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Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space

KMU-innovativ: Produktionsforschung

Funds German SMEs' production-research R&D projects, alone or with partners.

Companies and economically active research bodies are funded up to 50% of eligible costs for industrial research, rising to 60% for SMEs; universities and non-economic research institutions can be funded individually up to 100% of eligible expenditure, and non-economic university research additionally receives a 20% project lump sum on top of whatever BMBF already finances. Stage 1 outlines are ju

The programme backs pre-competitive, high-risk industrial R&D projects in production research -- new manufacturing technologies, product-and-process development, Industry 4.0 digitalisation, resource efficiency, and related fields for the manufacturing sector. Projects can be run solo by one SME or as a consortium with other SMEs, non-SME companies, universities, or research institutes, as long as SMEs perform a significant share of the work and get the primary benefit.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.-

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