EQT Foundation Launches Global Grant Program Supporting Breakthrough Technologies to Overcome the Blood Brain Barrier

EQT Foundation Launches Global Grant Program Supporting Breakthrough Technologies to Overcome the Blood Brain Barrier

(IN BRIEF) The EQT Foundation has launched a new funding call through its Science Grants program aimed at advancing deeptech innovations capable of overcoming the blood-brain barrier, one of the most significant challenges in neurological medicine. The initiative will provide non-dilutive grants ranging from €25,000 to €100,000 to support high-risk, high-impact research focused on enabling therapeutic delivery to the central nervous system. Open to scientists at nonprofit institutions worldwide, the program seeks projects that combine cutting-edge technologies with clear translational potential, including novel delivery platforms, device-based BBB modulation techniques, gene therapy approaches, and advanced research tools for studying brain drug delivery. By backing early-stage research and connecting grantees with industry expertise and commercialization support, the foundation aims to accelerate breakthroughs that could lead to new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, brain tumors, and rare neurological disorders.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 10-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The EQT Foundation has opened applications for a new round of funding under its Science Grants program, inviting researchers worldwide to submit proposals aimed at overcoming one of the most significant obstacles in modern medicine: the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The initiative is designed to support breakthrough deeptech innovations capable of safely delivering therapies to the brain, an area that has long challenged scientists and clinicians.

Through the program, the foundation will award non-dilutive grants ranging from €25,000 to €100,000. These funds are intended to provide early support for ambitious scientific ideas that carry both high technical risk and the potential for major therapeutic impact. The call is open to researchers affiliated with accredited nonprofit institutions globally and focuses on projects that combine cutting-edge technology with strong prospects for clinical translation.

The blood-brain barrier serves as a protective shield for the central nervous system, preventing harmful substances from entering the brain. However, this same protective function also blocks the vast majority of potential treatments. More than 98 percent of small-molecule drugs and nearly all large-molecule therapies are unable to cross the BBB, leaving many neurological diseases without effective treatment options.

Because of this barrier, millions of patients suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain tumors, and rare pediatric neurological disorders continue to face limited therapeutic options. Advances that enable drugs to reach the brain safely could dramatically improve treatment possibilities for these patients and reshape the future of neurological medicine.

The EQT Foundation’s grant program is intended to accelerate early-stage research that could help solve this challenge. Priority will be given to translational projects that begin with laboratory discovery but are designed with real-world medical deployment in mind. By supporting these ideas at an early stage, the foundation aims to reduce the technical and financial risks associated with developing new CNS therapies.

The program is particularly interested in innovations that combine deep technology with therapeutic delivery strategies. This includes the development of new delivery platforms capable of transporting therapeutic molecules across the BBB, such as engineered vectors, nanoparticles, receptor-mediated transport systems, shuttle peptides, and exosome-based delivery methods.

Researchers are also encouraged to explore physical or device-based techniques that temporarily and safely open the blood-brain barrier. Approaches such as focused ultrasound technologies, energy-based modulation methods, or minimally invasive devices that allow controlled drug delivery into the brain are of particular interest.

Biological and molecular strategies that modulate the BBB are another key area of focus. These include methods that alter tight junctions within the barrier or use chemical, osmotic, or genetic mechanisms to create temporary and controlled permeability.

In addition, the program welcomes proposals related to CNS-targeted gene therapies and large molecule treatments. Research in areas such as AAV capsid engineering, alternative viral vectors, nanoparticle delivery systems, antibody-based therapeutics, and RNA platforms capable of penetrating the BBB could be eligible for funding.

Supporting technologies that enable researchers to study or measure BBB function are also encouraged. These may include advanced laboratory models of the blood-brain barrier, biomarker and imaging systems for assessing drug penetration, artificial intelligence tools for predicting molecular permeability, and high-throughput screening platforms designed to accelerate translational validation.

Cilia Holmes Indahl, Chief Executive Officer of the EQT Foundation, emphasized the importance of tackling this longstanding medical challenge. She noted that the blood-brain barrier continues to limit treatment options for millions of patients suffering from neurological diseases and that supporting bold scientific innovation is essential for unlocking new possibilities in central nervous system care.

Beyond financial support, selected grant recipients will gain access to EQT’s broader ecosystem, which includes technical advisors, industry partners, and commercialization expertise. The foundation intends to help researchers move promising discoveries beyond the laboratory toward scalable solutions that can ultimately benefit patients.

Applications for the program will remain open until April 7, 2026, at 23:59 CET. Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of experts in science, technology, and translational medicine. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in interviews with the EQT Foundation team before final funding decisions are made.

Researchers interested in applying can submit their proposals through the EQT Foundation website.

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 270 billion in total assets under management (EUR 141 billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 31 December 2025, within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
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About EQT Foundation
EQT Foundation is a philanthropic organisation and long-term shareholder of the global investment organization EQT, founded by partners at EQT. The Foundation supports scientists and entrepreneurs bringing breakthrough solutions from lab to market, combining EQT’s expertise with catalytic investments and grants. With a focus on supporting scientific progress in underfunded areas of climate and health, the Foundation provides a learning platform for EQT employees to develop and work collaboratively across the globe, while engaging in philanthropy and making a positive impact.

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SOURCE: EQT