Expression of interest for IPCEI Biotechnology projects
These are strategically important initiatives aimed at bringing together both public and private sector investments to support breakthrough innovation and strengthen Europe’s strategic value chains.
The IPCEIs currently under preparation in the field of biotechnology focus on three main areas:
- bio-based chemicals
- bio-based materials
- bio-based food and feed ingredients
Estonia plans to open an expression of interest in all areas, as these are aligned with the country’s industrial policy and innovation capabilities.
Submission of project proposals is open until 31.08.2026 at 16.00.
Please submit project proposals to [email protected].
The aim of the call for ideas is to identify companies operating in the above-mentioned areas that wish to submit projects that fit the focus of the planned IPCEI and could therefore qualify for state support.
Information seminars introducing the content of the call for ideas, expectations for projects, and requirements for participating in the call will take place on:
- 02.07.2026, (please find 2nd July seminar recording here)
- 06.08.2026, 14.00–15.30 (register here)
Registration for each seminar closes on the day before the event, and the joining link will be sent to registered participants on the morning of the event day.
Preliminary schedule:
- June to 31.08.2026 – national call for ideas open
- September–October 2026 – pre-selection of projects at national level
- November–December 2026 – European-level networking and project matchmaking phase
- From 2027 – pre-notification of projects to the European Commission for state aid approval
Forms and supporting documents:
- IPCEI application form (direct partner)
- Application form under the General Block Exemption Regulation (associated partner)
- Application form for participation as an indirect partner (indirect participant) – application form is under preparation
- Preliminary funding gap calculation form (direct partners only)
- Rationale for biotechnology IPCEI candidates, explaining the aims of the initiative and providing an overview of expectations for projects.
What are IPCEIs?
IPCEIs are large-scale projects involving multiple EU Member States and have rapidly become one of the most important industrial policy instruments for developing breakthrough innovation and infrastructure in situations where the market alone is unable to provide solutions. IPCEIs are a unique instrument for large-scale industrial cooperation projects across the European Union, contributing to sustainable economic growth and strengthening the EU’s competitiveness.
If a funding gap is identified in a project, the state may provide support to such projects that make a significant contribution to increasing growth, competitiveness and productivity in Europe’s industrial sector and support the EU’s strategic objectives.
IPCEIs also contribute effectively to the climate and digital objectives of Member States and Europe as a whole by creating European value chains in key sectors. Member States support domestic companies that implement projects at national level while engaging in extensive cooperation with other Member States, thereby contributing to the achievement of the overall objectives of the IPCEI.
What is the Biotechnology IPCEI?
Biotechnology IPCEI
From Estonia’s perspective, biotechnology is a rapidly developing and strategically important field that supports the green transition, more efficient use of resources, and the development of higher value-added industry.
The development of bio-based materials and chemicals helps reduce dependence on fossil resources and increase the local valorisation of bioresources. Biotechnological solutions in the production of food and feed ingredients, in turn, support more sustainable and innovative food production, strengthening European food and feed value chains and food security.
Bio-based chemicals
Support is provided for the development and scaling of biotechnological processes for the production of bio-based chemicals, with a particular focus on bringing them to the first industrial deployment (FID) stage. This includes activities for moving from pilot and demonstration scale to industrial scale, including the production of platform chemicals and intermediates (e.g. organic acids, alcohols), raw materials for monomers and polymers, and specialty and fine chemicals, but not mass production.
Bio-based materials
Support is provided for the development of new and innovative bio-based materials and the scaling of production processes to the level of first industrial deployment. This includes, for example, fibre materials, lignin-based materials, biocomposites, packaging solutions, and high-performance materials, but does not cover mass production solutions or conventional product development.
Bio-based food and feed ingredients
Support is provided for the development and scaling of biotechnological processes for the production of ingredients intended for food and feed, focusing on the production of functional components (e.g. proteins, lipids, amino acids, enzymes, bioactive compounds) up to first industrial application. Projects must focus on the ingredient level and their integration into food and feed industry value chains, excluding the production of final products.
Detailed information on IPCEIs: under preparation.
Categories of participants
Direct partners are companies funded by Member States to implement research, development and first industrial deployment projects, thereby contributing to a broader and integrated European value chain. Their main role is to carry out their projects in close cooperation with other direct partners through cross-border partnerships, creating synergies and promoting innovation. They must also widely share their results and knowledge with the European research and industrial community.
Direct partner projects are usually funded through the IPCEI instrument, and projects receive state aid on the basis of European Commission state aid approval. No upper or lower limits are defined for projects. However, the scientific level of the projects must be beyond the global state of the art, and the projects must have a significant impact in contributing to European Union strategies.
Direct partner projects are subject to comprehensive annual reporting obligations both at national level and to the European Commission.
