aws Seedfinancing - Deep Tech Module
Conditionally repayable grant for deep tech startups in Austria: up to EUR 889,000 (max. EUR 1,000,000 with gender bonus), funding rate 80% (90% gender bonus), duration 4–7 years, ongoing application submission until 31.12.2025.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for entrepreneurial startup and scale-up projects in the field of Deep Tech through conditionally repayable grants and accompanying consulting services, in order to develop pre-series products to market maturity and implement them commercially.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Third-party costs
- Material costs
- Other project-related costs
- Childcare costs
Non-eligible expenses
- Incremental innovations
- Costs prior to application submission
- Real estate and land
- Non-specific building equipment
- Invoices under €50
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Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
Funding requirements
- R&D-based Deep Tech projects at TRL 6
- Equity share at least 10% (5% with gender bonus)
- Company founded no more than 5 years ago
- Independent SME according to EU definition
- Participation in the aws funding manager
Documents required for application
- Application form
- Business plan with financial planning
- Proof of identity
- Resumes of the project team
- Proof of equity
- Proof of TRL level
- SME certificate
Evaluation criteria
- Innovation potential
- Growth potential and employment effects
- Environmental relevance of the innovation
- Social and societal impacts
Description
AWS Seedfinancing – Deep Tech Module supports Austria-wide founding and scale-up projects based on advanced research & development in the deep tech sector. Innovative startups with TRL-6 status are offered a conditionally repayable grant as well as industry-specific consulting and coaching services. The focus is on targeted workshops and expert discussions on intellectual property protection, supplemented by market analyses, financing strategy, and individual business coaching. Technological flagship projects in the fields of digitalization, information and communication technologies, physical sciences, green tech, quantum technology, life sciences (including pharma, biotech, medical devices, and digital health) benefit from the combination of financial seed funding and strategic support up to market maturity.
Funding of up to EUR 889,000 (or a maximum of EUR 1,000,000 with gender bonus) is provided at a funding rate of 80% (up to 90% with gender bonus). At least 10% (5% with gender bonus) of the eligible costs must be contributed as equity. The project duration is 48–84 months, while the contract term covers a total of 9–12 years. A gender-equity bonus of up to 10% strengthens the participation of women in the founding team and reduces the equity requirement. Applications can be submitted continuously until 31.12.2025 via the aws funding manager. Evaluation is conducted according to the criteria of innovation, growth, environmental, and social relevance by expert panels and an external jury. This funding instrument targets highly scalable deep tech innovations that combine sustainable market success with societal added value.