General Programme 2026

Funding is provided for R&D projects in the research category of experimental development (Technology Readiness Levels 5 to 8).

General Programme projects usually bring exploitable products, processes or services - including digital products, processes or services - out. 

Companies define the research content and key technologies independently.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and large enterprises (LEs) may apply for this funding anytime.

Cooperation with other companies and academic partners (e.g., university institutes, universities of applied sciences, etc.) is not mandatory, but is possible and may be considered favorably. Young researchers may be included in projects.

Companies in difficulty as defined are excluded from funding. Information on classification can be found here.

Funding for a General Programme project consists of a combination of grants and loans; for large projects, this also includes guarantees for a bank loan, including a loan cost subsidy. 

• Costs max. 3 mil. EUR per project (eligible projects costs)
• Funding: pure grant or financing mix of grant and loan or liability (up to max. 70 %)
• Low-interest loan (currently 1,75 % p.a.) or liability for bank loans incl. loan cost subsidy
  • Small enterprises (SE) 45 % (grant up to 28 %, startups 31 %)
  • Medium-sized enterprises (MS) 35 % (grant up to 25 %)
  • Large enterprises (LE) 25 % (grant up to 19 %)

Other key requirements include the company’s provision of the remaining funding for the project.
 

Projects must align with the focus topics of the call for proposals and meet the criteria for the specified project types (experimental development). Please use the TRL scheme (Technology Readiness Levels) as a guide during the application phase.

Funding is awarded solely on an evaluation of the project‘s quality and call documents.

Call documents are available exclusively in German.

Funding depends on whether the project meets the technical and economic evaluation criteria of the initiative.

Project Scoring System

• All projects are analyzed and assessed in terms of the technical and economic aspects for funding
• Technical funding criteria include in particular the degree of innovation and the technical challenge of the planned project
• Economic assessment focuses on the commercialization potential and the applicant’s economic performance

Submissions are possible anytime via the FFG’s eCall system, where the project details and costs are outlined. Additionally, depending on the project type or company status, attachments must be uploaded (e.g., business plan, résumés, etc.).

• Evaluations are conducted by experts of the FFG.
• 7 decision board meetings are held per year.