BioInnovation Institute - A Life Science commercialisation platform attracting investment and new start-ups to Denmark
The BioInnovation Institute is Denmark’s preeminent commercialisation platform for “bringing ideas to life and research to market” and has developed a strong track-record of accelerating early-stage start-ups.
International investors have taken notice – and so have international start-ups.
The BioInnovation Institute (BII) supports the commercialisation of science by using its accumulated knowledge, networks, direct funding, and research infrastructure to support world-class, science-based start-ups.
The Institute and its activities are anchored in one of Europe’s leading Life Science clusters, offering start-ups and investors a specific platform to connect within a broader national ecosystem that nurtures science and values the translation of new discoveries into commercial enterprises to bring solutions to market.
The Institute has created tailor-made programs that bring together expertise and resources to help start-ups and translational research projects increase the likelihood of successful exits. These programs provide specific supports that align with the needs of early-stage commercial ventures based on strong scientific research.
Altogether, the programs and support offered by BII have helped place Denmark on the map as the European hub for Life Science start-ups to launch a new venture as well as a hub for investors to identify investment-ready teams, thereby accelerating new solutions that seek to make an impact on human and planetary health.
“The BioInnovation Institute is a critical part of why Denmark consistently translates world-class research into high potential companies, acting as a magnet for skilled entrepreneurs, scientific expertise, and venture capital from around the world. It complements our strong universities and collaborative environment for conducting scientific research, ensuring that great ideas reach the market and ultimately make an impact on human and planetary health.”
Venture Lab - Accelerating early-stage, science-based ventures
The Venture Lab is a 12-month programme designed to help newly established early-stage start-ups that do not yet have commercial investors. It is a combination of business acceleration and scientific development to reach proof of concept from a technical and business model perspective. Participants are supported with a EUR 500,000 founder-friendly convertible loan note and intensive support from the resources of the Institute’s team, including knowledge, networks, funding, research infrastructure all organised around a dedicated BII anchor to ensure progress towards commercialisation.
At BII, we are dedicated to bringing ideas to life and research to market. Through our acceleration and company creation programs, we provide financial support, infrastructure, business development expertise, and scientific guidance. These elements are important to successfully translate great scientific ideas into products and solutions that can benefit planetary and human health.
By embarking on an entrepreneurial journey at BII, you also get a unique chance to join a growing life sciences hub in the heart of Copenhagen, where you will most definitely be inspired by working alongside both serial and first-time entrepreneurs.
Commercialise your research in Denmark
International start-ups are eligible for participating in BII’s programs, as long as they establish a legal entity in Denmark. In fact, over a quarter of the start-ups that have participated in the programs have been international, with BII supporting 26 international start-ups out of a total of 100 start-ups that have passed through its programs.
One such company is Stimuliver, a Scottish start-up which relocated to Denmark and participated in the Institute’s Venture Lab program. The company has since attracted international and Danish financing to bring its regenerative treatment for liver disease to market.
Access to capital and expertise in a location within EU were key drivers when deciding to locate our cell therapy company in Copenhagen. The ecosystem has multiple layers of support, such as a well-established venture capital community and fantastic generalist and specialised early-stage funders such as the BioInnovation Institute. Other funds such as Innovationsfonden and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) have supported the dynamic local ecosystem. These are in turn complemented by major stakeholders such as Novo Nordisk Foundation that are driving the development of technology and infrastructure to support the development of regenerative medicine therapeutics.
Crucially, large stakeholders such as Novo Nordisk, have a significant interest in cell therapy, which has led to a build-up of expertise in the ecosystem, which we have benefited from. As a result, we have been able to become established quickly and build a number of high value partnerships, which are so important for an early-stage company like ourselves.
The missing piece in the ecosystem
Another international company in BII’s Venture Lab cohort is Swedish start-up Pharmista Technologies. As part of the Venture Lab program, the CEO and founder of Pharmista Technologies, Alice Mattsson, relocated to Copenhagen to collaborate with the ecosystem.
I started Pharmista in 2020 and have since financed the business with smaller grants and subsidies. I knew, we needed to secure a bigger financing round to develop our technology and product successfully. However, we were too early for VCs since we were still doing experimental research. That’s when I came across BII, learned about their funding model and ambition, and saw a potential fit. I genuinely believe that BII is the missing piece in the ecosystem, bridging early-stage technologies with proper funding, education, mentorship, and international networks, unlike any other programs I’ve come across in Europe.
I’m super happy to be part of their Venture Lab program and that I chose to relocate to Copenhagen. I’m excited to immerse myself and Pharmista in the Danish innovation ecosystem in the coming years.
Other international companies in BII’s Venture Lab program includes Belgian start-up Amalus Therapeutics, German start-up Leopard Biosciences, Swiss start-up metaLead, and Dutch start-up Rapidemic.
Start-ups from outside Denmark will benefit significantly from participating in any of BII’s programs. In addition to financial support, start-ups receive hands-on support from a dedicated anchor within the Institute, who will curate access to Danish and broader European research networks, partnership opportunities, and engagement with a network of local and international venture capital teams.
International venture capital drawn to curated deal flow from the BioInnovation Institute
Recent experience has shown that venture capital is often the next stage of growth for companies moving through the BII programs. Indeed, alumni from BII have raised a total of EUR 559 million in follow on external funding after matriculating from the Institute’s programs. In total, BII provided EUR 99 million in support of the start-ups. Thus, start-ups have leveraged BII’s financial support by a factor 5.65.
The international investment community has caught on to the deal flow emanating from these programs, with alumni companies such as BioSyntia, Adcendo, EvodiaBio, Octarine Bio, Commit Biologics, and Alba Health among the companies raising financing from international investors.
This international investment is facilitated by the inclusion of venture partners in the Program Advisory Group, offering expertise, global network, and joining investment rounds for promising start-ups. This group include among others World Fund, Novo Holdings, The March Fund, Sofinnova Partners, Wellington Partners, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), Newhealth, ONSET Ventures, BioVenture Investors, HBM Partners, Sound Bioventures, SR One, and Abingworth.
International venture capital investors can benefit from the consolidated pipeline of highly innovative start-ups that have received proven investment readiness support from the team at the Institute. The Institute has become a hub for aggregating international venture investment and facilitating access to start-ups as they proceed through the programs.
