“The next decade belongs to those who innovate in biotech — and to those who fund them.” – Anonymous.
The biotech industry is exploding with innovations and pathbreaking ideas, but getting funding for these projects might be challenging. People who can make a difference in this dynamic biotech field are those who know where to look for financial backing.
If you are a scientist or an entrepreneur and looking to fund your pathbreaking biotech research project, this article will introduce you to the Top 5 Global Organizations that fund biotech research.
Wondering how to apply for these grants that could help you make a difference in the biotech landscape? These powerhouses aren’t just handing out grants. They’re transforming innovative ideas into realities that can change the world. Will your project be next?
Here are the Top 5 Global Organizations that could fund your research,
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Bill Gates and Melinda Gates in the year 2000. The organization is focused on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. The foundation also understands the importance of biotechnology as an essential part of achieving these goals, specifically in developing countries.
In 2025, the foundation is focused on funding biotech projects that address next-generation vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, low-cost diagnostics, and biotech solutions for maternal & child health, drought-resistant crops, and precision medicine using gene-editing technologies like CRISPR to handle genetic disorders and neglected diseases.
Applications for funding are open for universities, research institutes, biotech startups, and non-profit organizations. Another important criterion is that the projects should demonstrate a clear global impact, particularly for underserved regions.
The applications are submitted through the online portal of the Bill & Melinda Foundation. It’s important to make sure that the application proposals must clearly state the objectives, methodology, budget, and expected impact of the project. The Foundation evaluates the proposals based on several parameters like innovation, feasibility, and potential scalability and then makes the choice.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants range from $500,000 to $5 million, depending on project scope and impact.
2. Horizon Europe:
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest research and innovation funding program, with a budget of EUR 93.5 billion for 2021-2027. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The organization aims to encourage international collaborations and address essential societal challenges through scientific research and technological innovation.
Biotechnology is a key focus area for the organization with significant funding allocated to health, sustainability, and digital transformation projects.
In 2025, Horizon Europe is focused on funding projects that address trending topics like personalized medicine, including targeted therapies for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and rare genetic disorders, along with AI and bioinformatics for precision diagnostics.
It also aims to fund green biotechnology projects that support bio-based alternatives to plastics, sustainable agriculture, and innovations in food production.
Some notable grant programs of Horizon Europe are:
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): Fellowships for researchers to conduct biotech research across borders and disciplines.
- European Innovation Council (EIC): Grants and equity investments for biotech startups with high market potentials.
Academic institutions, research organizations, and biotech startups based in EU member states or associated countries can apply for funding.
Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Post the submissions, the applications are carefully evaluated on the basis of scientific excellence, societal impact, and implementation strategy, and then the choice is made.
The Horizon Europe grants range from €1 million to €10 million per project.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH):
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest public funder of biomedical research globally, with an annual budget exceeding $48 billion. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) continues to support groundbreaking biotech research that is aimed at improving public health and accelerating the translation of discoveries into clinical applications.
In 2025, the key focus areas of the NIH include cancer research with precision oncology therapies, novel drug delivery systems, and advancements in cancer immunotherapy. Neuroscience research targets neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, along with the development of brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics. Additionally, pandemic preparedness remains a priority, with constant efforts to develop vaccines, antiviral treatments, and rapid diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases.
Some notable grant programs of NIH are:
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs: Funding for biotech startups focused on developing innovative healthcare solutions.
- Biotechnology Resource Grant (P41): The program by NIH funds the development of cutting-edge technologies, tools, and resources to advance biomedical research.
Applications are open for universities, research institutes, biotech startups, and small businesses. The applications are submitted via the NIH eRA Commons platform. Submitted applications undergo peer review on the basis of scientific merit, innovation, and public health impact.
The NIH grants range from $100,000 to $10 million, depending on the program and project scope.
- Wellcome Trust:
The Wellcome Trust is a UK-based charitable foundation established in 1936 by Sir Henry Wellcome, a British-American pharmaceutical entrepreneur, which focuses on improving health through research. It is one of the largest private funders of biomedical research globally, supporting innovative biotech projects with significant potential for global impact.
At present, Wellcome Trust is aiming to focus on essential biotech areas that include combating infectious diseases through research on antimicrobial resistance, novel antibiotics, and vaccines for neglected and emerging pathogens. Mental Health initiatives emphasize biotech solutions for early diagnosis and treatment, along with research into the biological basis of mental illnesses. With that, the intersection of biotechnology, climate change, and public health is being explored to address health challenges linked to environmental shifts.
Some notable grant programs of Wellcome Trust are:
- Discovery Research Grants: Funding for high-risk, high-reward biotech research projects.
Academic institutes, research organizations, and biotech companies can apply for funding. The applications for the funding are submitted through the Wellcome Trust’s online portal. The proposals are then evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, and potential for global impact.
The Wellcome Trust grants range from £500,000 to £5 million.
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC):
NSFC was established in the year 1986 to promote science and technology reforms in the country. The NSFC is China’s leading funding agency for basic and applied research, supporting biotechnology projects that align with the country’s strategic priorities in healthcare, agriculture, and industrial development.
NSFC is particularly focused on areas like synthetic biology for the development of engineered biological systems for industrial and medical applications and biomedical engineering for research on regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and medical devices. NSFC also aims to focus on biomanufacturing innovations in the production of biologics, enzymes, and biofuels.
Funding applications are submitted through the NSFC online platform, and the proposals are evaluated based on criteria like scientific excellence and alignment with national priorities.
The NSFC grants range from ¥1 million to ¥10 million.
In 2025 and the upcoming years, biotechnology will continue to thrive, driven by substantial funding from these global organizations. By understanding the priorities, programs, and applications of processes of these top funders, researchers and biotech companies can pave their way to unlocking new opportunities to achieve new heights of innovation in the dynamic field of biotechnology that has the potential to make a significant impact on global concerns.
Biotech Funding organizations, Global Biotech funding organizations
