Call for Applications

Objective

GeneNovate® is Germany's first nationwide entrepreneurship program, designed to build a biotech entrepreneurship ecosystem embedded within a broader European network. While a focus is on gene and cell therapies, the program is also open to other areas of biotechnology, diagnostics, and bioinformatics.

We want to inspire researchers, doctors and innovators for entrepreneurship and empower them to bring their research to patients via scalable business models. The program targets both early-career scientists and physicians, such as advanced students, PhD candidates, and Postdocs, as well as experienced researchers and medical professionals. 

A key strength of the program lies in its collaborative approach, connecting participants and ecosystem stakeholders across all GeneNovate® locations in Germany.
 

Program structure

The GeneNovate® program runs in ten regions in Germany from December 2026 to June 2027 and you can apply from mid September to mid November. 

Each region's program begins with a kick-off meeting in December and runs through six full-day, in-person workshops (one per month, January through June), each preceded by an online theory session. The program concludes with a regional preselection event, followed by the Final Event in Heidelberg on 23.06.2026.

The online sessions and workshops deliver the theoretical foundation, enriched with practical tips and tricks from experienced experts, interactive elements, and group work and conclude with existing startups sharing their journey and experience.
 

Applying the learnings

Beyond theory, you'll put what you learn into practice by developing your own concrete ideas. During the December kick-off, you'll form teams around a specific topic as a startup solution idea. Alongside the workshops, each team will prepare a pitch presentation for their solution, supported by a dedicated, experienced mentor who provides feedback and coaching throughout the ideation and pitch-development process.

Experience in entrepreneurship and team topics

Researchers and doctors are welcome to participate regardless of their level of experience with entrepreneurship. You can join if:

1. You have no background in entrepreneurship and simply want to learn what it's about
2. You and some colleagues already have an idea for a potential startup but are still deciding whether to pursue it
3. You've already decided, together with potential co-founders, to spin off a startup for a concrete idea at some point in the future

4. You currently work, or have worked, at a startup and want to deepen your skills

If you apply under category 2, 3, or 4, you can also propose your own startup idea as one of the team topics, which will be developed into a pitch presentation for the regional preselection and Final Event. In this case, ideally two members (or more) of the potential future startup team should apply to the program. Depending on the number of regional participants and submitted ideas, the December kick off will be used to select the topics, organize all participants into teams around them, and assign a mentor to each team.
 

Two team tracks possible  

Depending on the maturity of the team ideas we distinguish between two team tracks

1. Explore Track Teams (category 2 or 3)

Topic Criteria:

• Scientific idea with plausible solution, diagnostic or therapeutic hypothesis
• Initial pre-clinical proof-of-concept data should be available
• Undecided whether to pursue spin-off or stay in academia
• Committed potential co-founder team is preferred, yet not required
• Patent/IP situation not yet addressed but possible to protect idea
• Main need is validation whether the idea and the team are spin-off-ready
   

1. Launch Track Teams (category 3 or 4)

Topic Criteria:

• Startup already founded, or firm decision made to do so within defined timeframe
• Committed founding team of at least two people willing to drive the venture
• Robust pre-clinical proof points with defined next validation step
• Patent filed, respectively ongoing or planed engagement with TTO
• Main need is validation whether the idea and the team are investor & business partner ready

Additional indications for Launch Track:

• Funding status — grants applied for or received (e.g., EXIST)
• Regulatory pathway assessed
• Freedom-to-operate and/or business plan assessments carried out
• External validation, e.g. existing business relationships, strong KOL advisory proof points, etc.

The program concludes with the Final Event on June 23, 2027 in Heidelberg, bringing together all participants from the 10 regions. The event is designed in two parts. In the morning, the 26 teams selected during the regional preselections pitch their projects to a real investment committee and receive direct feedback. The afternoon of the final event will provide networking opportunities with the business and investor community of the biotech ecosystem.

Travel costs to the final event are borne by the participants themselves.

• Region Berlin
• Region East (Dresden, Leipzig)
• Region Heidelberg
• Region Munich
• Region North (Braunschweig, Göttingen, Hamburg, Hannover)
• Region NRW I (Aachen, Bonn, Köln, Düsseldorf)
• Region NRW II (Essen)
• Region Rhine-Main (Mainz, Frankfurt am Main)
• Region Southwest (Freiburg, Tübingen)
• Region WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg)

GeneNovate® is intended for innovators and prospective founders in life sciences, biotech and medicine, including:

• advanced students and PhD candidates
• postdoctoral researchers
• experienced researchers
• physicians and other medical professionals
  
   

Professional competencies and experience: Candidates should have a committed founder’s mindset and a clear startup vision. Ideally, they are already involved in a specific research project or have an initial idea or concept that could be developed into a startup and contribute to patient benefit.

Language skills
The program and all program materials are in English. Sufficient English-language skills are required, at least at B2 level.

Mandatory attendance
GeneNovate® requires full commitment, active participation and preparation. By applying, participants agree to attend the following program elements:

• Kick-off meeting in December 2026
• Six theoretical input sessions from January to June 2027
• Six onsite workshops from January to June 2027
• Mentor coaching sessions from January to June 2027
• Regional preselection event in May or early June 2027
• Final Event in Heidelberg in June 2027

Absence policy: In case of illness or another absence, participants must inform their regional project manager before the workshop. Missed workshops must be attended at an alternative GeneNovate® location.

Additional requirements within application process

• Signed supervisor approval
• Agreement to non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• Consent for photo and video recording
• Commitment agreement

Certificate and reimbursement
Certificates are awarded only if all requirements have been fulfilled.

• Entrepreneurship education tailored to gene and cell therapies, biotech and medicine
• Practical application of the theoretical input in interactive team exercises
• Coaching and feedback from experienced mentors
• Exchange with experts and experienced startups
• Comprehensive information material on the program topics
• Access to a nationwide network of participants, alumni, experts, investors and industry representatives
• Opportunity to develop and present a startup pitch
• Participation certificate after completion of all requirements
• Membership in the growing GeneNovate® alumni network

This comprehensive program is offered free of charge.

Applicants should select the region in which they can attend all mandatory onsite elements and submit the application through the corresponding regional application link.

1. Choose the region in which you want to participate.
2. Open the regional application form.
3. Submit the required information and documents by the application deadline.