ESF Plus STEM Skilled Workers Program – A – STEM Skilled Worker Retention
Funding program of the Free State of Saxony for the permanent new employment of STEM professionals (innovation assistants, innovation managers, transfer assistants) with up to 50% personnel cost subsidy. Applications can be submitted at any time before the project starts.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Free State of Saxony supports companies, universities, and research institutions in the implementation of innovative and technology-oriented projects through personnel cost subsidies for the new employment of STEM specialists in Saxony.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel cost flat rate
Non-eligible expenses
- Employment relationships with managing directors, board members, or shareholders
- Part-time employment under 20 hours per week
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Educational Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Registered office or place of business in the Free State of Saxony
- Newly created job without personnel replacement
- Permanent employment of innovation assistants
- Employment duration of at least 12 months
- Funded personnel must not have resigned voluntarily within the last 6 months prior to application
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Description
The ESF Plus STEM Skilled Workers Program – A – STEM Skilled Worker Retention of the Free State of Saxony promotes the permanent new employment of highly qualified STEM professionals in small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, research institutions, and other public as well as private organizations. With subsidies of up to 50% on eligible personnel costs, it particularly supports innovation assistants, innovation managers, and transfer assistants who undertake research and development tasks in technology-oriented projects, implement corporate innovation management, or facilitate knowledge transfer between science and industry. Funding amounts range between €70,000 and €90,000 per person annually, with project durations from 12 to 48 months. Applications can be submitted at any time before the start of the project, allowing interested parties to respond flexibly to innovation needs.
Eligible applicants include companies from the commercial, cultural and creative, as well as social and health sectors, educational institutions, associations, and other technology intermediaries with headquarters or operations in Saxony. Newly created full-time positions must be established, with innovation assistants and transfer assistants employed on a permanent basis for at least 12 months, and innovation managers deployed for up to 30 months. A maximum of two innovation or transfer assistants or one innovation manager may be funded per applicant simultaneously. Only personnel cost flat rates are eligible for funding; managing directors, part-time employment under 20 hours per week, and personnel replacements are excluded. The funding aims to build sustainable innovation capacities and strengthen Saxony as a regional technology location.