Call 2027 will open in spring

General Information

SPARK-BIH is part of Charité BIH Innovation at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Scientists and clinicians at BIH and Charité, across all career stages, are eligible to apply with translational projects.

Call Scope

  • Are you working on a new technology, therapy, medical solution, or diagnostic assay?
  • Do you want to validate your research findings to translate them into therapies, products, or services that can reach patients?

Let SPARK-BIH help you on the translational pathway of your innovative solution!

We support the development of novel therapies and preventives (such as small molecules, drug repurposing, ATMPs, vaccines, and biologicals), medical devices and diagnostics, as well as the repurposing of existing drugs for new indications.

We do not support digital health solutions; these include software, apps, algorithms, AI-based solutions, etc. Please reach out to the BIH Digital Health Accelerator.

 

For more information reach out Dr. Tanja Rosenmund - Director SPARK-BIH - tanja.rosenmund@bih-charite.de

 

Applicant Eligibility

Scientists and clinicians affiliated to BIH and Charité are eligible to apply. Applicants can submit more than one project proposal. Projects must be developed within an academic setting.

 

Our Offer

Translational projects from any medical field are welcome. We support you in overcoming the challenges of translation with funding, education, mentoring, expert advice, and entrepreneurship support.

 

Funding and Duration

The funding program has two different tracks: Track 1 and Track 2. Applicants must assign their proposals to one of the two categories:

  • Track 1: For projects at an early stage that can provide some preliminary data to support their proposal. Up to €50,000 in funding can be granted for a maximum period of one year.
  • Track 2: For more mature projects that fulfill certain requirements regarding intellectual property rights and market access strategies. Funding of more than €50,000 can be granted for a maximum period of two years.

Project funding is milestone-based, with funds released in stages following the successful completion of predefined goals (milestones).

 

Selection Criteria

All project proposals must demonstrate translational relevance, including:

  • Scope of unmet medical need
  • Novelty of approach
  • Fit of the proposed solution to the unmet medical need
  • Feasibility (budget and timeline)
  • Data quality
  • Team expertise
  • Marketability/probability of commercialization

 

Selection Process

  • To apply, please submit your Track 1 or Track 2 project proposal in English via the online platform.
  • Applicants of selected Track 1 and Track 2 projects will be invited to pitch their proposals in front of an external expert committee.
  • If selected by the external jury, teams will be required to submit a project plan in the form of a milestone agreement before funding can begin.

BIH seeks to increase diversity in its funding programs. Women, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, as well as individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply for BIH programs.

 

Charité BIH Innovation Scope

Charité BIH Innovation, the joint technology transfer office of Charité and BIH, supports researchers and clinicians at Charité, including BIH, in the development and transfer of technologies and products to patients and the market. In addition to consultations and support in the areas of IP, patenting, licensing, and legal matters, the SPARK-BIH team offers mentoring by subject-matter experts and access to networks of talent, development partners, industry partners, and investors.

Charité BIH Innovation offers two support instruments:

  • The SPARK-BIH program supports projects in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, and medical devices to validate research results with the aim of developing them into a therapy or product.
  • The BIH Digital Health Accelerator program supports teams with digital health ideas and concepts to turn them into market-ready digital health solutions.

Please note: Both SPARK-BIH and the BIH Digital Health Accelerator program can generally be combined with support from the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA), as long as double funding is excluded. Prior coordination with the respective program management is absolutely necessary.

 

Contact

Dr. Tanja Rosenmund

Director SPARK-BIH

tanja.rosenmund@bih-charite.de

 

SPARK-BIH is a member of the SPARK Global network