“This confirms that Vinnova has confidence in our work and our ability to help startups thrive,” says Peter Jacobsson, Acting Head of Operations of UBI.

The program is designed for established incubators that aim to boost startups’ competitiveness by prioritizing sustainability and gender equality in the selection and development of business ideas and companies.

Vinnova’s latest call for applications under the national incubator program — Support for Startups Through Excellent Incubators — covers the period from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029. The program is designed for established incubators that aim to boost startups’ competitiveness by prioritizing sustainability and gender equality in the selection and development of business ideas and companies.

On Tuesday, Vinnova announced its decision to allocate SEK 14.6 million to Umeå Biotech Incubator, which has held the excellence status since 2012.

Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem

Vinnova launched the national incubator program in 2003 as a pilot initiative. Today, it operates based on two fundamental principles:

Accelerating startup growth through incubators – Incubators provide companies with tailored coaching, mentorship, and access to critical resources such as funding, expertise, customers, partners, and infrastructure.

Enhancing national incubation capabilities: The program fosters collaboration and peer learning among incubators and drives the development of new incubation tools and methodologies.