SmiLe launches Fundament 4 Future, an unprecedented project supporting industrial research in incubator member startups
Project partner incubator member startups & the SmiLe Venture Hub teamLund, Sweden – SmiLe Venture Hub has launched Fundament 4 Future, an unprecedented project supporting early-stage life science companies in advancing their company-specific development projects. The initiative is carried out in close collaboration with seven incubator member startups from SmiLe’s portfolio.
Fundament 4 Future focuses on strengthening the scientific, technical, and strategic foundations required for long-term development in the life science sector. Startups participating in the project receive co-financing for defined experimental development work, focusing on industrial research and testing of new solutions. All types of development costs, including salaries, are eligible. The concept of a support structure that partially covers internal costs remains uncommon in Sweden and the EU at large.
The project is led by SmiLe Venture Hub and has a total budget of 19.6 MSEK. It is financed by the European Regional Development Fund via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), as well as Region Skåne.
The incubator member startups Aligned Bio, Capillon Analytics, Cirkulär, Cytely, MEDQUS Innovations, MedVasc, and Strike Pharma are participating as project partners.
The purpose of Fundament 4 Future is to strengthen the participating companies’ capacity for research and innovation, supporting their progress toward increased market readiness. The project also contributes to regional priorities by reinforcing early innovation capabilities within the life science ecosystem and supporting sustainable growth.
“With Fundament 4 Future, we are proud to run a flagship project that brings public funding closer to the realities of early-stage life science companies. The support from Tillväxtverket, European Regional Development Fund, and Region Skåne enables us to work together with our incubator member startups on critical development activities that strengthen both the companies and the wider life science ecosystem,” says Ulrika Ringdahl, CEO of SmiLe Venture Hub.
The project runs from 1 December 2025 to 31 March 2029.
For more information, please contact:
Ulrika Ringdahl, CEO, SmiLe Venture Hub
ulrika.ringdahl@smileventurehub.com
+46 (0)736 566 232
About SmiLe Venture Hub – Pioneering Life Science and Foodtech Innovations
SmiLe is a leading venture hub that specializes in advancing life science and foodtech startups from concept to commercialization. We offer comprehensive support through every stage of entrepreneurship, including tailored incubation and acceleration programs, a variety of educational courses, and access to top-tier lab facilities. To date, our flagship incubator program has supported over 120 startups, facilitating their collective acquisition of more than EUR 1.22 billion in venture capital and contributing to 21 successful IPOs. Recognized as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs in 2024 by the Financial Times and Statista, SmiLe continues to be a catalyst for innovation in the life sciences sector. As a non-profit entity based in Lund, Sweden, SmiLe is supported by Region Skåne, Lund Municipality, Lund University, and Medicon Village. We are also backed by our partners Agilent, Sparbanken Skåne, Høiberg, Setterwalls, Zacco, Key2Compliance, Phase Holographic Imaging, ChemoMetec, Samplix, Qiagen, Bio-Rad, Zeiss, SmartStone Nordics, Säkra, Servier and AbbVie Scandinavia. For more information: www.smileventurehub.com
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