Italy's BII Catalyst Fund closes first €20M round for therapeutic startups
What's the deal? BII Catalyst Fund I for Italy has raised more than €20 million in its first close, targeting early-stage Italian therapeutic startups. Launched in early July under the lead of Lazio InnovaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the fund is managed by Panakès PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a venture capital firm specialised in life sciences.
Who's backing it? Lazio Innova contributed €20 million through the Lazio Region's fund-of-funds Venture 2, co-financed by the PR FESR 2021-2027 programme. International investors include Novo HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? The fund aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the maturity needed to attract later-stage investment, backing Italian startups until they can compete internationally. Copenhagen's BioInnovation Institute (BII) will help scout and select the most promising companies, giving them access to its innovation platform, mentorship, and infrastructure.
"Europe holds an enormous wealth of untapped scientific potential, and BII is uniquely positioned to identify it and help it grow," said Jens Nielsen, chief executive officer of BII.
Why the Lazio focus? The region positions itself as an Italian leader in life sciences, and officials framed the fund as the first move in its venture capital strategy. "We are proud of the concrete launch of the Lazio Region's venture capital strategy," said Roberta Angelilli, vice-president of the Lazio Region and councillor for economic development.
The expansion angle: Separately, BII is coordinating CardioMetabolic Bridge, a pan-European initiative to speed up drug discovery for cardiometabolic diseases. It networks research centres in the UK, Germany, and Italy, with London's Victoria House — BII's first research space outside its central Copenhagen labs — already operating as the initiative's reference site.
The signal: The fund reflects growing public-private efforts to convert European academic research into commercial therapeutics, with regional governments partnering with international life-sciences investors to strengthen local ecosystems.
Read more: notiziariochimicofarmaceutico.it
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
