Insider Brief
- The BioInnovation Institute (BII) has opened applications for its 2026 Venture Lab program, offering early-stage startups funding, mentorship, and development support across life sciences and quantum technologies.
- The program provides a EUR 500,000 founder-friendly convertible loan with a potential follow-up investment of EUR 1.3 million for selected teams.
- Applications are open until January 28, 2026, with opportunities for both Danish and international startups in sectors including planetary health, health tech, therapeutics, and quantum.
The BioInnovation Institute (BII) has opened applications for its 2026 Venture Lab program, offering early-stage startups across multiple scientific domains a pathway to transform research ideas into viable companies. The program provides financial support, structured mentorship and access to an international network of investors and industry experts.
The Venture Lab program supports startups working within four key sectors: planetary health, health technology, therapeutics and quantum technologies, according to a LinkedIn post. According to BII, the initiative is designed to integrate business acceleration with scientific development, ensuring that founders and their teams receive both technical and entrepreneurial training.
Participants accepted into the program will receive a EUR 500,000 founder-friendly convertible loan. In addition, successful teams may be eligible for a follow-up funding opportunity of up to EUR 1.3 million. BII said the goal is to help startups bridge the gap between discovery and market readiness, particularly in sectors where scientific innovation requires long development cycles and substantial capital investment.
Founded with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the BioInnovation Institute operates as an independent, non-profit foundation that nurtures life science and deep tech startups. Its Venture Lab program serves as an entry point to BII’s broader ecosystem, which includes the Creation House scale-up program and a global community of alumni companies. Since its establishment, BII has supported more than 80 startups that have collectively attracted significant private investment and research partnerships.
BII has also expanded its focus to include quantum technologies, reflecting the growing convergence between quantum research and applications in health and sustainability. The program is open to international startups in this domain, offering access to Denmark’s growing quantum and biotech innovation ecosystem. Interested applicants can register for an informational webinar with Jakob Svagin, Director in Venture Creation – Quantum, to learn more about opportunities for quantum-related ventures.
Applications for the Venture Lab program close on January 28, 2026. BII encourages prospective founders and research teams to apply early and reach out with questions regarding eligibility or program structure. The institute said its aim is to identify promising scientific ideas and provide them with the financial and developmental framework to become sustainable businesses.
Click here to learn more.
To apply, click here.
