If you are an entrepreneurial Principal Investigator wanting to accelerate scientific discoveries into therapies, there is now a new opportunity to apply for a three-year acceleration program and funding from MVA member the BioInnovation Institute (BII) in Copenhagen.
BII has together with the Lundbeck Foundation launched a BioStudio Brain Health Challenge with a specific focus on accelerating world-class life science innovation within brain health and neurological diseases. . They are specifically looking for technologies with platform potential and a clear therapeutic application, within one of the following areas:
- New therapeutic solutions stemming from clear causal biology, which are clinically translatable into real-world, commercially viable treatments.
- Drug discovery platforms, either new or superior to current models in recapitulating human disease (e.g., calibrated on validated drug targets).
- Robust, modular, and scalable solutions for CNS/PNS regions and cell-specific delivery that enable small molecules, biologics, and/or oligonucleotides to target the nervous system.
The challenge also benefits from the drug discovery and development expertise of BII’s Innovation Partner Lundbeck A/S.
The Bio Studio Program is a funding instrument tailored to entrepreneurial Principal Investigators that develop technologies with platform potential and a clear therapeutic application. The goal of the program is to propel the project’s science and technology development and to launch an investment-ready start-up after three years of incubation at BII. Further details about the Bio Studio Program can be found in their Guidelines
- Funding: The program offers funding of up to DKK 5.35m per year (EUR ~0.72m) up to three years. Access to in-kind support
- Project Team & Incubation: The team will be hired at BII and gain access to state-of-the-art facilities in Copenhagen. An Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) drives company creation while the PI remains at their home institution as scientific advisor.
- Program Content: Maturation of scientific innovation. Access to BII’s acceleration platform, network (e.g., 200+ VCs), and community events.
- Intellectual Property (IP): Existing IP is not required. All IP generated during the project will remain at the home institution. However, project-related IP must be licensable to the future spin-out company on market terms.
The initial application process consists of a brief Expression of Interest (EoI) to be submitted via the ATLAS online portal, deadline 4th May 2026, with selected EoIs being invited to pitch on June 15.
For more information on how to apply, see Brain Health Challenge. You can also reach out to Sofie Singbrant Söderberg at biostudioprogram@bii.dk