Find the right funding for your digital project
We help you strategically leverage appropriate funding and turn your innovative ideas into successful research projects. In a joint introductory workshop, we analyze your challenges, develop a viable research concept, and identify suitable collaboration models as well as funding programs at the state, federal, or EU level.
Our many years of experience with publicly funded projects, along with our network spanning industry, academia, and government, provide a solid foundation for this process. We guide you from the initial idea through to implementation—providing technical, strategic, and administrative support. This includes, among other things, establishing project consortia, coordinating the application process, and advising on tax incentives such as the research tax credit.
Our support opens up practical funding pathways, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises—for example, through programs such as the Bavarian Digital Bonus. Whether it’s a bilateral collaboration or a complex joint project: Together, we design eligible, application-oriented research projects and ensure that good ideas don’t fail due to organizational or financial hurdles.
Your funding strategy at a glance
Analysis
- Overview of relevant funding programs (state, federal, EU: e.g., Bavarian Digital Bonus, ZIM, KMU-innovativ, Horizon Europe)
- Identification of suitable funding opportunities for prototypes, research partnerships, or feasibility studies
- Clarification of eligibility requirements, funding rates, and deadlines
Research allowance
Since early 2020, companies in Germany have been able to claim tax deductions for expenses related to research and development projects under the so-called Research Allowance. “The goal is to strengthen Germany as an investment location and to stimulate research activities, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.” For more information, please visit the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ).
- All companies are eligible to apply, regardless of their size
- Funding for all areas, from research to product and process development
- Funding regardless of when the project began (completed, ongoing, or future projects)
- Funding based on actual costs rather than planned costs
Special support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises
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Funding volume: Individual Funding quota: Up to 50% + bonus for SMEs Date of application: April 15 and October 15 Topics: Various fields of technology, including autonomous driving, information and communication technologies, interactive technologies, climate and energy, materials research, medical technology, and the future of value creation Funded by: Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) Further information: KMU-innovativ
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Funding volume: Max. 15 million euros Funding quota: Up to 50% + bonus for SMEs Date of application: Ongoing Topics: Innovation concepts with strategic significance, e.g., analyses of technological feasibility and development of implementation strategies in technology fields such as explainable AI, communication technology, and digital production Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) Further information: Entwicklung digitaler Technologien
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Funding volume: Max. €560,000 per subproject Funding quota: 30 % bis 60 % Date of application: Ongoing Topics: Market-oriented projects with a high degree of Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) Further information: Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
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Funding volume: Specified by the respective EU project Funding quota: Ongoing new open calls Date of application: Implementation of innovative technical solutions Topics: European Commission Funded by: EU Open Calls - Project-based EU funding for SMEs
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Funding volume: Depending on funding calls Funding quota: Up to 50 % Date of application: Depending on funding calls Topics: Various areas, including artificial intelligence and data science, human-machine communication, real-time systems and embedded systems, automation, communication networks, and cybersecurity Funded by: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy Further information: Informations- und Kommunikationstechnik (IuK) Bayern
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Funding volume: Max. 3 million euros (research consortium) Funding quota: Up to 60% Date of application: Ongoing Topics: Life sciences, digitalization, materials, energy and environment, mobility, process and production technology Funded by: Bavarian Transformation and Research Foundation Further information: Zukunftstechnologien für die bayerische Wirtschaft
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Compangy size: employees Funding volume: Max. €80,000 (special) Funding quota: 40–60 % Date of application: Ongoing Topics: Development, implementation, and improvement of products, production processes, or services through technical feasibility studies, simulation models, prototype construction, and innovative product testing, among other things Funded by: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy Further information: Innovationsgutschein Bayern
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Compangy size: <50 employees Funding volume: Up to €30,000 (Digital Bonus Plus) Funding quota: Up to 50% Date of application: Ongoing Topics: Digitization and automation of products, services, processes, and IT systems, including through robotics, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and modern simulation techniques; IT security Funded by: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy Further information: Digitalbonus Bayern
