Idea Competition "New Products for the Bioeconomy" within the Framework of the National Bioeconomy Strategy
Funding of bio-based product ideas within the framework of the National Bioeconomy Strategy. Submission of concept sketches annually by the deadline 01.02.; funding in the exploratory and feasibility phases.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The federal government supports universities, non-university research institutions, and companies in the development and implementation of new bio-based product ideas as well as in the feasibility assessment of technical implementation. Two phases are funded: exploration of the product idea and feasibility studies.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Consumables
- Travel expenses
- Patent costs
- Subcontracts to third parties
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Non-eligible expenses
- Investments
- Acquisition of real estate
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Educational Institutions
- Public Institutions
- Non-profit Organizations
Funding requirements
- Establishment or operating site in Germany
- Compliance with the EU definition for SMEs for bonus in the feasibility phase
- Institution for research and knowledge dissemination
Documents required for application
- Concept sketch
- Project description
- Cost and financing plan
- Proof of institutional basic funding
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content
- Market potential
- Technical feasibility
Description
The idea competition "New Products for the Bioeconomy" is a nationwide funding initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), organized through the project management agency Jülich (PtJ). Its goal is to strengthen a sustainable, bio-based economy through early and uncomplicated seed funding. Eligible for funding are universities, non-university research institutions, public institutions, as well as commercial enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. In two phases – exploration and feasibility – bio-based product ideas and feasibility studies are subsidized at 50%–100%. The exploration phase offers up to €65,000 for twelve months to assess technical feasibility, market potential, and necessary partners. The feasibility phase provides demand-oriented funding over a period of twelve to twenty-four months. Applicants must have an establishment in Germany; SMEs meeting the EU definition receive a bonus in the feasibility phase. Eligible expenses include personnel, consumables, travel costs, patenting costs, and project flat rates. Investments and real estate are excluded.
Submissions are accepted annually by the deadline of February 1st via the electronic application portal easy-Online. Evaluation criteria include innovation content, market potential, and technical feasibility. Required documents are an idea sketch, project description, cost and financing plan, as well as proof of institutional basic funding. Through this, the BMBF supports the transfer of original ideas into marketable products and processes – ranging from bio-based adhesives and peptide factories to smart sensors and polycultures. The streamlined funding procedure with low bureaucratic effort offers researchers and companies an attractive entry point into the development of forward-looking bioeconomy applications. Further details and contact information can be found on the website of the project management agency Jülich.