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

Company size
Small enterprisesG with

• fewer than 50 employees
• less than €10 million annual turnover or balance sheet total

Development phase
Foundation phase: up to 5 years after start-up; application up to 54 months after start-up

Requirements (extract)

• The application is submitted before the project starts.
• 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 company must be independent pursuant to the EU definition of SME. Other companies shall have a maximum holding of 24.9%, and pure financial investors a maximum of 50%
• The requirements of the guideline and the guideline specifications, as well as the AGVO [General Block Exemption Regulation] are fulfilled.
• The budget of €1,000,000 in Art. 22 AGVO [General Block Exemption Regulation] has not yet been exhausted.
• You can find further information in the download area and the FAQs.

Type of financing and consultation

• conditionally refundable 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 amount

• up to €1,000,000 if the gender bonus applies
• The maximum amount of funding can only be applied for if the gender bonus is proposed, otherwise the maximum funding amount is €889,000.
• 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 founding rate 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
Protect duration 4-7 years, of which disbursement period: 1–2 years, total contractual term 9–12 years

Disbursement
The grant will be disbursed in tranches upon reaching predefined milestones.

Repayment
Repayable interest-free in case of profit or sale of the company or individual assets – within 9-12  years

Additional funding
aws Connect
European Innovation Council / Horizon Europe

• Costs of routine changes to existing products, manufacturing processes or services; non-specific building equipment
• Investments in equipment and facilities not directly related to the business purpose of the start-up (vehicles, land, real estate properties, non-specific building equipment, etc.)
• Costs for products or developments that conform to the latest technology or merely have the goal of gradual improvement (incremental innovations)
• Invoice documents under €50, excluding VAT
• Costs incurred prior to application

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. We will inform you in any case about our decision.
8. Detailed process (figure) | Detailed process (text)

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