Skylab Funding Opens Fall 2025 Round with 11 Soft Funding Partners

DTU startups and founders from all corners of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) can now apply for soft funding grants up to 150.000 DKK. The funding is facilitated by DTU Skylab and is designed to support early-stage startups by both DTU students and researchers.

This fall, Skylab Funding is introducing The Danish Cancer Society as a new funding partner, thereby joining the list of funding partners such as Chr. Nielsens Fond , Hans Følsgaard A/S , Den Danske Maritime Fond , BioInnovation Institute among others.

In August 2025, the Danish Cancer Society also co-hosted the Skylab Minisprint, highlighting the potential of cross-sector collaboration between research, industry, and patient organisations.

Crucial support for technology development

Skylab Funding provides support for the practical steps needed to move ideas forward. Grants can cover expenses such as materials for prototyping, the development and testing of prototypes, participation in relevant conferences and associated travel, as well as access to external knowledge providers like consultants, developers, and manufacturers. Funding can also be used for equipment rental and for acquiring specialised software or hardware required for tasks that demand advanced technical tools.

“The startups that we support at DTU Skylab usually work with complex technologies, which, besides the hours invested by the startup into the development and venture building, also require development of prototypes, pilot tests, and much more. Being able to facilitate soft funding is key for driving DTU-startups further and bolstering their success rate,” says Ida Bjerring Mehl, Funding Manager of Skylab Funding.

“The support from Skylab Funding was an important milestone for us, as it was our first financial validation as a startup. The funding enabled us to design and produce our first professional prototypes and cover the necessary services and expertise. It not only gave us the resources to move forward but also credibility, which we believe also contributed to our Innofounder grant. For startups at our stage of development, support like this is crucial to transform ideas into concrete solutions and move closer to a finished product,” says Lars Jørgen Johnson Riisdal, co-founder of the healthtech startup, Breathewise .

Upcoming deadline

Applications for the Fall 2025 round are now open and close on September 12, 23:59 (CET).More information, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, is available at https://www.skylab.dtu.dk/for-students/skylab-funding