Proof of Concept & Technology Validation Call

The EIT Food Biotech Proof of Concept Call helps biotech startups bridge two critical gaps in technology development: Route 1 (Validation) for technologies at TRL 4–6 and Route 2 (Demonstrator) for technologies at TRL 7–9.

A ‘Proof of Concept’ is a small-scale project that tests whether a technology, product or service can work in practice and meet the needs of a potential customer. For biotech startups, this stage is critical because many promising innovations fail before they reach the market due to two distinct funding and development gaps, often referred to as ‘valleys of death’.

To address these challenges, the EIT Food Biotech Proof of Concept Call offers two funding routes, each targeting a different valley of death and stage of technology development.

Route 1 (Validation) addresses the first valley of death, which typically occurs at lower technology readiness levels (TRLs), when a startup has promising science but lacks the validation, infrastructure and industry partnerships needed to reduce the risks of applying the technology in real-world settings.

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 startup has a validated, lower-risk technology but needs larger-scale demonstration, co-financing and industrial partnerships to move towards 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 if 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 by the call deadline determines the appropriate route, and the same technology cannot be submitted under both routes.

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

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

Learn more and apply