The BIONetZero project supports innovation and the adoption of new processes and advanced technologies within biosolutions for the agrifood and energy-intensive industries. It simultaneously builds capacity and reinforces and accelerates the transformation towards a greener, more digital, and resilient economy.

The project aims to reduce the dependency of companies in Europe on critical inputs and critical technologies, enabling them to establish net-zero production, and retain as much as possible critical raw materials through the development of novel biosolutions, substitutes, innovative products, or services.

Throughout the project’s duration, the consortium will provide opportunities for over 100 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the agrifood and energy-intensive sectors. It will offer them networking opportunities and facilitate building contacts with experts, investors, and technology providers.

The project will also include networking events, site visits, and investment events. Participating SMEs will be assigned a Key Account Manager (KAM) from the consortium, who will assist them in developing their biosolutions and in finding suitable mentors, specialists, and building a network of contacts.

Grant Scheme: Direct financial support for SMEs is the heart of this project. Throughout the project’s duration, SMEs will be able to apply for different types of grants:

Ideation Stage: Networking and travel grants are available for SMEs in the idea generation phase. The BIONetZero project will support 100 SMEs with a grant of EUR 3,500 each.

Validation & Development: SMEs will also have the opportunity to apply for additional funding of EUR 15,000 for testing and validation of their products and processes.

Commercialisation: This can be followed by a further grant of EUR 40,000 for further development and adaptation to suit market needs in the commercialisation phase.

Internationalisation: The most successful SMEs are eligible for a grant dedicated to internationalisation (EUR 5,000), aimed at supporting the company’s entry into third-country markets. The BIONetZero project also involves investors as part of the SME selection and development process, ensuring that all participating SMEs remain viable moving forward.