BIONetZero | EU funding up to €60K for biosolution startups in agrifood & green industry.

What BIONetZero offers

Selected SMEs and startups gain access to a comprehensive support combining a cascade of direct financial support with tailored innovation and business development services. This includes dedicated key account management, access to experts, mentors and technology providers, learning and maturation through networking and matchmaking plus exposure and engagement with investors. Hereby, the program supports both scaling and commercialization.

Grant types and funding

BIONetZero follows a four-stage funding model, allowing companies to progress through different levels of support:

• Stage 1: Ideation stage: Networking and travel grants (up to €3,500 per SME)
  
• Stage 2: Validation & development: Grants for testing and validation of products and processes (up to €15,000 per SME)
  
• Stage 3: Commercialisation: Funding for further development and market adaptation (up to €40,000 per SME)
  
• Stage 4: Internationalisation: Support for entering third-country high growth markets (up to €5,000 per SME)

Each SME and startup may receive up to €60,000 in total financial support through BIONetZero. All grants require 25% co-financing by the participating companies.

Who can apply?

BIONetZero is open to innovative SMEs and startups developing biosolutions.

To be eligible, your company must:

• Be an SME or startup according to the EU definition
• Develop a bio-based product, process or service
• Have a biosolution at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–8 at the time of application.
• Be established in an EU country or associated eligible countries in the Single Market Programme
• Be able to participate in the mandatory kick-off meeting (7–10 September 2026)
• Be able to provide 25% co-financing

Your solution should be relevant to one or more of the following BIONetZero areas: Agrifood or energy-intensive industries

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduction of dependency on critical raw materials
• Validation, scaling or commercialisation of biosolutions supporting net-zero production