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Funding programs for startups from research and academia
If you’re affiliated with a university and considering self-employment, financing your plans may be one hurdle. Various funding programs are available to people in research and academia to help turn scientific ideas and research findings into successful startups.
exist – from science to business
Through exist, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) supports innovative startup projects from universities and research institutions. At its heart is the exist startup grant, which provides financial support to founders at an early stage and gives them time to develop their business idea until it is ready for the market. Complementary programs such as exist Women increase women’s participation in entrepreneurship, while exist Research Transfer supports particularly research-intensive, technology-oriented spin-offs on the path to forming a company.
- Enable more knowledge-based spin-offs
- Accelerate the transfer of research into business
- Strengthen entrepreneurial skills and culture
- Support innovative, technology-oriented startups
- Build and connect strong startup ecosystems
exist startup grant
Open to all subjects and technologies, the exist startup grant helps you develop innovative startup ideas and bring them to market. It funds the preparation of a business plan, the development of products or services and targeted preparation for founding a company, including financial support and coaching through a startup network.
Conditions
- Up to 12 months
- Doctoral degree holders: €3,000/month
- University graduates: €2,500/month
- Skilled professionals: €2,000/month
- Students: €1,000/month
- Child allowance: €150/month per child
- Material expenses: up to €10,000 (individual founders), €30,000 (teams)
- Caching: up to €5,000
Requirements:
Innovative, technology- or knowledge-based startup project
Target group:
- University graduates (up to five years after graduation)
- Academic staff
- Students (at least 50% of studies completed)
- A maximum of three people per team (students may not make up a majority of the team)
Application:
- Application through a university or research institution
- Required: an innovative concept paper and support from a mentor (usually a professor)
- Workspaces and infrastructure are provided (by the mentor)
- Applications can be submitted at any time
Find out more about this program.
exist Research Transfer
This program supports particularly ambitious and development-intensive startup projects from universities and research institutions.
Its aim is to guide founders as they establish their own company, from the initial idea to a market-ready product.
EXIST Research Transfer pursues several goals:
- Mobilize research-based startup projects from universities and research institutions.
- Encourage and equip research staff to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.
- Prepare startup projects for successful market entry and sustainable corporate financing.
- Increase women's participation and diversity (gender balance and nationality) in founding teams.
- Contribute to the German federal government's sustainability strategy.
Funding requires a detailed concept paper, a mentor, a participating university and a supporting startup network.
Who is the program for?
- Founding teams at universities or research institutions with up to four full-time equivalents, including at least one position with business management expertise
- In addition, one further person with business management skills.
Applications for funding phase I are submitted through the university or non-university research institution where the research teams are based.
- For technology-oriented companies founded during or as a result of funding phase I.
What funding is available?
The standard funding period is 18 months each for phases I and II. For highly innovative projects, phase I can be extended to up to 36 months.
In both phases, founding teams receive accompanying advice from a startup support network at their university or research institution.
- Personnel expenses
- Material expenses up to €250,000 (e.g. for equipment, materials, intellectual property rights and coaching)
- Startup grant of up to €180,000, but no more than 75% of project-specific costs
Find out more about this program.
exist Women
exist Women is designed specifically for women at universities and research institutions who are interested in starting a business. Funding generally runs for one year and supports you as you develop your startup idea and entrepreneurial skills, even if you’re at the very beginning.
Who can receive funding?
- Female students (at least 50% of coursework completed or already holding a bachelor's degree)
- Female graduates and researchers
- Women with a vocational qualification connected to the university
What funding is available?
- Support is provided through a 12-month training program with workshops, mentoring, networking and individual guidance.
- Monthly grant (optional for up to three months; if employed, working fewer than 20 hours per week) at varying rates (e.g. €1,000 for students, €3,000 for doctoral degree holders)
- Additionally, your university can apply for €20,000 per year to support you and other female founders even better.
How does it work?
- Apply through your university or research institution
- Selection and start of the 12-month training phase
- Optional: three months of grant support during the intensive startup phase
- Develop your idea, practice pitching, build networks & more
Requirements for universities & research institutions:
- A central point of contact for female founders
- Advice specifically for women
- Guidance through every phase of starting a business
- Cooperation with female mentors, entrepreneurs & networks
Maximum support for maximum success!
Our startup service team advises you on the funding programs and helps you apply.
