Business Finland Research to Business

Research to Business (R2B) is Business Finland's flagship public-research commercialization grant. It is intended for public research organizations whose committed teams aim to accelerate the creation of new business by preparing commercialization of a research-based product or service solution and conducting applied research guided by commercialization. Business Finland funds 80 percent of the project's eligible costs; the remaining 20 percent is covered by the research organization. Total project budget is typically between EUR 500,000 and EUR 800,000. Typical project duration is 1 to 2 years. At least 40 percent of project costs must be allocated to commercialization preparation activities. Funding calls are organized twice yearly, in spring and autumn, with funding decisions targeted by end of June and end of December. Applicants must be public research organizations (universities, research institutes, and similar entities whose primary purpose is independent basic research, industrial research, or experimental development). Commercialization preparation activities include prior art searches and freedom-to-operate analyses, customer-value definition and market research, competitor analysis, exploration of financing models and business models, IP protection (excluding maintenance fees), commercialization training, and customer/investor communication. If a startup company is established to commercialize the project's solution during the project, the project's objectives are considered achieved and funding is terminated — the project transitions to startup operation.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.