Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space · Germany

GO-Bio next — life-science spin-off funding (BMFTR)

Open

Applications close on 15 Mar 2027.

Deadline: 15 Mar 2027 (in 120 days)
Grant amount: Two phases of up to three years each; amount depends on the project
Own contribution: Funds research at universities and research institutions up to a maturity that allows a spin-off and investor co-financing, then the continuation in the new company.
Funding rate: Project funding (phase 1 at the university, phase 2 in the spin-off company)
Likely applicant types: Universities & research From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
Funder: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
Reference: GO-Bio next
Last checked: 14 Nov 2026

Open the official call ↗ Add deadline to calendar

Programme overview

Funds research at universities and research institutions up to a maturity that allows a spin-off and investor co-financing, then the continuation in the new company.

Who can apply

Research teams at German universities and research institutions who plan to found a company; single projects only.

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Timing

Outlines twice a year by 15 March and 15 September (next: 15 March 2027); invited applications by 1 August or 1 February.

How to apply

Submit a project outline by 15 March or 15 September.
After the outline review, selected projects submit a formal application by 1 August or 1 February.
Phase 1 funds the research project at the institution; phase 2 funds the follow-on in the founded company.

✓ Checked against the official call text on 2026-11-15 (go-bio.de, programme page GO-Bio next (BMFTR)).

From the call text

Who can apply: Phase 1: research teams at German universities and research institutions planning to found a company. Phase 2: small technology-oriented corporations, usually founded as a result of phase 1.
Company stage: Life-science R&D with high commercial potential, up to a maturity that allows a spin-off (phase 1) and sustainable growth (phase 2).
Single applicant or consortium: Single projects.
Where applicants must be based: German universities and research institutions (phase 1).
Where to apply: Project outlines twice a year, by 15 March and 15 September; selected projects then apply by 1 August or 1 February.

Where these facts come from

Fact	Value	How we know	Taken from the source
Deadline	15 March 2027 “Outlines twice a year by 15 March and 15 September (next: 15 March 2027); invited applications by 1 August or 1 February.”	checked by hand	15 Nov 2026
Amount per applicant	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—
Total budget	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—
Funding rate	Project funding (phase 1 at the university, phase 2 in the spin-off company)	checked by hand	15 Nov 2026
Who can apply	Phase 1: research teams at German universities and research institutions planning to found a company. Phase 2: small technology-oriented corporations, usually founded as a result of phase 1.	checked by hand	15 Nov 2026
Where to apply	Project outlines twice a year, by 15 March and 15 September; selected projects then apply by 1 August or 1 February.	checked by hand	15 Nov 2026

Official sources

Official call page

The application guidance on this page was checked by hand against the official call text on 15 Nov 2026; other facts were taken from the source on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.