Sectors
Deep Tech – e.g. Digitalisation, ICT, Physical Science, GreenTech, Tech for Green, Quantum Technology, Life Science (Pharma/Biotech,  Medical Devices incl. Digital Health)

Company size

• natural persons
• Microenterprises

Development phase

• Pre-foundation phase
• up to 6 months after entry of a company in the commercial register

• Exceptions are possible in special cases

  Requirements (extract)

• The business model is based on an exceptional technological and scientific challenge (technology leap).
• The company has large growth potential: several million euros in sales and financing rounds of at least €5 million are realistic within the next few years.
• The team is innovative and committed, competent, start-up driven and willing to take risks.
• The preseed company is the applicant’s only company.
• The requirements of the guideline and the guideline specifications, as well as AGVO [General Block Exemption Regulation] are fulfilled.
• The de-minimis limitis not exceeded.
• You can find further information in the download area and in the FAQs

You can find more information in our FAQs

The application is made within the “aws Preseed - Deep Tech” programme.

Type of funding and advice

• Grant
• sector-specific advice, intellectual property advice and coaching: consultations on Innovation Protection (max. 12 hours): the Innovation Protection experts support you in optimally exploiting the potential of your intellectual property. Our customised and confidential consultation and workshops provide you with in-depth insights and strategies on how to protect your innovations and thereby gain valuable and sustainable competitive advantages. More information about the services available under aws Innovation Protection.
• Tapping into further sources of financing
   

Funding level

• up to €300,000
• The maximum amount of funding can only be applied for if the gender bonus is applied for, otherwise the maximum funding amount is €267,000.
• The public funding rate is 80% of the eligible costs, whereby 10% must be paid in as equity capital by the shareholders, and a further 10% can come from other defined monetary sources such as  sales or long-term financing. The application of the gender bonus raises the aid intensity to 90%, whereby 5% must be paid in as equity capital by the shareholders, and a further 5% can come from other defined monetary sources such as sales or long-term financing.

Eligible costs

• Personnel costs (e.g. salaries, wages)
• Third-party costs, i.e. additional purchase of external services (e.g. IT services, project-specific consulting services, additional purchase of market studies, costs of market research, compilation of a project-specific marketing/distribution plan)
• Non-personnel costs (tangible and intangible investments, such as intellectual property and licensing rights, development costs for pilot and demonstration objects: machines, tools, etc.)
• Other costs incurred directly as part of the project (e.g. supplies, materials)

For more information on eligible costs,  please see the Guideline Specifications and the FAQs

Term
up to 2 years

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

Repayment
Non-repayable

Additional funding
aws Seed Financing - Deep Tech
aws Connect
European Innovation Council / Horizon Europe

• Products or further developments, which conform to the latest technology or merely have the goal of gradual improvement (i.e. incremental innovations)
• Investments beyond the funding period
• Vehicles
• Costs that do not constitute an essential precondition for successful project completion and achievement of goals
• Invoice documents under €50, excluding VAT

1. You apply for funding via the aws Funding Manager.
2. Applications are analysed by aws according to content and formal criteria.
   The following documents must be submitted:
   • Proof of identification
   • CVs of the project team.
3. Content and economic evaluation of all complete applications that comply with the specified criteria.
4. Decision on whether you will present your project to the external jury.
5. Projects from the life science sector are reviewed before the jury meeting by the Ethics Council .
6. You present your project to the external jury (pitch).
7. In any case, we will inform you of our decision as soon as possible.

Approval period
The approval period depends on the jury meetings, which are held several times a year (usually once a quarter).

Detailed process (figure) | Detailed process (text)