Further funding oportunities

Are you a company with innovative project ideas? Do you need support in finding suitable funding opportunities? Or are you planning research projects with European partners? Here you will find information and links to further national and European funding opportunities for SMEs.

European funding programs

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the ninth EU framework program for research and innovation and runs from 2021 to 2027. The aim of the program is to build a competitive economy and contribute to sustainable development. The total budget of Horizon Europe amounts to around 95.5 billion euros (in current prices).

The three program pillars "Scientific Excellence", "European Industrial Competitiveness" and "Innovative Europe" form the basic structure for the various funding instruments. The EIC Accelerator is part of the "Innovative Europe" pillar.

Horizon Europe offers a wide range of participation opportunities for SMEs. The following funding instruments - in addition to the EIC Accelerator - are particularly relevant

EIC Pathfinder

The EIC Pathfinder aims to implement radically new technologies that have the potential to create entirely new markets. To this end, excellence-oriented, visionary and high-risk projects that are at an early stage of development are supported. The EIC Pathfinder promotes interdisciplinary research and development and is aimed at universities and research institutions as well as high-tech companies. The desired outcome of EIC Pathfinder projects is the so-called "Proof of Principle", i.e. that the scientific basis has been confirmed and the main ideas of the targeted technology are feasible. The EIC Pathfinder Open covers Technology Teadiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 4 and funds projects with up to 3 million euros. In the EIC Pathfinder Challenges, topics are defined by individual "topics". Further information is available from the NCP EIC Pathfinder.

EIC Transition

Within the EIC Transition instrument, promising results that have emerged from the EIC Pathfinder and from FET projects from Horizon 2020 or the European Research Council (ERC) can be further developed. The aim is to allow both the technology and the business idea to mature. In addition to the further development of the technology, cooperation between SMEs, research stakeholders and potential users or customers can also be funded. Following the EIC Transition, it is possible to bring the idea to market maturity in the EIC Accelerator. Further information is available from the NKS EIC Pathfinder.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The aim of the EIT is to increase the innovation capacity of the member states and thus contribute to sustainable economic growth in Europe. To this end, areas of the "knowledge triangle" (education, research and innovation) are to be integrated at the highest level in the so-called "Knowledge and Innovation Communities" (KICs). In the KICs, results from science and research can be translated directly into commercial innovation ideas. This considerably shortens the path from idea to marketable product. Further information on participation opportunities

Collaborative projects

Collaborative projects are the "classic" form of EU research funding. At least three partners (e.g. SMEs or universities) from at least three EU Member States or countries must submit a joint application. Together they research and develop products, processes and services. Horizon Europe offers interesting funding topics for companies, particularly in pillar two, "European Industrial Competitiveness". Using the search functions in the Funding & Tenders Portal, you can research the topics and tenders relevant to you. You can then contact the National Contact Points responsible for the calls for proposals for free advice on the suitability of the call for proposals for your project.

Marie-Skłodowska-Curie-Actions

With the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the European Commission promotes the transnational and cross-sectoral mobility and career development of researchers as well as the exchange of personnel and knowledge between industry and science. For example, you can apply for 100% funding for the deployment of researchers to carry out a research and innovation project in your company. The participation of companies in the MSCA - both small and medium-sized enterprises and industrial partners - is expressly supported by the European Commission. The settlement modalities via lump sums offer a comparatively easy entry into the EU's funding offer, especially for SMEs. In addition, it is also possible to participate in projects as a partner (host organization for secondments) rather than as a grant recipient. You can find out more about the Marie Skłodowska-Curie measures on the website of the NCP MSCA.

Other European funding programs and financing options

In addition to Horizon Europe, other European programs also offer investment and financing opportunities for companies.

EUREKA

EUREKA is a political, European research initiative. It offers industry and science a framework for cross-border, market-oriented research cooperation projects. EUREKA is open to all topics. Projects can be submitted in all areas of technology: from materials research and biotechnology to information and communication technology.

