The BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, has announced a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of research to identify new technologies and solutions to improve the health of women and girls across the world, including in low-income countries.

The grant will support BII’s efforts to strengthen the European ecosystem for research and startups that address unmet medical needs in women’s health and family planning. As part of the joint initiative, BII will conduct a landscape analysis and identify leading research and start-up opportunities for women’s health, as well as undertake community-building and awareness raising activities with key partners within the ecosystem.

“BII is delighted to have secured this prestigious grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said BioInnovation Institute CEO Jens Nielsen. “It enables us to put in place the resources needed to scout and support important initiatives to accelerate improvements in women’s health — a priority for society and an area of strategic interest for BII. We are excited to drive innovation in this important field, and we will strive to deliver novel solutions for a global unmet medical need.”

“The BII team’s capabilities and strong commitment to women’s health has impressed us,” said Katrine Thor Andersen, deputy director of global health at the Gates Foundation. “We are excited to have BII as a strategic partner to complement our efforts in catalyzing innovation, with the goal of improving the health of women and girls, especially in low-income countries — bringing us closer to a more gender-equal world.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/dra schwartz)