level 4-5*
An idea whose proof of principle has been demonstrated and that can be developed into a practicable and commercially feasible process or product.
*Learn more about the Innovation Readiness Levels & selection criteria in our FAQ section below.
Explore each level
Focus areas
Your biotech innovation is unique, and your support should be too. Biotech Booster takes a tailored, cluster-based approach, connecting you to the specialized knowledge, industry expertise, partners and connections that match your field. With 40 business & impact developers within 5 thematic clusters, across 30+ Dutch knowledge institutes, we connect you to the right people and resources to help you navigate challenges, uncover opportunities and bring your innovation to the market.
TC1
Industrial Biotechnology & Production
TC2
Agriculture & Food
TC3
ATMPs, Biopharmaceuticals & Associated Enabling Technologies
TC4
Diagnostics and Services
TC5
Vaccines, Small Molecules, Discovery & Development Platforms
What projects say
Over 120 project teams are currently in our program.
Read the stories of Carapace Biopolymers and Haplotagging to learn about their experience.
Do you want to join us?
Click the button for information about the current subsidy round or continue below to learn more about the general program, selection criteria and application process.
FAQ
Biotech Booster gives you more than funding alone. You get tailored guidance, practical training, access to experienced experts and a nationwide network of biotech professionals, industry partners and peers. We help you develop both your innovation and the skills you need to take it forward. Read our project stories such as Tulip Enzyme Solutions and Carapace Biopolymers to learn about their experience.
We help you explore the market potential of your innovation, test your assumptions, develop your proposition and identify the right path towards application. Along the way, you’ll develop your entrepreneurial skills, expand your network and gain a sharper view of the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Biotech Booster supports early stage biotech projects. The program brings together academia and industry at a very early stage and combines financial support with hands-on entrepreneur guidance, personalized training, expert mentorship and access to a broad biotech network. Our cluster-based approach means that the support you receive is tailored to your specific field and innovation.
No. Biotech Booster supports different routes towards impact. Whether your innovation could lead to a startup, licensing opportunity, industry collaboration or another form of application, we help you explore the options and identify a suitable path forward.
To best support each individual project, Biotech Booster uses the KTH Royal Institute of Technology Innovation Readiness Level (IRL) model to assess their development status and define suitable next steps.
In case you apply for our program, you will be asked to select the Innovation Readiness Level (IRL) that best fits your project:
- Level 1: Proof-of-Principle
- Level 2: Proof-of-Concept
Level 1 projects: Innovation Readiness Level 2-3
For Proof-of-Principle projects to enter our program we expect them to start at an early stage of innovation development, corresponding to KTH IRL 2-3. Projects at this stage have formulated their technology, identified potential markets, with an initial understanding of business opportunities and intellectual property. Basic competencies and team are in place.
When your Proof-of-Principle project has entered our program, the focus of the activities will be on taking your innovation further on the project roadmap. Guided by a Biotech Booster business development team, you will be working on e.g. market feedback, validation of critical functions in the lab, developing the outlines of your business model and intellectual property strategy. For our health, pharma & diagnostics related projects, additional internationally validated frameworks for innovation in health are used when relevant.
By the end of Level 1, projects have validated their technology in the lab, gained insights in users and/or customers and outlined a viable business model, technology roadmap and IP strategy. A committed project leader is in place, key competencies are secured, and preparations for next-stage funding are underway.
Level 2 projects: Innovation Readiness Level 4-5
To enter level 2, we expect projects, either new or after level 1, to be at an (KTH) IRL of 4-5. A panel of entrepreneurs must be convinced that the project is innovative, can deliver societal and commercial impact, and that the team can make it investable within two years.
When admitted to the program, level 2 projects will be guided by experienced entrepreneurs from the Biotech Booster Pool of Entrepreneurs. The team will be working on validating key assumptions and market feedback for the business model, strengthening IP strategy and business value, to prepare for further development and potential investment and/or scale out.
After a successful level 2, the Biotech Booster team guides the project towards a relevant transaction or scale-out, such as the founding of a start-up, a license deal or an asset sale (Level 3).
