funding opportunities in germany

Find here a repository of the main funding programs, at national level. 

Förderdatenbank des BMWK
Description : Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) – Your way to the right funding programme in Germany.Welcome to the Federal Government’s funding database. Here you will find an overview of the funding programmes of the Federal Government, the Länder and the European Union: Use the search function and browse through the current range of funding – tailored to your project.

Typology of activites supported : all types of funding opportunities in one tool

To know more : https://www.foerderdatenbank.de/FDB/DE/Home/home.html

Luftfahrtforschungsprogramm LuFo VI
Description : the Federal Government supports the German aviation industry with an independent aviation research programme (LuFo). With the LuFo programme, funding is made available for a long period of time and can thus be planned for industry and research. Programme lines: Disruptive Technologies and Innovative Systems (Eco-Efficient Flying)”, SMEs, “Basic Technologies”, “Digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, “Hydrogen Technologies and (Hybrid) Electric Flying (Zero Emission Aircraft)”, Technology Demonstration”.

Typology of activites supported : it allows the co-financing of research, development and innovation projects in R&D of the civil aviation.

Grant amont : SME max 750 000 €(per partner)

Duration : max 51 months

To know more : https://www.dlr.de/pt-lf/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-8323/

Sustainable Aero Lab
Description : the vision of the Sustainable Aero Lab is to make climate-neutral aviation a reality. It globally identifies and accelerates startups and projects, which deliver a tangible reduction of the climate footprint of aviation.

Sustainable Aero Lab brings together startups with experienced mentors and investors in live sessions and one-to-one coaching as well as opening doors and finding customers, new projects and partners. Participation in the Lab is free to all startups and admissions are rolling, without deadlines.

Grant amont : depending on Investor

Duration : variable

To know more : https://www.sustainable.aero/about

German Accelerator
Description : German Accelerator empowers German startups to scale globally. It takes high-potential companies on a fast-paced learning journey to understand, discover, and access the world’s leading innovation hubs in the U.S. and Asia. Through highly-customized programs, mentoring from dedicated experts, as well as access to our vast network of business partners and investors, it helps startups from all stages and across various industries on their way to international success. Since launching in 2012, German Accelerator has nurtured over 500 startups which have raised more than $12 billion in funding so far. German Accelerator is run by German Entrepreneurship GmbH and is proudly financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Grant amont : depending on Investor

Duration : variable

To know more : https://www.germanaccelerator.com/

EXIST
Description : Exist is a nationwide program set up to fund early-stage start-ups from universities and other research institutes. The program provides funding for the development of a idea for a product/service, as well as the business plan, up until to company launch.

Typology of activities supported : it supports start-ups to develop a business plan and prepare for their business start-up with the support of their university or research institution.

Grant amont : the grant covers personal living expenses : entrepreneurs with a doctorate receive 3,000 €/month, graduates with a university degree receive 2 500 €/month, students receive 1 000 €/month. It also covers materials and equipment: worth up to 10 000 € for solo start-ups (for teams max. 30 000 €) and coaching : 5 000 €

Duration : 12 months

To know more : https://www.exist.de/EXIST/Navigation/EN/Start-upFunding/EXIST-Business-Start-up-Grant/exist-business-start-up-grant.html

ZIM - “Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand””
Description : ZIM funds innovative companies with business operations in Germany which want to develop new or significantly improve existing products, processes or technical services. Public and private non-profit research and technology organisations (RTOs) acting as a cooperation partner of an SME are also eligible for ZIM funding. The programme is open to all sectors and fields of technology. Funded projects must be highly innovative, market-oriented and entail a substantial technological risk.

Since ZIM strictly focuses on the needs of SMEs, it offers easy application and quick decision-making processes. Another feature which accommodates the needs of SMEs is that ZIM offers a range of possibilities to structure innovative activities in various project forms. They also include various possibilities for transnational cooperation.

Typology of activites supported : SMEs: R&D Feasibility Studies (including Transnational Activities),R&D Individual Projects (only National Activities),R&D Cooperation Projects (including Transnational Activities),Innovation Networks (including Transnational Activities)

Grant amont : max. 550 000€ individual project, max.2,3 Mio.€ cooperation project

Duration : 6-36 months

To know more : https://www.zim.de/ZIM/Navigation/DE/Home/home.html

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