Funding of projects on the topic "SMEs Innovative: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – Software-Intensive Systems (SIS)"
Risky industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the field of ICT for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are funded. Deadlines: April 15 and October 15; outlines can be submitted continuously.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in individual and collaborative projects in the technology sector of software-intensive systems (SWS) to promote innovation and enhance competitiveness in application areas such as mobility, automotive, mechanical engineering, health, logistics, energy, and the environment.
Eligible expenses
- Material costs
- Personnel costs
- Travel expenses
- Depreciation on project-specific equipment
- Other direct project costs
Non-eligible expenses
- Legal and consulting costs without direct project relevance
- Notional profit
- Trade tax and distribution costs
- Interest and financing costs
- Penalty interest
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
- Companies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
Funding requirements
- SMEs within the meaning of the EU definition with an establishment in Germany
- Project must be industrial research or pre-competitive development project
- Individual project of an SME or collaborative project with SME participation
- Primary benefit intended for participating SMEs
- Coordination by a research-active SME
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Documents required for application
- easy online application form (AZK/AZAP)
- project description / project outline
- financing plan
- project sketch
- cooperation agreement (for joint projects)
- creditworthiness documents and SME declaration
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Scientific-technical and economic risk
- Benefit and applicability for SMEs
- Relevance for the target industries
- Scope and quality of work and cost planning
Description
The funding program SME-Innovative: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – Software-Intensive Systems (SWS) is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with operations in Germany, as well as universities, non-university research institutions, associations, and non-profit organizations within the framework of collaborative projects. The objective is to support high-risk industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in areas such as mobility, automotive, mechanical engineering, health, logistics, energy, and environment. A coordinating role is always assumed by a research-active SME. The grant is provided as a subsidy with a funding rate of 50% to 100% of eligible expenses (material costs, personnel costs, travel expenses, depreciation on project-specific equipment, and other direct project costs). The project duration is up to 36 months; submission of outlines is possible year-round, with formal applications due by the deadlines of April 15 and October 15 each year.
The evaluation is based on the degree of innovation, scientific and technical risk, benefits for the participating SMEs, relevance to target industries, as well as the scope and quality of the work and cost planning. For the application, among other documents, a project outline, a detailed project description, a financing plan, the SME declaration, and, for collaborative projects, a cooperation agreement must be submitted. The program is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and managed by the DLR Project Management Agency. It offers comprehensive advisory services to interested parties and simplifies the process through the electronic form system easy-Online. This enables innovative SMEs to harness digital potentials in software-intensive systems and sustainably strengthen their competitiveness.
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