BioInnovation Institute invests €8M in six

The BioInnovation Institute (BII) has allocated a further €1.3 million to each of six life science and climate technology startups. This new commitment brings the total funding from the non-profit incubator to €1.8 million per company. The capital is provided through convertible loans and is intended to help the firms mature their technologies, strengthen their business operations, and attract additional external investment as they move closer to market.

Alongside the funding, the six companies gain continued access to BII's innovation platform in Copenhagen. This includes advanced laboratory facilities, a global network of investors and advisors, and expertise in business development. According to BII Chief Business Officer Trine Bartholdy, the cohort has reached a critical developmental stage. "The six companies have demonstrated strong potential and have already taken important steps from promising research to developing solutions that can make a real difference," Bartholdy stated.

Portfolio Companies and Their Technologies

The six companies, each previously receiving €0.5 million from BII, span a range of fields from human health to planetary sustainability.

PanTarg is developing an antibody-based cancer therapy that combines two targeted attacks into a single treatment, with a focus on aggressive cancers like pancreatic cancer. It is a spin-out from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet.

3Sonic is creating a new imaging technology that uses 3D ultrasound and artificial intelligence. The aim is to allow surgeons to assess cancer tissue in real-time during operations to improve precision and patient outcomes. It originated from Rigshospitalet and the Technical University of Denmark.

Inia Biosciences is working on new treatments for inflammatory diseases, starting with psoriasis. The company emerged from innovation ecosystems in Boston and Oxford.

Yngvi Bio is developing biological solutions for targeted agricultural pest control. The goal is to protect crops while minimizing harm to biodiversity and human health. It is a spin-out from the University of Copenhagen.

Proxi Biotech is advancing a vaccine-based immunotherapy designed to combat recurrent bacterial infections, initially targeting Clostridium difficile. The technology is presented as an alternative to treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation.

Sagava focuses on reducing maritime sector CO₂ emissions by converting waste into sustainable biofuels and energy. It is a spin-out from the Technical University of Denmark.

The Stage of Founder Decision-Making

Trine Bartholdy emphasized the importance of this specific phase for the founders. "It is precisely at this stage that the combination of capital, strong expertise and the right network can make a decisive difference," she said. BII's role, she explained, is to help the entrepreneurs turn their technologies into sustainable businesses that create value for patients, society, and investors.

The additional funding is strategically timed to help these early-stage ventures accelerate past proof-of-concept. The support is designed to enable founders to focus on refining their technologies and building commercial traction. For instance, PanTarg is also a partner in a major research project from 2026 to 2030, supported by the Innovation Fund Denmark, which focuses on enabling drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Access to Platform and Network

The non-profit institute, established by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2017, structures its programs around different stages of company development. The continued access to its Copenhagen platform provides more than just capital. Startups receive hands-on mentoring and business development support within an environment designed for research-based life science ventures.

This framework is intended to provide the right conditions for these companies to evolve into strong, international businesses. The institute connects them with a global network of strategic partners and investors. The ultimate objective is to bridge the gap between promising research and viable commercial products.

With the new capital, the six startups are positioned to advance their core technologies and seek further investment. The path now involves intensifying development efforts and preparing for market entry. The cohort's work ranges from creating a new cancer imaging tool for surgeons to producing biofuels from waste for the shipping industry.