Funding Opportunities

Who is eligible for funding?

• SMEs of the commercial economy, including craft enterprises, according to the EU definition of SMEs with a business location in the state of Brandenburg.

• For BIG-Transfer, BIG-FuE, and BIG-EU, the primary effect must meet the current coordination framework of the joint task "Improvement of the regional economic structure."

• Profit-oriented SMEs.

Can funding occur within a network?

• This applies only to two cooperation partners.

What are the possible funding amounts?

• Small BIG-Transfer: up to 100% of eligible costs; maximum €5,000.

• Large BIG-Transfer: up to 50% of eligible costs; maximum €15,000.

• BIG-FuE: up to 50% of eligible costs; maximum €100,000.

• BIG-Digital: up to 50% of eligible costs; maximum €50,000 for consultation, €500,000 for implementation, and €50,000 for training.

• BIG-EU: up to 50% of eligible costs; maximum €16,000 as a lead partner, otherwise €8,000.

What are the project durations?

• BIG-Transfer: up to 6 months.

• BIG-FuE and BIG-EU: up to 12 months.

• BIG-Digital: Consultation up to 6 months, implementation up to 36 months, training up to 6 months.

What application materials are required for submission?

• Before submitting the application to the ILB, applicants are advised on the specifics of the funding procedures, the funding requirements, and the application materials during a meeting with the Economic Development Agency Brandenburg (WFBB).

• Application forms can be obtained from the ILB website.

For more information about BIG, you can find it here.

Who is eligible for funding?

• SMEs that meet the primary effect according to the current coordination framework of the joint task "Improvement of the regional economic structure."

• The project must be associated with the "Research and Development" sector.

• Technology-oriented, legally independent SMEs that develop and market their own products, processes, or services (or aim to do so).

• Companies with at least one business location in Berlin / Research and scientific institutions based in Berlin or Brandenburg.

Can funding occur within a network?

• Multiple SMEs can join forces for a project, and the funding can be pooled. Each company must submit its own funding application.

What are the possible funding amounts?

• Entry-level variant: up to 100% of eligible costs; maximum €7,500.

• Standard variant: up to 70% of eligible costs; maximum €15,000.

• Standard variant in the digitalization sector: up to 70% of eligible costs; maximum €45,000.

• Standard variant in the digitalization sector: up to 70% of eligible costs; maximum €30,000.

What are the project durations?

• Entry-level and standard variant: up to 6 months.

• Standard variant in the digitalization sector: up to 12 months.

• Standard variant in the gamification/VR sector: up to 12 months.

What application materials are required for submission?

• IBB funding application

• Extract from the trade or commercial register entry (not older than 12 months)

• Project description

• Offer from the scientific institution for the service to be provided

• Final reports of previous projects, if they were funded through the Transfer BONUS

• For legal entities: Proof of registration of the company in the transparency database of the Berlin Senate Department

For more information about the Transfer BONUS, you can find it here.

Who is eligible for funding?

• SMEs with a business location in Germany.

• Medium-sized companies with a business location in Germany that, at the time of application, employ less than 500 people including partner companies.

• Medium-sized companies with a business location in Germany that, at the time of application, employ less than 1000 people including partner companies and cooperate with at least one SME with a business location in Germany, whose R&D project is funded.

Can funding occur within a network?

• R&D single projects, R&D cooperation projects, and innovation networks are possible.

What are the possible funding rates?

• Single project: Young small companies up to 45%; small companies up to 40%; medium-sized companies up to 35%; companies with up to 500 people up to 25%, companies with up to 1000 people not eligible for funding.

• Cooperation project: Young small companies up to 50%; small companies up to 45%; medium-sized companies up to 40%; companies with up to 500 people up to 30%, companies with up to 1000 people up to 30%.

• Cooperation project with foreign partners: Young small companies up to 60%; small companies up to 55%; medium-sized companies up to 50%; companies with up to 500 people up to 40%, companies with up to 1000 people up to 40%.

What are the possible funding amounts?

• R&D single project: up to €550,000.

• R&D cooperation project: up to €450,000.

• National innovation networks: up to €420,000.

• International innovation networks: up to €520,000.

What are the project durations?

• Up to 24 months.

What application materials are required for submission?

• Application form with attachments.

• Description of the project content.

• For cooperation projects: Information about partners and a draft cooperation agreement.

• Justification of the requested funding.

• Market launch concept.

For more information about the ZIM, you can find it here.

Who is eligible for funding?

• SMEs according to the EU definition of SMEs.

Can funding occur within a network?

• In general, the funding of networks involving several SMEs and/or research institutions is possible. However, the benefit must primarily go to the SMEs, and a significant part of the research performance must be carried out by the SMEs.

What are the possible funding rates?

• Up to 50% of eligible costs.

• For SMEs that meet the EU definition, the funding rate can be increased to 60%.

• An appropriate own contribution to the eligible costs is expected.

What are the project durations?

• Up to 24 months.

What application materials are required for submission?

• Two-stage application procedure:

  Submission and selection of project outlines in German (topic, objectives, market potential, novelty, necessity of funding, work plan, rough financial plan, exploitation plan), followed by evaluation.

  Submission of formal funding applications and decision-making process.

Additionally, consultation through the BMBF's guidance service is possible.

For more information about BMBF: KMU-innovativ, you can find it here.