Small Scale Project - Funding, Guidelines

SME and startup funding for research and development

The funding supports "smaller" research and development projects of SMEs and startups. They can be carried out as a single firm project as well as in cooperation. As a result, projects target usable products, processes or services. Project costs up to max. 60 % (max. total costs € 150,000) can be funded in the form of grants. Submissions can be made on an ongoing basis, there are no restrictions on the topic.

The new funding instrument makes it easier to set up smaller research projects. With a reduced application form and shorter processing times therefore the Small Scale project is the right funding instrument to carry out R&D projects in times of crisis. Feasibility studies as well as the development of the first functional prototypes will be funded. Small and medium-sized companies can use it to carry out small projects efficiently and quickly.

The criteria are simplified: the content of innovation, the technical difficulties of the project, the economic prospects (unique selling proposition, business model) as well as the perspective that the project will intensify research activities in the company count.

Cooperation with other companies and scientific partners (e.g. universities, universities of applied sciences, etc.) is rewarded.

The essentials in brief

Program Owner / Sponsor
Topic	Bottom-up, Circular Economy, Climate-Neutral City, Digitalisation & Broadband, Energy Transition, Further research areas, Innovative & Competitive Companies, Life Sciences & Health, Mobility Transition, People, Qualification & Gender, Production & Materials, Quantum: Research & Technology, Society & Security, Space & Aviation, Wood: Research & Knowledge Transfer
Project type	Kleinprojekt
Financing	national
Submission	Submission possible anytime
Target group	SMEs, Startups
Selection by	Evaluations are conducted by experts of the FFG. Evaluations are carried out via swift approval processes and are based on the FFG-scoreboard. Throughout the whole funding time the project will be monitored to permit the most efficient progress.
What is being funded	The funding for a small project consists of a non-repayable grant of up to max. 60 % of the eligible costs. For medium-sized companies 35 % and with cooperation up to max. 50 %. For small businesses that is 45 % (including cooperation up to max. 60 %).
Min. / max. funding	0 / look up the call documents (German only) / max. € 90.000,-
Which costs are eligible for funding?	look up the call documents (German only)
Min. / max. running time	12 - 18 months
Availability from	01.01.1968 - constantly