IDB launches Process to select and support Startups focused on Amazonian Biodiversity

This initiative seeks to support scientific and technological ventures working to use and transform the Amazon’s renewable biological resources in a sustainable way.

The Amazonia BioStartups Program is part of the IDB’s Natural Capital Lab and is run by the IDB’s Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Division. The program is funded by the Government of France, which aims to protect biodiversity in the Amazon region and enhance its value.

Objectives of the Call

• The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation division, launches this call for scientific and technological-based ventures, dedicated to the sustainable use or transformation of renewable biological resources to generate economic and social value, which contribute to the conservation of Amazonian biodiversity in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, beneficiary countries of this call.
• Through this startup financing instrument, which is part of the IDB’s Natural Capital Laboratory Program, financed by the Government of France, the Bank intends to support ventures that can value and protect biodiversity in the Amazon.

Thematic Areas

• Projects that value the biodiversity of the Amazon will be considered in the following eligible thematic areas:
  • New Foods: Projects that discover and value sources of food ingredients (proteins, lipids, sweeteners, preservatives, colorings, thickeners, etc.).
  • Human and Animal Health, Personal Care: Projects that lead to the generation of bioactives such as therapeutics, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, cosmetics, etc.
  • New Biomaterials, Energy, Biomining and Bioremediation: Derivatives of plants, fungi or microorganisms for the use of biomass for energy, bioprocesses that make mining more sustainable, reduce pollution, etc.
  • Agriculture: Projects that lead to the identification of new genes for resistance to adverse conditions in crops, new bio-inputs, generation of bioactives such as insecticides, etc.
  • New Molecular Tools and Fermentation Processes: Projects that address the discovery and enhancement of new enzymes, nucleases, polymerases, etc.
  • Transversal applications to the previous areas of new microorganisms or consortia of the same, which are better than the current ones for industrial processes.

Funding Information

• The program has funds to support the development of between 10 and 16 projects, selected through a competitive process, to be executed in a period of up to 24 months, with the following maximum amounts depending on the type of project:
  • US$50,000 for startups to be created during the execution of the program
  • US$80,000 for startups created prior to the call
  • US$80,000 for young companies.

Beneficiary Countries: The beneficiary countries of this call are Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Eligibility Criteria

• Beneficiaries:
  • Academic technology transfer projects where a technology-based company must be founded by the beneficiaries during the execution of the program.
  • Technology-based companies (startups).
  • Young companies that are developing a product within the focus of this program, incorporated as of 01/01/2015 and with a turnover of up to US$1.5 million.
• Required Technological Maturity Level:
  • For academic projects and startups – Evidence of a technology package stage of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (executed proof of concept) is required.
  • For young companies – A TRL 5 (validated technology in an industrially relevant environment) is required.
• Legal Situation of the Beneficiaries:
  • The company has legal residence in one of the beneficiary countries.
  • A minimum of one entrepreneur from the founding team is a legal resident in one of the beneficiary countries.
  • Relevant project activities are carried out in the beneficiary country.
  • Subsidiaries of qualified foreign companies, if the parent company meets the eligibility requirements for young companies.
  • Enabling plan for the commercial use of genetic resources, as established by the Nagoya Protocol (or equivalent current law in Colombia, a country that has subscribed to the protocol, pending ratification). Permit or license granted or letter of support with commitment from the relevant authority.
  • Technology license in favor of the company or letter of support from the academic unit for the project with license commitment, when it is an academic project.

For more information, visit IDB.