ALPHA Biotech: Exclusive Call for Applications

The Grand Est Region has announced the new ALPHA Biotech programme, a call for applications led by the incubator Quest for bioeconomy and the competitiveness cluster Bioeconomy For Change, with a consortium of public, academic and industrial partners, including InnoREM (University Innovation Hub of Reims), the European Center for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (CEBB), ARD, Bpifrance and Grand Reim, announces the launch of ALPHA Biotech, a call for applications open until May 31, 2026.

A call for applications to accelerate the industrial scale-up of industrial biotech startups

Deployed in the Grand Est Region, one of Europe’s leading bioeconomy territories, ALPHA Biotech is designed to support industrial biotechnology startups (TRL 4 – 8) in their transition to industrial scale, de-risking scale-up and accelerating market entry.

A structured program to overcome scale-up barriers

Industrial biotechnology plays a strategic role in reindustrialization and the ecological transition. However, startups in this field face significant hurdles: limited access to pilot and demonstration facilities, challenges in scaling processes, regulatory complexity, and the need for robust techno-economic data to secure investment.

To address these challenges, the Grand Est Region and its partners have developed ALPHA Biotech as an integrated scale-up support program. The objective is clear: secure industrial deployment and shorten time-to-market for high-potential biotech ventures.

A unique industrial ecosystem in europe

Recognized as a European bioeconomy leader and labeled a “Regional Innovation Valley,” the Grand Est Region brings together a high-level academic, scientific and industrial ecosystem. It hosts more than 150 bioeconomy startups, 40% of which originate from outside the region, demonstrating strong international attractiveness.

ALPHA Biotech leverages the technological platforms of:

• CEBB (TRL 2–5) for research and technology validation
• ARD (TRL 6–9) for industrial-scale deployment

Both operate within the Bazancourt-Pomacle biorefinery, a unique European industrial site enabling the transition from research to pre-industrial scale in a single location.

©Anthony Doennlen – Alabama Productions / Région GE

A program built on three complementary pillars

Selected startups will benefit from coordinated support structured around three core areas:

1. Technology & industrial de-risking

Access to laboratories, pilot and demonstration facilities, bioprocess optimization, regulatory guidance, and connections to industrial partners.

2. Strategic & financial structuring

Development of a robust financial roadmap, identification and coordination of public and private funding instruments, fundraising support, and access to specialized biotech investors.

3. Market access & regional anchoring

Integration into regional value chains, support for industrial site selection, access to regional investment schemes, and facilitated access to local biomass and strategic resources.

ALPHA Biotech does not provide direct grants; rather, it acts as a strategic accelerator, optimizing access to existing public and private funding mechanisms.

A successful pilot phase

A pilot phase conducted in 2025 confirmed the relevance of the model.

« Having all these stakeholders regularly mobilized around our project saved us significant time and clearly contributed to our decision to establish operations in the Grand Est Region. » – Céline Domerc, Co-Founder, AgriLab Leverage

Call for applications open until May 31, 2026

The program aims to:

• Identify innovative industrial biotechnology startups
• Accelerate their technical, industrial and commercial maturation
• Encourage long-term establishment in the Grand Est Region

🔍 Projects will be assessed based on technological innovation, scalability, market potential, techno-economic viability, and the credibility of their regional deployment strategy.

📅 Applications are open until May 31, 2026.

🚀 Selected startups will be announced at VivaTech (June 17–20, 2026), with the program starting in September 2026.

About the ALPHA Biotech consortium

ALPHA Biotech is led by the Grand Est Region. Theprogramme has been launched in partnership with Quest for Bioeconomy, Bioeconomy For Change, InnoREM, CEBB, ARD, Bpifrance and Grand Reims. The program aims to position the Grand Est Region as a leading European hub for industrial biotech scale-up.

Institutions

Grand Est Region supports the ALPHA Biotech program. It acts as both a strategic sponsor and facilitator. It allows for example simplified access to the regional innovation and industrial ecosystem.

Grand Reims Metropolitan Authority. A local authority strongly committed to the bioeconomy, supporting industrial deployment through site development and access to industrial land.

Research Centers

CEBB – European Center for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy. A recognized research and technology institute specializing in technology validation and early-stage scale-up (TRL 2–5).

ARD – Agro-Industrie Recherches et Développements An industrial biotechnology leader since 1989, specialized in industrial bioprocesses, biomass fractionation and bio-based chemistry. ARD supports startups in achieving industrial-scale deployment (TRL 6–9).

InnoRem – University Innovation Hub (URCA) The innovation arm of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne. Its places bioeconomy at the core of its strategic roadmap.

Public investment Bank

Bpifrance – French Public Investment Bank A key partner in supporting and financing high-growth companies, providing tailored funding solutions and strategic advisory services.

Competitive Clusters & Incubators

Bioeconomy For Change (B4C) One of Europe’s leading bioeconomy clusters. It supportes companies through technical expertise. The cluster has a network of over 500 industrial and innovation partners.

Quest for bioeconomy A sector-focused incubator dedicated to the bioeconomy, part of the Quest for Change network. It supports more than 200 startups in business structuring, financial engineering and market development.