BioCAN Grants

Accelerated biotech commercialization through funded access to Indiana's CDMO and scale-up infrastructure

Program Overview

The BioLaunch project for the Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub aims to accelerate innovation, development, and commercialization of biotechnology and biomanufacturing solutions through two key programs: 1) BioStart provides mentorship and peer-to-peer support for biotech startups, and 2) BioCAN (the BioResource Coordination and Access Network) connects biotech innovators with Indiana resources and provides grants to support scale-up and commercialization of solutions.

Indiana is home to a robust network of contract development & manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), labs, and digital assets equipped to accelerate commercialization of a wide range of biotechnology solutions. Heartland BioWorks seeks to support innovator access to Indiana’s network of biotechnology drug substance manufacturers; industrial biotechnology precision fermentation manufacturers; formulation, fill, and finish drug product manufacturers (for both biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical products); and other contract or support organizations relevant to biotech development. BioCAN Grants will offset project costs for late-stage development, clinical, and commercialization activities that utilize these resources in Indiana.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has approved deployment of $9,000,000 of non-dilutive fixed amount awards as BioCAN Grants over the next several years. Individual grants will range from $50,000 to $500,000, with an expected total between $500,000 and $1,000,000 in awards per funding cycle.

Who Should Apply

Please review program guidelines for detailed eligibility requirements and more information.

Eligibility criteria:

• Organizations (for-profit, non-profit, or academic institutions) with a registered legal entity in the United States,
• Organizations with an active registration in SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• Organizations generally classified as small businesses (generally less than 1,000 employees; see program guidelines) 
• Organizations developing and commercializing one of the following:
  • biotechnology (human, animal, or plant)
  • advanced biomanufacturing innovations (software, hardware or equipment, material science, process innovation, etc.)
  • drug delivery devices
  • combination products (medical device combined with biotechnology)
  • analytical tools associated with biomanufacturing or biotechnology development
  • advanced manufacturing solutions associated with biomanufacturing

Ideal applicants:

Organizations utilizing Indiana-based CDMO, Laboratory, or other biotech resources (see list below for examples of Indiana-based companies supporting biotechnology innovations)

Applicant organizations' solutions should be:

• at or beyond TRL 6 (Prototype System Verified),
• locked into a lead drug candidate,
• in late-stage preclinical development with final preparation of IND filing (human biotech),
• completing GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) testing
• completing engineering or GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) manufacturing runs,
• initiating Phase 1 Clinical Trials, and/or
• demonstrating a prototype in the relevant environment. 

Priority will be given to organizations:

• utilizing Indiana-based Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), Laboratory, or other biotech resources (see below for examples of Indiana-based resources)
• that have sufficient funding to sustain operations for at least the next 12 months

Application Link

Funding Details

Individual award amount:  $50,000 to $500,000

Total amount per cycle:  $500,000 to $1,000,000

Grants awarded per cycle:  2-4 grants

Performance period:  Up to 12 months

Characteristics:  Non-dilutive fixed amount award

Please see guidelines linked below for eligible types of activities and more information

Winter 2026 Timeline

Application opens: January 12, 2026  

Application closes: February 13, 2026, 11:59pm EST (no extensions)

Awardees notified: April 2026

Grant funds deployed: April-May 2026

Winter 2026 Program Guidelines

Please review all program guidelines and addendums for eligible activities and more information.

Addendum published January 29, 2026

Budget Template

Please populate the Excel budget template linked below and attach to your application. This is the only budget format that will be accepted.