Testa Center offers an access grant to support both academic and industrial users in accelerating development and scaling of bioprocesses.
The purpose of the grant is to cover project needs in:
- Developing, verifying, and/or scaling up small scale production processes for biological products
- Producing large quantities of material for research and development purposes
- Testing and verifying a technical or digital innovation
- Investigating various production and development-critical properties
- Scaling up and validating existing production processes
- Adapting methods and processes to industry standards
- Educational activities
Who Can Apply
The access grant is open to:
- Academic researchers and projects
- Small, medium, and large companies
Projects should demonstrate a clear need for Testa Center’s infrastructure and capabilities, along with a defined scope of work.
What the Grant Covers
The access grant can be used to support up to 5 weeks of access per project at Testa Center. All other costs such as consumables and personnel needed to run the project at Testa Center, must be covered by the applicant as in-kind contribution. There are no restrictions on the length of the project applying for funding. The project length can be extended beyond the weeks funded by the grant if additional funds are available.
Funding is provided as a co-financing model:
- For companies: The grant covers up to 50% of the Testa Center access fee. The remaining 50% must be covered by the company.
- For academic projects: The grant covers up to 70% of the Testa Center access fee. The remaining 30% must be covered by the project or associated funding sources.
Allocation and Availability
Access grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability and project approval. We encourage early application, as funding is limited.
Grant Period
The Testa Center granted weeks must be used no later than April 30, 2027. The call is open as long as there are weeks left to apply.
Testa Center Facilities and Support
Testa Center provides a flexible and modern environment for bioprocess development and scale-up, including:
- Fully equipped laboratories and process development suites
- Pilot-scale biomanufacturing capabilities
- Access to a wide range of upstream and downstream equipment
- Technical expertise and on-site support from experienced staff
Projects benefit from working in an open innovation environment designed to foster collaboration and accelerate results.
How to Apply
To apply for the access grant, applicants should submit a project proposal outlining:
- Project objectives and scope
- Planned use of Testa Center facilities
- Expected outcomes
- Timeline and resource requirements
Evaluation
Applications will be evaluated by an external board coordinated by STUNS directly after submission. A decision will be communicated within two weeks from submission.
Evaluation and decision will be done based on the following criteria:
- Feasibility: The project must be feasible to carry out at Testa Center, both technically and with own personnel, etc.
- Value Creation: The activities that will be performed at Testa Center must add value to the project and Testa Center should play an important role in creating this value together with the applicant.
- Alternative solutions : There should be no alternative solutions to using Testa Center that can generate the same value to the project at the same cost and effort.
- Funding need : The applicant should be in need of the grant to be able to run the project in Testa Center and the grant should be triggering the decision to utilize Testa Center.
Reporting
Projects funded are obliged to share their experiences by filling out an evaluation form:
- Directly after completing their activities at Testa Center
- One year after completing their activities at Testa Center
- Three years after completing their activities at Testa Center
Contact information
alexandra.patriksson@testacenter.com
christofer.bjorkelid@testacenter.com
The call is funded by Region Uppsala in collaboration with Testa Center and STUNS
