EXIST Transfer of Research – Phase I
EXIST-Forschungstransfer – Förderphase I
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
Up to 4 full-time equivalents (typically 3 scientific + 1 business) plus material expenses generally up to 250.000 EUR; higher with justification. Also covers third-party contracts, IP costs and coaching.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE)
public · national
Deadline: rolling — Submitted through the university/research institution; no fixed public cut-off dates published on the programme page.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- micro enterprises
- Sectors: deeptech, any
- Stage: idea, pre_seed
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
Company must not yet be founded. Basic functionality of the technology must be demonstrable (proof of principle). Funded by BMWE and the European Social Fund (ESF).
How to apply
- Anchor the project at a German university or non-university research institution.
- Prepare the application with the institution's transfer office.
- The institution submits the proposal for Phase I. — link
- Expert review; on approval a project of typically up to 18 months (up to 36 for complex projects) starts.
What you will need
- Project proposal incl. technology and market description
- Proof of scientific preliminary work / proof of principle
- Team CVs
- Cost and financing plan
Source. https://exist.de/programm/forschungstransfer/ — checked 2026-08-14
"besonders entwicklungsintensive Gründungsvorhaben mit bestehendem Proof of Principle"