The Biotech Booster program is funded by the National Growth Fund. The Proof-of-Principle (Level 1) and Proof-of-Concept (Level 2) subsidies are granted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands (OCW) and Implementing Agency for Grants to Institutions (DUS-I). All applications will be evaluated and selected by Biotech Booster, and only those receiving a positive selection advice may proceed to submit their project to DUS-I. DUS-I will then determine whether the project application aligns with the subsidy scheme and, if eligible, officially award the subsidy for the project. DUS-I and the Ministry of OCW are responsible for the legal framework, more information on the subsidy scheme and criteria can be found on this DUS-i page.
Anyone with an innovative biotechnology project that is in the early stages of development can apply. In case you want to apply for Level 1, you need to be connected to a Dutch knowledge institute.
If you are a scientist/founder who wants to join the program, please check the top of this page to see if we currently have an open subsidy round. If yes, find more info & pre-apply here. If not, fill in the interest form here, so we can contact you if there is more information about a new subsidy round.
2024
Closed September, 2024
2025
Closed May, 2025
2026
Currently closed.
2027
Opening soon.
There are two different types of projects supported by the Biotech Booster program:
- Proof-of-Principle (Level 1)
An idea that could work on scientific grounds, but whose practical operation and commercial feasibility has yet to be demonstrated.
- Proof-of-Concept (Level 2)
Idea whose proof of principle has been demonstrated and that can be developed into a practicable and commercially feasible process or product.
Fits within the objective of the scheme
Activities within the project are biotechnology or are relevant to biotechnology, fit in one of the thematic clusters and the project is based on an idea whose proof of principle has been demonstrated and that can be developed into a practicable process of product.
Social relevance
The outcome of the project has at least a small impact on a big social issue or a big impact on a small social issue and will meet needs of people and society
Degree of innovativeness
The project idea is new and innovative compared to what is currently present in the biotechnology field.
Commercial feasibility
We look at the existing background knowledge, intellectual property, and trade secrets, as well as those that will be developed during the project and the strategies in place to protect them. The project demonstrates strong potential for commercial feasibility, supported by a positive market outlook, validated interest from potential customers and/or investors, and a clear understanding of the relevant regulatory landscape.
Realistic planning
The planning and budget are realistic and in line with the proposed activities and deliverables.
Team
The team has expertise and experience in the field required for the execution of the activities or will hire the missing expertise during the project.
They will give you feedback and a recommendation on moving towards the official pitch for Panel of Entrepreneurs.
Your pre-application will be evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:
- Your technology is validated in the lab, you have gained insights into users and/or customers, and outlined a viable business model, technology roadmap, and IP strategy.
- Your problem– solution hypothesis makes clear in which of the (five) TC themes within the Biotech Booster program the activities best fit.
- Your proposed activities concern part of biotechnology or are particularly relevant to biotechnology and are aimed at advancing knowledge from research and the proof of principle towards a practically executable process or product (IRL 5-6).
We look at the following areas:
Fits within the objective of the scheme
Activities within the project are biotechnology or are relevant to biotechnology, fit in one of the thematic clusters and the project is based on an idea whose proof of principle has been demonstrated and that can be developed into a practicable process of product.
Social relevance
The outcome of the project has at least a small impact on a big social issue or a big impact on a small social issue and will meet needs of people and society
Degree of innovativeness
The project idea is new and innovative compared to what is currently present in the biotechnology field.
Commercial feasibility
We look at the existing background knowledge, intellectual property, and trade secrets, as well as those that will be developed during the project and the strategies in place to protect them. The project demonstrates strong potential for commercial feasibility, supported by a positive market outlook, validated interest from potential customers and/or investors, and a clear understanding of the relevant regulatory landscape.
Realistic planning
The planning and budget are realistic and in line with the proposed activities and deliverables.
Team
The team has expertise and experience in the field required for the execution of the activities or will hire the missing expertise during the project.
After you fill in the registration form, you will be contacted by one of our business developers for more information. Meanwhile, check this DUS-i page for the subsidy scheme and criteria.
We handle all information shared with Biotech Booster with care and confidentiality. This means that information is used only for the purpose for which it was shared and are not disclosed to third parties without prior permission.
Biotech Booster helps us through funding and by providing us with a network to validate where we can make the best impact with our new analysis device.
Carlos de Lannoy
Constellate
What we look forward to most is leveraging the extraordinary network of Biotech Booster that we need to get foot in the market, get know-how, and understanding the competitive field which is necessary for setting up successful operations.
Pim Schaasberg & Martin Pabst
ProteoT
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