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

Grants

Central Innovation Programme for SMEs

Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)

Status

Closed for now

The funder has not said when this reopens.

Closed

Amount

Not published

Maximum grant amounts and funding rates are set in the ZIM-Richtlinie and were not stated on the pages verified; recorded as null rather than estimated. Funds market-oriented R&D projects, technology- and sector-open.

Funder

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE)

public · national

Deadline: Closed — TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED: a befristeter Antragsstopp applies "ab 7. Juli 2026, 12:00 Uhr" for "alle Projektformen sowie Projektskizzen". Applications already submitted will still be approved where funds allow, and international cooperation applications are excepted. "Eine Aufhebung der Aussetzung der Antragsannahme wird für Anfang 2027 angestrebt."

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

moderate

Moderate — a form and supporting documents.

Who can apply

Stage: seed, Series A and growth
R&D activity required
Locally registered entity required

"unterstützt innovative KMU über die Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung marktorientierter FuE-Projekte". Exact KMU headcount and turnover limits were not stated on the verified page.

How to apply

Choose the project form: FuE-Einzelprojekt, FuE-Kooperationsprojekt (at least two companies, or one company and a research institution), or Innovationsnetzwerk. — link
Submit the application fully digitally via the Förderzentrale Deutschland — currently suspended until the Antragsstopp is lifted. — link

What you will need

R&D project description and work plan
Cost and financing plan
Proof of SME status

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.zim.de/ZIM/Redaktion/DE/Meldungen/2026/3/2026-07-07-befristeter-antragsstopp.html

"ab 7. Juli 2026, 12:00 Uhr […] Dies gilt für alle Projektformen sowie Projektskizzen […] Eine Aufhebung der Aussetzung der Antragsannahme wird für Anfang 2027 angestrebt"

Verified on 14 August 2026

Source: www.zim.de