Proof of Concept & Technology Validation Call

A ‘Proof of Concept’ is a small-scale project that tests whether a technology, product or service works in a real-world setting and can meet the needs of a potential customer. For biotech start-ups, this stage is critical because many promising innovations fail before they reach market due to two distinct ‘valleys of death’.

To address these challenges, the EIT Food Biotech Proof of Concept funding call comprises two funding routes, each targeting a different valley of death and stage of innovation maturity.

Route 1 (Validation)  addresses the first valley of death which typically occurs at lower technology readiness levels (TRLs) when a start-up has promising science but lacks the validation, infrastructure and industry partnerships needed to de-risk the technology for real-world application. 

Technologies at TRL 4, 5 or 6 must be submitted under Route 1 (see the Route 1 Guidelines).

Apply to Route 1

Route 2 (Demonstrator)  addresses the second valley of death which occurs later, when a start-up has a validated, de-risked technology but needs larger-scale demonstration, co-financing and industrial partnerships to move toward commercial deployment and market uptake.  Technologies that have reached TRL 7 (system prototype demonstrated in an operational environment) or higher should be submitted under Route 2. Technologies already at TRL 9 (actual system proven in an operational environment) are eligible where the project takes the solution to commercial volumes or validates it in a new application or market. 

Apply to Route 2

The routes do not overlap: the TRL reached at the call deadline determines the route, and the same technology cannot be submitted under both routes. 

Together, the two routes provide a pathway for biotech start-ups to access support at the stage most relevant to their development.  Through this call, EIT Food aims to foster collaboration between start-ups and corporate partners to validate technologies, test commercial assumptions and generate evidence for future scale-up and investment. This includes where relevant, facilitating access to pilot facilities, laboratories and other specialised infrastructure held by Alliance members – resources that start-ups often cannot access or afford on their own.

Projects should generate practical evidence, reduce technical and commercial risk, and establish a clear pathway towards further development, pilot expansion and market adoption.