Purpose
The funding is intended to stimulate company start-ups in promising technological fields and to support newly founded companies. Funding can be provided for technologically and economically risky development projects that are related to the establishment of technology-oriented companies and aim to build up or strengthen the technological base of newly established and small companies.
Subject
Funding is available for projects involving the development of technologically new or significantly improved products, production processes and knowledge-based services, from the initial idea to an initial prototype that fulfills all functions. If there is not yet an assessment-ready, viable technological concept for the start-up of the company, concept projects for its creation can be funded (pre-development). A product or production process is considered new if it is not yet on the market in the European Economic Area. Existing industrial property rights must not be infringed.
Recipients of funding
Eligible applicants are persons who intend to establish a technology-oriented company and have the technical expertise required to carry out the project, or technology-oriented commercial companies that have been in existence for less than six years and have fewer than ten employees and meet the requirements of a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Eligible costs
The following are eligible for funding
- Personnel costs (flat rates),
- Costs for instruments and equipment,
- costs for contract research, technical knowledge and for patents acquired directly or under license from third parties, as well as costs for consulting and equivalent services used exclusively for the research and development project,
- other operating costs (materials, supplies, etc.) incurred directly as a result of the research and development activity
Type and scope
The funding is provided in the form of grants as part of project funding.
The aid intensity is up to 45% of the eligible costs of the R&D project, and up to 35% for concept projects.