Business Finland piloted the Deep Tech Accelerator (DTA) funding call in spring 2023. After this, the DTA funding call opened again in 2024 and 2025. The funding is aimed at startup companies under five years old that are based on the latest research and expertise. The goal of the funding is to accelerate the market entry and international growth of research‑based startups. The funding consists of three €400,000 phases, the first two of which are grants and the third a loan. Business Finland covers 75% of approved costs, and the estimated duration of each phase is 12–18 months.

Companies that have applied for funding represent various sectors, such as health, foodtech, energy, process industries, and ICT. The funded companies have research expertise from several Finnish research organizations as well as industrial research.

- Deep Tech Accelerator funding is tailored to support research‑based startups that have begun operations but are still in the product development phase, helping them enter the market and grow. With this funding, we strengthen the opportunities of promising Finnish technology companies to succeed in international markets, says Marjo Ilmari, Director from Business Finland.

Companies that were granted DTA funding in the 2025 call

In 2025, the companies that received funding represent a diverse range of Finnish deep‑tech expertise. AIATELLA Oy, Arivin Therapeutics Oy, Audicin Oy, Flow‑computing Oy, HyCom Core Oy, and NPHarvest Oy are all young companies whose business is based on commercializing research results and innovative solutions. The companies funded this year demonstrate how research results and expertise can be turned into impactful innovations.

- Business Finland’s DTA funding plays a pivotal role in accelerating our journey from a research institute-based deep tech spin-off to commercial success. It helps us focus on validating our go-to-market approach and engaging with the world’s leading semiconductor technology companies. At the same time, DTA funding strengthens our readiness for future funding rounds and supports our strategic expansion into the Silicon Valley semiconductor ecosystem, laying the foundation for long-term growth. Says Timo Valtonen, CEO of Flow‑Computing Oy.

The significance of funding for deep‑tech companies

For research‑based startups, reaching the market takes a long time, as they develop radically new solutions that require time for technological validation, market creation, approvals, and securing funding. When successfully commercialized these innovations can transform entire industries and solve global challenges. The funding aims to support the creation of success stories and accelerate companies’ journey to international markets.

Arivin therapeutics Oy is founded on technology originating from Aalto University and the University of Helsinki and is developing novel, future-proof therapies to address highly resistant bacterial infections.

- In research-driven startups, it is easy to focus intensely on the underlying invention and overlook other critical factors that determine the success of new technologies, including the competitive landscape, market needs, and evolving regulatory requirements. We are proud to have been selected by Business Finland for the Deep Tech Accelerator (DTA) program, which enables us to systematically address all these factors and accelerate our growth and expansion. The first phase of the DTA program will significantly strengthen our commercial and regulatory capabilities, which are essential for accelerating regulatory approvals and securing the next round of venture financing for our upcoming clinical trials. Future phases of the program will further support regulatory compliance and enable us to expand our technology into additional infection areas where bacterial pathogens represent a major global challenge, Christopher Jonkergouw, CEO of Arivin Therapeutics Oy states.

With the help of the funding, companies can:

• grow their customer and market understanding
• validate customer segments and business plans
• strengthen their teams and develop commercial readiness
• plan and obtain additional funding to support international growth

Business Finland will provide information on future DTA calls on its website.