Funding opportunities for life sciences
Innovate UK and ZIM (BMWE)
Bilateral German-British research and development funding for business collaborations in areas such as medical technology, diagnostics, digital health and biotechnology. In the United Kingdom, funding is provided through Innovate UK, while German funding is provided through the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) of the BMWE. AiF Projekt GmbH is responsible for ZIM collaborative projects. For international ZIM calls, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH also serves as a point of contact for international collaborations.¹
Eureka-Eurostars-3
Funding for international research and development projects led by innovative SMEs and aimed at developing market-ready solutions, for example in medical technology, diagnostics and biotechnology. The DLR Project Management Agency, which serves as the German EUREKA Office, is the central point of contact for German applicants.²
Horizon Europe – Cluster 1 “Health”
European collaborative research funding for businesses, universities, hospitals and research institutions, including in the areas of prevention, diagnostics, treatment, biotechnology and digital health. The European Commission provides the funding. Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Advice is available from the relevant National Contact Points (NCPs).³
BMFTR – KMU-innovativ: Medical Technology
Funding for high-risk, pre-competitive research and development projects by SMEs, for example in the fields of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics. The project management agency is VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH.⁴
BMFTR – KMU-innovativ: Biomedicine
Funding for high-risk research and development projects in medical biotechnology and drug development. The project is managed by Projektträger Jülich.⁵
