GO-Bio initial
In the "GO-Bio initial" project, we support you on the way to your application for GO-Bio initial funding. But what does the funding entail and what is the procedure for funded projects?
Two funding stages
The projects funded by the GO-Bio initial programme are divided into two successive stages. The first one-year exploratory stage initially serves to further specify the exploitation idea and to structure the project. The viability of the project idea is assessed and the necessary partners for implementation are identified. In addition, the market and competitive situation is analysed and a strategy for the protection of intellectual property is developed. Funding of up to €100,000 is available for exploratory projects.
In the subsequent two-year feasibility stage, the development work is finally taken to the point where it can be eligible to other validation, start-up and company cooperation funding programmes, or a possible spin-off is prepared. Experimental work is carried out to demonstrate the ""Proof of Principle"" and, after a Freedom to Operate analysis (FtO), suitable industrial property rights are filed. In this stage, cooperation with companies is also possible. Individual projects are funded with up to 500,000 €, joint projects with up to 1,000,000 €.
The first step: pre-proposal/ project outline
An innovative idea that arises from research work is often still vague and sketchy at the beginning. The first step is to refine the idea and to identify potential commercial applications. In addition, it is important to check the current developments in the identified sector and to define the goal of the exploratory stage.
On the path to the full grant application, these initial thoughts are outlined in a pre-proposal. Pre-proposals can be submitted until February 15 of each year, after which it will be reviewed by an expert committee with regard to the following aspects:
- project idea
- originality
- novelty
- motivation
After a positive evaluation of the project outline by the selection committee, a detailed grant application can be submitted.
The exploratory- und feasibility phase
The exploratory projects start on October 1 of the year in which the application is submitted. After successful completion, the application for the feasibility project can be submitted with a deadline of May 15 of the following year. Similar to the exploratory stage, the projects are reviewed by experts. After a positive decision, the two-year feasibility project commences as soon as the exploratory project ends on October 1.
At the end of the three-year funding period, the "Proof of Principle" paves the way for eligibility for more established funding programmes (e.g. GO-Bio, VIP+, EXIST-Forschungstransfer or KMU-innovativ). Alternatively, direct commercialisation (or spin-off, out-licensing) can be pursued.