Industries

Deep-tech start-ups focussing on

• ICT
• Life sciences and
• Physical sciences

Company size

• Individuals
• Micro-enterprises

Development phase

• Pre-foundation phase
• Exceptions: Sole proprietorships or  partnerships (eg OG, KG) are allowed to already have been established but are not allowed to be making significant sales

Requirements

• The business model is based on exceptional technical and scientific challenges (technology leap).
• The company has great growth potential, with several million euros in sales and financing rounds of at least € 5 million being realistic in the next few years.
• The team is innovative and committed, start-up driven and willing to take risks.
• The pre-seed company is the applicant’s only company.
• The criteria of the regulation, the programme document and the GEBR have been met.
• The de minimis limit has not been exceeded.

Success rate

25 %

Type of funding

• Non-repayable grant
• Industry-specific consulting and coaching
• Tapping into further sources of financing
• Network connections

Funding amount

• Up to 200,000 euros

Eligible costs

• Costs directly related to the project for scientific implementation, review and preparation of the proof of concept:
• Costs for studies and concepts,
• Costs for product development and market launch,
• Personnel costs, and
• Material costs.

Project duration

Up to 2 years

Disbursement

You will receive the grant in tranches upon reaching predefined milestones.

Repayment

Nonrepayable

Costs

None

Additional funding

• aws Seed
• aws Innovations with creative economic input
• aws Connect
• aws Interim management

• State-of-the-art products or developments that merely aim at a gradual development (incremental innovations)
• Capital expenditures beyond the funding period
  (Depreciation can be funded)
• Vehicles
• Costs that are not an essential prerequisite for successful project completion and attainment of goals
• Invoice receipts under EUR 150 excl. VAT

1. You apply for funding via the aws funding manager.
2. We will then analyse the application as to content and formal criteria.
3. We will invite you for an interview if required.
4. We will decide whether you should present your project to the external assessment panel^G.
5. Together, we will coordinate the milestone plan and the documents for the pitch.
6. You will then pitch your project to the external assessment panel.

You will receive a decision from us as soon as possible.

Duration of the approval process

Depends on the dates of the assessment panel meetings, which take place several times a year, on average 2–3 months.