The Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space Travel (BMFTR) has published a new funding announcement for AI-based in-silico methods in drug development. The aim is to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence and computer-based models along the development of new drugs and to bring innovative approaches to application more quickly.

The funding is for research and development projects that use AI methods for drug development - from processing large data sets and adapting existing AI models to concrete applications in development processes. Possible fields of application include identifying new drug targets, drug development, safety and toxicity predictions, clinical trial planning, and therapy personalization.

The funding is particularly relevant for companies, universities, research institutions, and associations from science and industry that use AI solutions in biomedical research. The measure is indication-open and supports projects up to and including clinical phase IIa. A clear medical need and a convincing perspective for the later application and utilization of the research results are prerequisites.

The focus is explicitly on application-oriented projects. Pure basic research or the development of completely new AI methods are not part of the tender. Instead, existing AI technologies and in-silico approaches are to be specifically made usable for drug development.

Important deadlines

The funding process is two-tiered. Project outlines must be submitted by August 27, 2026 . After successful review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

With this measure, the BMFTR aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Germany as a research and innovation location and to advance the development of data-driven AI applications in the healthcare sector.