If you are considering participating as a direct partner, please note that, if selected, the next stage will require the preparation of a project portfolio and a funding gap analysis using the European Commission template (Funding Gap Document).
Associated partners may receive support under the General Block Exemption Regulation (aid intensity max. 80% in the case of industrial research), and their role is to contribute to achieving the main objectives of the IPCEI. Support for direct partner projects ranges between EUR 1 million and EUR 50 million, and projects are funded under the General Block Exemption Regulation.
The aim of involving associated partners is to give interested companies or research organisations (RTOs) – which are not direct partners in the IPCEI – the opportunity to participate in the IPCEI and strengthen the IPCEI ecosystem in the European Union. These projects must be located in an EU Member State, EEA country or EU candidate country, and may be implemented as a consortium.
Associated partner projects are usually funded under the General Block Exemption Regulation. Unlike direct IPCEI partners, associated partners do not have to undergo the European Commission’s IPCEI state aid notification or pre-notification process.
IPCEI indirect partners (indirect participants) are organisations that are neither direct state aid recipients approved by the European Commission nor recipients of aid from a Member State under the General Block Exemption Regulation, but that contribute to achieving the project objectives in cooperation with direct and associated partners. They participate in the IPCEI value chain, support research and development, the dissemination of innovation, and the market uptake of solutions.
Indirect partners may include companies, SMEs, research institutions or universities acting, for example, as subcontractors, development partners or implementers of pilot solutions.
The involvement of indirect partners broadens the project’s reach, strengthens cooperation networks and increases the overall impact of the IPCEI initiative at European level.
NB! Indirect partner projects do not receive support.
Submitting an expression of interest
- alignment with IPCEI and EU objectives
- innovativeness
- cooperation potential
- impact
- spillover effects
- Companies and organisations – primarily SMEs (as defined by the European Commission) – operating in the field of bio-based materials/chemicals or bio-based food and feed ingredients, with research or production activities in Estonia, and wishing to participate in an integrated European project
- Please note that there are separate application forms for funding direct partners through the IPCEI instrument and associated partners through the GBER.
- The IPCEI instrument is used to fund direct partner projects (usually projects applying for more than EUR 50 million), while the GBER is used to fund associated partner projects (usually projects applying for less than EUR 50 million).
- Further information on the roles and responsibilities of direct partners and associated partners can be found via the links above.
After the evaluation of submitted projects, you will be notified if your project is selected for the next stage, expectedly in Q4 2026.
At this stage, you will need to develop your initial project concept into a full-scale project proposal. Guidance on this process will be provided at the relevant stage, but the next steps will include:
- international partner mapping (matchmaking) to identify cooperation opportunities with other EU Member States (the timing is to be specified, expectedly in November–December 2026)
- starting the preparation of a detailed and integrated IPCEI project description, the so-called Chapeau document
The aim is for projects to be submitted to the European Commission for notification in the first half of 2027, and for projects to start in the second half of 2027, provided that the European Commission approves the final project proposals.
Submitting an expression of interest
- alignment with IPCEI and EU objectives
- innovativeness
- cooperation potential
- impact
- spillover effects
- Companies and organisations – primarily SMEs (as defined by the European Commission) – operating in the field of bio-based materials/chemicals or bio-based food and feed ingredients, with research or production activities in Estonia, and wishing to participate in an integrated European project
- Please note that there are separate application forms for funding direct partners through the IPCEI instrument and associated partners through the GBER.
- The IPCEI instrument is used to fund direct partner projects (usually projects applying for more than EUR 50 million), while the GBER is used to fund associated partner projects (usually projects applying for less than EUR 50 million).
- Further information on the roles and responsibilities of direct partners and associated partners can be found via the links above.
After the evaluation of submitted projects, you will be notified if your project is selected for the next stage, expectedly in Q4 2026.
At this stage, you will need to develop your initial project concept into a full-scale project proposal. Guidance on this process will be provided at the relevant stage, but the next steps will include:
- international partner mapping (matchmaking) to identify cooperation opportunities with other EU Member States (the timing is to be specified, expectedly in November–December 2026)
- starting the preparation of a detailed and integrated IPCEI project description, the so-called Chapeau document
The aim is for projects to be submitted to the European Commission for notification in the first half of 2027, and for projects to start in the second half of 2027, provided that the European Commission approves the final project proposals.
Useful information on IPCEI topics
Explanatory guidance on funding gaps. Explains how to calculate and justify the funding gap of IPCEI projects in order to assess the necessity and proportionality of state aid, as well as the maximum allowable amount of support.
Explanatory guidance on market failures. Explains how relevant residual market failures, such as externalities, coordination failures or information asymmetry, must be identified and justified in IPCEI projects as the basis for justifying state aid.
Guidance on spillover activities. Explains what constitutes meaningful IPCEI spillovers and how direct participants should share project benefits, knowledge, skills and access with companies and stakeholders outside the supported project.
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