SME Innovative & Digital (MID) Assistant
Grant for the hiring of university graduates in small businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia for the implementation of innovation, digitization, or sustainability projects (up to €48,000 funding).
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Funding the hiring of a person with a relevant university degree in small and medium-sized enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia to implement innovation, digitalization, or sustainability projects and to strengthen knowledge transfer from universities to the SME sector.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Employment of working students
- Routine changes to existing products, production processes, or services
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Micro and small enterprises according to the EU SME definition with headquarters in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Project must represent an innovation or significant improvement
- Maximum of five employees with a university degree in the company
- University degree of the assistant must not be older than two years
- Permanent employment relationship for at least 24 months
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Documents required for application
- Final declaration for the application MID assistant
- Copy of the diploma
- Copy of the employment contract
- Proof of business activity (business registration/extract from the commercial register)
- De-minimis declaration
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Knowledge transfer from university to company
- Qualification of the assistant
Description
The subprogram SME Innovative & Digital (MID) - Assistant supports the hiring of university graduates in micro and small enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia (fewer than 50 employees, with a maximum of five employees holding an academic degree). With a non-repayable grant of up to €48,000 (or up to €33,000 if academic staff are already employed) over a period of 24 months, it specifically promotes innovation, digitalization, and sustainability projects. The focus is on the development of digital products and services, the construction of prototypes or minimum viable products, and the implementation of green transformation initiatives. The program combines fresh academic knowledge with entrepreneurial practice, thereby strengthening the transfer of knowledge between universities and SMEs.
Eligible to apply are micro and small enterprises based in NRW that plan to employ the assistant on a permanent basis for at least 24 months only after approval and pay an annual gross salary of at least €30,000 (pro rata for part-time). The university degree must not be older than two years, and prior employment of the assistant is excluded. Only personnel costs are funded; working students and routine product adaptations are excluded. Applications can be submitted continuously via a monthly waiting room procedure. Required documents include, among others, the final declaration for application submission, diploma, employment contract, proof of business activity, and a de minimis declaration. This offer provides small companies with an attractive entry point into forward-looking projects.