Start-ups in Quantum Technologies and Photonics (Enabling Start-up)
Innovative ideas in quantum technologies and photonics for start-ups in the founding phase: grant funding up to €100,000 in the pilot module and up to 3 years in the main module. Submission of the project outline via easy-Online by 31.12.2025.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for research and development projects in the field of quantum technologies and photonics with the aim of transferring innovative ideas from universities and research institutions into marketable applications. Both individual projects and collaborative projects from start-ups and research institutions are funded.
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- Start-ups in the main module: less than 3 years on the market, with innovative technologies or business models and significant employee or revenue growth, or consortium with SMEs/universities
- Pilot module: universities and non-university research institutions
- Place of business, branch office, or other facility in Germany at the time of the payment request
- Results usable only in Germany, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland
- Written cooperation agreement for consortium projects
Documents required for application
- Project outline
- Formal funding application
- Electronic application form (easy-Online)
- Written cooperation agreement
Description
The program "Enabling Start-up – Business Foundations in Quantum Technologies and Photonics" supports innovative research and development projects in Germany with grants of up to €100,000 in the pilot module and a duration of up to three years in the main module. The goal is to transfer novel approaches from universities and research institutions into marketable applications within quantum technologies and photonics. Funding is provided for both individual projects by research institutions and collaborative projects in which start-ups work together with universities, non-university institutions, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The funding rate ranges between 50% and 100% of eligible expenses, depending on participation.
Eligible participants are founders and start-ups with no more than three years of market experience, as well as research institutions in the pilot module. A German establishment and the utilization of results in Germany, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland must be demonstrated at the time of payment request. Collaborative projects require a written cooperation agreement. The project duration in the funding module is 18 to 36 months. Applications are submitted in two stages via the electronic form system easy-Online: initially, a project outline must be submitted by 31.12.2025; following a positive evaluation, the formal funding application is to be submitted. The Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Spaceflight (BMFTR) thus supports technology transfer and strengthens the start-up ecosystem in the high-tech sector.