Promotion of Technology and Knowledge Transfer through Patents, Standardization, and Norms for the Economic Exploitation of Innovative Ideas from Universities and Companies (WIPANO)
Grants for companies, universities, and research institutions for the patenting, standardization, and normalization of innovative research results. Submissions are accepted continuously until various deadlines depending on the funding focus (until 31.10.2027 or 31.05.2027).
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The aim of the program is to strengthen technology transfer and knowledge transfer by promoting the registration and utilization of intellectual property rights (patents and utility models) as well as active participation in standardization and norm-setting committees. Furthermore, cooperative projects between universities, research institutions, and companies are supported to translate the latest research findings into norms and standards, thereby accelerating their dissemination and the market entry of innovative technologies.
Eligible expenses
- Consulting services for intellectual property registration
- State-of-the-art searches
- Patent attorney and official fees
- Cost-benefit analyses
- Standards research
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Non-eligible expenses
- Own contributions and cash payments
- Expenditures outside the approved funding period
- Costs already covered by other funding programs
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- SMEs with a branch or establishment in Germany
- Companies with up to 1,000 employees and annual turnover ≤ €100 million
- Universities and publicly funded research institutions based in Germany
- Non-profit companies and associations based in Germany
- For patenting: no intellectual property application in the last 3 years
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Documents required for application
- SME declaration (EU SME definition)
- Excerpt from the commercial register or business registration
- Project description with schedule
- De minimis declaration
- Current annual financial statement or business management evaluation (BWA)
- Cooperation agreement (for joint projects)
- Declaration of subsidy-relevant facts
Evaluation criteria
- Innovation potential
- Benefit for the German economy
- Market potential
- Relevance for SMEs
- Prospects for successful project implementation
- Coherence of the standardization and normalization concept
Description
The WIPANO funding program supports companies, universities, and research institutions in Germany in economically exploiting technological innovations and research results through patents as well as through standardization and norm-setting. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), larger commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and state or state-recognized universities can receive partial grants covering 50% to 85% of eligible expenses. Funded are consulting services for intellectual property applications, prior art searches, patent attorney and official fees, as well as expenses for standardization research, standards management, DIN SPEC/VDE SPEC preparation, flat-rate personnel costs for committee meetings, travel expenses, prototype construction, and marketing concepts. The maximum funding amount is €200,000 per consortium partner, with a project duration of 24 to 36 months. Eligible applicants are SMEs with up to 1,000 employees and an annual turnover of up to €100 million, universities and publicly funded research institutions, non-profit companies, and associations based in Germany. For patenting projects, no intellectual property application must have been filed in the last three years; Module 2 requires prior completion of Module 1.
The program is divided into the funding priorities "Patenting – Companies," "Standardization – Companies," and "Knowledge Transfer through Standardization and Norm-Setting." Submissions are continuously possible via the electronic application system easy-Online: patenting applications until 31.10.2027, standardization applications until 31.05.2027, sketches for knowledge transfer until 31.05.2026, and related applications until 31.05.2027. Evaluation criteria include innovation potential, economic benefit, market potential, SME relevance, implementation prospects, and coherence of the standardization strategy. Required documents include, among others, SME declaration, commercial register excerpt, project description with schedule, de minimis declaration, annual financial statements/management accounts, and cooperation agreement. The goal is to strengthen technology transfer and the rapid dissemination of the latest research findings into norms and standards.