Funding of Projects on the Topic "SME-Innovative: Materials Research (Mat2SME)" Impulses for Innovation and Growth
Nationwide funding of non-repayable grants for pre-competitive materials research by small and medium-sized enterprises. Submission of project outlines possible by April 15 and October 15 each year.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The objective of the measure is to strengthen the innovation potential of research-intensive SMEs in the field of materials research, to advance their high-risk R&D projects, and thus to develop new or improved materials with high application potential and market opportunities.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Instruments and equipment
- Contract research and services
- Overhead costs (material and travel expense allowances)
Non-eligible expenses
- Projects in the fields of food, feed, and luxury food products
- Cosmetics
- Battery technology
- purely software-based solutions
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
Funding requirements
- SMEs according to the EU definition (fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover ≤ €50 million or annual balance sheet total ≤ €43 million)
- Registered office, place of business, or branch in Germany
- Proof of SME classification to the funding authority
Documents required for application
- Project outline (easy-Online)
- Formal funding application (easy-Online)
- Form 'Company in Difficulty'
- Financing plan
- Partner-specific exploitation plan
Evaluation criteria
- Excellence and degree of innovation of the research concept
- Necessity of funding
- Market potential and exploitation plan
- Integration into digital data ecosystems
Description
The funding initiative "SMEs Innovative: Materials Research (Mat2KMU) – Impulses for Innovation and Growth" of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is aimed at research-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as start-ups with headquarters, establishments, or branches in Germany. Pre-competitive R&D projects in the field of material innovations are supported with non-repayable grants ranging from 50% to 80%. Eligible applicants are EU SMEs (fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover ≤ €50 million or balance sheet total ≤ €43 million) that address materials science issues with high application potential and aim to strengthen their market position through new or significantly improved materials. The funding period is generally 24 months, extendable up to 36 months in cases of special need. Project outline submissions are accepted continuously, with evaluation deadlines on April 15 and October 15 each year.
Eligible costs include personnel expenses, expenditures for instruments and equipment, contract research, as well as overhead flat rates for materials and travel. Projects in the areas of food, feed and luxury food products, cosmetics, battery technology, as well as purely software-based solutions are not eligible for funding. Applications require submission of a project outline and a formal funding application via the Easy-Online portal; supplementary documents include SME classification, a financing plan, and a partner-specific exploitation plan. Selection is based on excellence and degree of innovation, necessity of funding, market potential, exploitation plan, and integration into digital data ecosystems. The goal is to strengthen the innovation potential of German SMEs in materials research for the development of marketable materials with high application yield.
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