IPCEI funding can now be used to speed up biotechnology projects
For the first time, biotechnology is among the proposed themes of IPCEIs. The EU Member States want to promote biotechnology projects by including biotechnology in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs). Together with Germany and Estonia, Finland has been preparing three thematic IPCEI proposals for biotechnology since November 2024.
The high-level meeting of the Joint European Forum (JEF), which is responsible for coordinating IPCEI at European level, granted approval to launch the planning phase for three new IPCEI candidates involved in biotechnology. If the preparation of the IPCEI themes proceeds as planned, a call for expressions of interest is expected to open for companies in late spring 2026. The new themes focus on bio-based chemicals and materials as well as food and feed.
IPCEI is an abbreviation for Important Project of Common European Interest. IPCEIs are subject to separate, less stringent State aid rules which allow the Member States to support companies more flexibly than normal.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has proposed funding for IPCEIs as part of the Government’s growth and employment package.
“Finland has been determined in its efforts to make the bioeconomy part of EU industrial policy. Finland has proposed biotechnology as an IPCEI theme where the focus would be on bio-based materials and the development of new industrial solutions,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.
“Making use of renewable raw materials and creating new value chains and products with high value added are at the core of the theme. If implemented, IPCEIs will promote, for example, the growth of a new forest industry, the food industry and novel bioeconomy products with high value added. IPCEIs enable large industrial investments based on new technology,” Puisto adds.
Finland has been responsible for the IPCEI candidate for bio-based materials and will coordinate its planning phase.
IPCEIs aim to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation of high-risk projects. They also support the building of European industrial ecosystems and value chains and thereby strengthen regional competitiveness. IPCEIs reduce the risks of early-stage investments and, in this way, make the projects more attractive to private investors. At least four EU Member States must be involved in each theme.
Inquiries:
Ulla Palander, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 396 0312