The GO-Bio initial programme promotes the identification and development of early life science research approaches with recognizable innovation potential. As part of the project implementation, the research results should reach a level of maturity that enables them to be continued in other established programs for validation, start-up and company cooperation funding, such as VIP+, EXIST research transfer, KMU-innovativ or GO-Bio next. The overarching goal is the seamless transfer of promising ideas into application.

Opening the window for transfer to industry with GO-Bio initial

Most R&D funding measures require extensive preparatory work and a high degree of concretization at the start of the project, which is typically not yet present in the early phases of the innovation process. At the beginning, there is often only a vague idea of the product or service to be achieved. The starting point for GO-Bio initial funding is therefore sketchy ideas for exploitation, for which no patented technology must yet be available for realization. Likewise, the exploitation path does not have to be finalized at the start of funding, as this is often not yet reliably predictable at an early stage of innovation.

The two-phase structure of the funding is ideal here. In a one-year conceptual phase, the research teams can hone exploitation ideas and carry out market and freedom-to-operate (FtO) analyses. Successful conceptual projects are given the opportunity to move on to the two-year feasibility phase in a second selection process in order to provide the technical proof of principle.

Getting fit for the market

In order to better prepare the researchers for the transfer of results and to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, the feasibility phase includes additional support measures such as the GründungsGespräche and the boot camp.

On the way to GO-Bio initial funding

Research teams can submit project outlines once a year, by February 15.

Who is funded?

Applicants, leaders or team members of the funded research projects are in particular people who are in a phase of professional orientation or reorientation. This means, on the one hand, master's students, doctoral candidates or postdocs who can imagine a career outside the traditional academic system (e.g. in a spin-off or industry) and, on the other hand, experienced professionals who want to try something new again.

Private individuals are generally excluded from funding. It is possible for private individuals to submit a project outline. As a private individual, however, you must transfer to an institution eligible to apply once this project outline has been positively assessed. 

Universities and non-university research institutions are eligible to apply.

What is funded?

The object of the funding is the identification and further development of life science exploitation ideas, preferably from the fields of "therapeutics", "diagnostics", "platform technologies" and "research tools", from their conceptual design to the examination of feasibility and possible exploitation options.

Explicitly excluded are ideas that can be primarily assigned to the bioeconomy.

How is funding provided?

GO-Bio initial funding is provided in two phases.

In the conceptual phase, researchers should develop a potential commercialization idea based on initial scientific findings, develop an implementation strategy and identify the necessary partners. In this primarily conceptual phase, the BMBF only funds individual projects at universities or non-university research institutions with a duration of up to 12 months. The BMBF grants up to 100,000 euros (plus a project allowance for universities). Project-related personnel expenses (excluding permanent staff), travel expenses, patenting costs, material and consumables for preliminary research (only in justified exceptional cases) and subcontracts to third parties for analyses and consulting, for example, are eligible for funding. Investments are not eligible for funding.

In the subsequent feasibility phase, the research teams will then carry out the development work up to the "proof of principle". The BMBF funds individual and joint projects with a duration of up to 24 months. The researchers can involve companies as associated partners in the feasibility projects. The BMBF grants up to € 500,000 for individual projects and up to € 1 million for collaborative projects (plus a project allowance for universities). Project-related personnel expenses (excluding permanent staff), material and consumables, travel expenses, patenting costs and subcontracts to third parties for e.g. analyses, consulting, further training and coaching are eligible for funding. Investments are only eligible for funding in justified exceptional cases. Cross-entry into the feasibility phase is not possible.

Additional information

Detailed information and explanations on the funding opportunities in GO-Bio initial can be found in the current funding announcement of the BMBF and the current amendment announcement.

Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found here.