Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.

Grants

EXIST Transfer of Research – Phase I

EXIST-Forschungstransfer – Förderphase I

Status

Open continuously

No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.

Always open

Amount

€250,000

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.

Funder

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE)

public · national

Deadline: Open all year — Submitted through the university/research institution; no fixed public cut-off dates published on the programme page.

Your odds

Not published

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.

Effort

major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

Who can apply

micro enterprises
Sectors: deeptech, any
Stage: idea stage and 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

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://exist.de/programm/forschungstransfer/

"besonders entwicklungsintensive Gründungsvorhaben mit bestehendem Proof of Principle"

Verified on 14 August 2026

Source: exist.de

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