HessenFonds Innovation Loan
Loans for innovative and fast-growing companies as well as founders in Hesse ranging from €100,000 to €10 million, with 70% liability exemption and interest rate subsidies. Applications can be submitted at any time through the applicant's primary bank.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Strengthening rapidly growing and/or innovative companies and founders through favorable interest rates, interest subsidies, and relief for the primary bank by assuming 70 percent of the risk.
Eligible expenses
- Tangible investments
- Intangible investments
- Operating resources
- Digitalization projects
- Business transfers
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- EU SME definition or Small MidCap status
- Fulfillment of at least one of the specified innovation criteria
- Company headquarters or establishment in Hesse
- Overall financing of the project must be secured
Documents required for application
- Application HessenFonds Innovation Loan
- Attachment Innovation Criterion
- Declaration of Already Received De Minimis Aid
- Attachment Documents to be Submitted
- Attachment Simplified Self-Declaration SME-SMC Status
Evaluation criteria
- Innovation criterion
- Sustainable economic success
- Positive Hessen effect
Description
HessenFonds Innovation Loan offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Small MidCaps, founders, freelancers, and successors of innovative companies based or founded in Hesse low-interest loans ranging from €100,000 to €10 million. With a 70% liability waiver for the house bank and possible interest subsidies of up to 2% p.a., the program supports tangible and intangible investments, working capital, digitization projects, as well as business transfers. A prerequisite is the fulfillment of at least one defined innovation criterion, a positive Hesse effect, and secured overall financing. The funding applies in all phases of rapidly growing or innovative ventures and can be flexibly combined with other programs such as PIUS-Invest without the need to apply public procurement law.
The terms range from three to ten years depending on the use, with one or two grace years possible and prepayments allowed. Applications can be submitted at any time through the house bank, which forwards all documents including the application, innovation criteria annex, and simplified self-declaration of SME/SMC status. The 100% funding share covers up to 100% of eligible expenses, while the state of Hesse supports the program through risk assumption and interest subsidies. Evaluation criteria include the degree of innovation, sustainable economic success, and a positive effect for Hesse. Interested companies can apply via their house bank and thus quickly benefit from attractive conditions.
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