The Novo Nordisk Foundation is allocating up to DKK 5.5 billion (about EUR 736 million) to Copenhagen-based BioInnovation Institute (BII) in a long-term funding framework running from 2026 through 2035, aiming to expand Denmark’s life science and deep tech commercialization engine and extend its reach across Europe.
The Foundation said the investment is designed to address what it described as a persistent European challenge: the region generates world-class research but trails other leading markets in translating discoveries into high-impact innovation that creates jobs, drives growth, and helps solve urgent societal challenges. With the new commitment, BII is expected to broaden its activities into new strategic areas and geographies, while increasing the number of start-ups it supports each year.
BII has operated since 2018 and has supported the creation and development of more than 130 companies, which have collectively attracted more than DKK 7 billion in external funding, according to the announcement. The institute’s core focus will remain life science and biotech, but the expanded funding is also intended to support growth into additional scientific and technological fields, including AI and quantum.
The Foundation and BII pointed to momentum in Denmark’s broader biotech ecosystem, noting that venture capital investments into Danish biotech have increased more than fourfold since BII’s establishment. BII is physically anchored in Innovation District Copenhagen and positions itself as a connector between Denmark’s life science ecosystem and leading innovation districts across Europe, with plans to deepen partnerships with universities and research institutions.
The institute also highlighted existing collaborations with commercial and philanthropic partners, including initiatives with Ferring and the Gates Foundation focused on women’s health innovation, as well as partnerships with the Villum Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation supporting early-stage work in Power-to-X technologies and brain disease treatment. The new funding is expected to further strengthen BII’s investor appeal and its capacity to build additional academic, industry, and foundation partnerships.
BII supports early-stage start-ups and translational research through programs including Venture Lab, Bio Studio, and BII Quantum Lab, offering access to expertise, networks, infrastructure, and funding of up to EUR 3 million per project and EUR 1.8 million per start-up.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are giving BII the opportunity to expand its reach and further strengthen its position as a European powerhouse for innovation. This will prove instrumental in securing that even more science is translated into new companies, jobs and solutions benefitting people and our planet – and ultimately driving the growth and entrepreneurial culture that will benefit European competitiveness,”
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation
“None of this would be possible without the long-term support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which provides exceptional conditions for bringing more scientific breakthroughs to the market to address global challenges. We have proven that our innovation platform is successful, but we cannot push the boundaries of innovation alone. Strengthening partnerships will remain a top priority as we continue to develop Denmark’s innovation ecosystem and help ensure Europe’s competitiveness,”
Jens Nielsen, CEO, BioInnovation Institute
