R&D funding is Germany's most frequently underestimated pot of money. Those who combine ZIM, KMU-innovativ and the research allowance correctly can secure several hundred thousand to millions of euros in funding for their project portfolio, at approval rates EU programmes do not offer.
What R&D funding programmes are suited to
Federal programmes are the right choice for companies that conduct their own research and development with a supra-regional market in mind. Whether MedTech or mechanical engineering, start-up or large enterprise: the available funding programmes differ by industry, company size and technology readiness level. The timing has to fit too: some programmes can be applied for at short notice and the project can start at your own risk, others need a longer lead time or are tied to application deadlines.
What we bring
- 18 years of application practice: we know every funding guideline, every module structure, every overhead calculation.
- Approval rate > 95 %, well above the average of all applicants.
- A cooperation network across industry and research, reachable at once.
- Professional project support, from the idea to the project's completion.
Some programmes at a glance
- ZIM (BMWE): the classic. Individual or cooperation projects with grants of up to €3 M in total, fast procedures.
- KMU-innovativ (BMFTR): funding for high technology. Grant funding, topic-specific (ICT, MedTech, bioeconomy, materials research …), SMEs only, usually in a consortium with partners.
- Research allowance (BMF): tax-based funding, also possible retroactively, up to €4.2 M per year.
- Energy research programme (BMWE): funds innovative technologies for a secure, climate-neutral and affordable energy supply.
- Innovation programme for business models and pioneering solutions (BMWE): funding for innovative ideas of high social or economic relevance.
"The courage to innovate. We offer a success-based fee model. When we secure funding for you, we receive a percentage of it." Our guiding principle since 2008
What we don't do
- Applications on spec. Every application we submit is well thought through, otherwise it does not go out.
- We do not support projects that, in our assessment, are not eligible for funding.