Grant

Innovation Vouchers for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The state of Baden-Württemberg supports small and medium-sized enterprises as well as start-ups in Baden-Württemberg with innovation vouchers for external research and development services and material costs in the mobility sector, providing a grant of up to 50% of expenses (max. €20,000). Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis.

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Grant criteria

Application Deadline: Ongoing
Application level: Advanced
Region: Baden-Württemberg
Company size: Small and medium-sized enterprises
Funding amount: up to €20,000
Funding rate: 50%
Project duration: 10 months

Funding objective

Support for SMEs, founders, and start-ups in Baden-Württemberg in the planning, development, and implementation of innovative products, production processes, or services through grants for external research and development services and, in the case of Hightech BW and Start-up BW, material costs.

Eligible expenses

  • Scientific and implementation-oriented research and development activities
  • Material costs (only for Hightech BW and Start-up BW)

Non-eligible expenses

  • Internal personnel, material, and travel costs
  • Purchase of machinery, equipment, hardware, and software
  • Traditional business consulting and coaching
  • Research services by company employees
  • Contract developments

Eligible to apply

  • Companies
  • Founders

Funding requirements

  • Headquarters in Baden-Württemberg
  • maximum 100 full-time equivalents
  • previous year's turnover up to €20 million
  • external research and development institutions
  • companies in difficulty excluded

Documents required for application

  1. Project description
  2. Cost and financing plan
  3. De minimis declaration
  4. Proof of business registration
  5. Information on the R&D facility

Evaluation criteria

  • Degree of innovation of the project
  • Qualification of the R&D institutions

Description

The funding program offers small and medium-sized enterprises as well as start-ups in Baden-Württemberg the opportunity to implement their mobility and innovation projects with a grant of up to 50% of the eligible expenses (maximum €20,000). Funded are scientific and implementation-oriented research and development activities of external R&D institutions as well as, in the Hightech BW and Start-up BW variants, additionally material costs. Project applications can be submitted continuously, with a maximum project duration of ten months. The grant aims to develop novel products, production processes, or services to market maturity, thereby strengthening the research and innovation capacity in the region.

Eligible are companies from the commercial economy and liberal professions headquartered in Baden-Württemberg, employing no more than 100 full-time equivalents and having a previous year’s turnover of no more than €20 million. Start-ups and founders up to five years after establishment are also eligible to apply. Excluded are expenses for internal personnel, material, and travel costs, the acquisition of machinery, equipment, hardware or software, as well as classical business consulting, coaching, and contract developments. Applications are submitted via the electronic portal of L-Bank. Required documents include a detailed project description, a cost and financing plan, a de minimis declaration, proof of business registration, and information about the commissioned R&D institution. The content evaluation is conducted by an independent innovation committee. This enables innovative projects to be initiated promptly and sustainably strengthens the technological profile of the companies.

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