Companies, research institutes and other institutions under private or public law can apply for the EUREKA label for their project. A EUREKA project must involve participants from at least two EUREKA member countries or from at least one EUREKA member country and one associated country. The project partners define the content, type and duration of the project themselves and ensure the financing of their project share (with public/private funding or their own funds). Project financing is the responsibility of the project partners themselves. Funding must be applied for at national level in the respective home countries of the project partners. In Germany, all national and regional funding programs are generally open to financing German contributions to EUREKA projects, but with the exception of Eurostars, there are no funds reserved specifically for EUREKA projects. Further information is available from EUREKA - Germany.

EUREKA Cluster

EUREKA clusters are long-term, strategically important initiatives initiated and led by industry. They focus on innovative development and commercial exploitation in specific fields of technology, for example ICT, energy, water and biotechnology. Projects are usually initiated through calls. Further information on EUREKA clusters and current calls can be found on the EUREKA-Cluster page.

Eurostars 3

Eurostars 3 is a multilateral funding program currently involving 37 countries and an instrument under the umbrella of the European research initiative EUREKA. After the first two program phases (2008 to 2013; 2014 to 2020), the third Eurostars program phase will be continued as a European, co-funded partnership for innovative SMEs (European Cofunded Partnership on innovative SMEs) in the EU framework program for research and innovation "Horizon Europe".

Eurostars 3 is aimed in particular at innovative SMEs. These are SMEs as defined by the EU that develop a product, process or service in international project collaborations. The basic requirement is the involvement of cooperation partners from at least two participating countries. The consortium leader is an innovative SME from a Eurostars country. Research institutes or large companies can also participate as partners. In Germany, however, research institutes only receive funding if a German SME is involved; large companies do not receive funding in Germany. With a maximum project duration of three years, the project results should reach the market no later than two years after project completion.

There are two deadlines per year (spring / fall) on which all applications received up to that point are evaluated. Applicants of positively evaluated applications, for which funding is also available, are then invited to submit a national funding application (easy-online application). It is advisable to contact the national EUREKA office in Germany directly before submitting an application.

Innowwide

Innowwide is funded by the European Commission as part of the European Partnership "Innovative SMEs" from 2022 to 2027. Innowwide supports innovative SMEs and start-ups from all sectors in tapping into a selected international target market with their innovations. To this end, the program funds bilateral projects (so-called "Market Feasibility Projects") with a fixed amount of EUR 60,000 and a duration of six months.

Calls for proposals are issued annually. In a market feasibility project, a European company works together with at least one local partner from the international target country. The latter is involved in the project as a subcontractor. Innowwide promotes joint activities to examine the feasibility of market entry. These include studies and analyses of market potential, competition, protection of intellectual property and technical and legal framework conditions. Up-to-date information can be found on the website of the Eureka Secretariat and the national website.

InvestEU

The InvestEU program is an investment support mechanism for the period 2021-2027, bringing together various EU financial instruments previously supported by different funds and programs of the EU budget. Guarantees of €26.2 billion are expected to mobilize investments of at least €372 billion (at current prices) across the EU. The InvestEU Fund will be implemented by financial partners. The main partner will be the European Investment Bank (EIB). In addition to the EIB, international financial institutions operating in Europe, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank, as well as national promotional banks will have direct access to the EU guarantees. Applications for the funds will be submitted via financial intermediaries.

Further information

Digital Europe

The Digital Europe program promotes the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and the latest cybersecurity tools to accelerate Europe's digital transformation. The program runs for the period 2021-2027 with a total budget of 7.5 billion euros.

Further information

National funding opportunities

The funding landscape in Germany is diverse. In addition to national programs under the responsibility of various federal ministries, there are also numerous regional initiatives limited to individual federal states or regions.

It can be difficult to find the right funding here. For this reason, the federal government has set up a central contact point, the federal government's "Research and Innovation" funding advice service. It informs and advises interested parties free of charge about national and regional funding programs.

Funding programs specifically tailored to SMEs in the areas of research and innovation, funding for technology transfer, business start-ups or research infrastructure can be obtained conacting the helpdesk and calling the helpline set up especially for SMEs on 0800 2623-009.