Innovative & Digital SMEs (MID) – Vouchers

The funding program “Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – Vouchers” is aimed at micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises based in North Rhine-Westphalia, which according to the EU SME definition employ no more than 250 employees and report an annual turnover of up to €50 million or a balance sheet total of up to €43 million. Through a monthly lottery procedure, companies can receive project vouchers for external consulting, development, and implementation services as well as software and hardware solutions. In the three sub-areas MID-Digitalization, MID-Analysis, and MID-Innovation, up to €15,000 is funded for digitalization and analysis projects, or up to €40,000 for innovation activities. Depending on the company size, the funding rate ranges from 70% for micro-enterprises to 50% for medium-sized enterprises. The project duration can be flexibly chosen between six and twelve months.

A prerequisite for approval is active proof of participation in the lottery procedure and submission of the necessary documents such as business registration, De-Minimis declaration, and an offer from the service provider. Excluded are value-added tax, own personnel expenses, projects that have already started, or companies in financial difficulties. Selection is made by random draw; companies not considered may participate again in the following month. The program is managed by the Project Management Jülich (PtJ), which reviews the formal and technical aspects of the application. The aim of the funding is to strengthen the innovative capacity of SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia through tailored external expertise and individual digitalization and innovation solutions. Applications can be submitted continuously and must be received by the 28th of each month.