Funding Opportunities
As a service for our CLIB members, we are scanning funding portals on different levels regularly and summarise the most relevant funding opportunities for you on this page. You can find open calls on regional, federal, and European level below.
Just click on any of the open calls to find a summary in English. For national funding opportunities the full call may only be available in German.
If you miss any call on the site, please let us know and contact Katrin Kriebs (kriebs@clib-cluster.de) directly.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Measures for the implementation of the Investment Act Coal Regions in the Rhenish Mining Area
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports your research and development project on a field of innovation in the Rhenish mining area.
Funding is provided to bindingly cooperating regional networks of scientific partners, companies and other institutions that develop and implement concepts for sustainable, innovation-based structural change.
Deadline: continuous
Mittelstand innovativ und digital
With the programme, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIDE) strengthens small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in digitising the innovative power of their businesses, digitally developing their products, services and production processes and thus continuing to be one of the economic engines of the state in the future.
Deadline: continuous
Produktives.NRW
The ‘Produktives.NRW’ competition call supports investments in critical technologies in the areas of digital innovations, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnology in NRW.
The aim of the ‘Produktives.NRW’ funding programme is to reduce strategic dependencies in the European Union and North Rhine-Westphalia while promoting the production of critical technologies with high economic potential. The programme supports companies that want to set up or expand and invest in critical technologies. The EU is providing around 140 million euros from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) for this purpose. The funding area comprises the Rhenish mining area (excluding the district of Euskirchen) as well as the cities of Bottrop, Dorsten, Gladbeck and Marl in the northern Ruhr region.
Deadline: 03 February 2025
Regio.NRW – Transformation
„Regio.NRW“ is an instrument to support regions in their transformation and the further development of their strengths. Here, projects are to be funded that make a decisive contribution to successfully shaping regional transformation processes with a view to the specific profiles of the regions.
In order to ensure regional effectiveness, the projects should relate to a region of at least three districts or independent cities or, alternatively, at least one million inhabitants in North Rhine-Westphalia. Flexible spatial settings and overlapping regions are possible for different projects.
Deadline: 31 January 2025
Ressource.NRW
The „Ressource.NRW“ funding programme is intended to support companies in investing in innovative plants with a demonstration character, which make a significant contribution to resource efficiency or to a transition to a circular economy and which are not yet applied in Germany.
Deadline: 05 May 2025
Start-up Transfer.NRW
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports you as a university or research institution on the basis of the ERDF/JTF Framework Directive NRW if you support founders in the further development of innovative products and services to entrepreneurial maturity – from basic research to market-oriented research and development to the founding of a company.
The focus of funding is on knowledge-intensive start-ups that are not limited to cutting-edge technology. This includes both innovative services and technology-oriented start-up projects as well as projects that address social innovations.
Deadline: 31 January and 31 July until July 2026
Unternehmen Revier
With the federal model project, Unternehmen Revier, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), together with regional partners, has been making an active contribution to structural change in the four German lignite regions since 2017.
The available funding is intended to support application-oriented and innovative projects to shape structural change. The Rhenish mining area alone has 2 million euros available annually for funding.
Deadline: next cut-off date expected April 2025
Zirkuläre Produktion
Development of strategic technologies for the circular economy in NRW
In particular, the call supports projects that use circular product design, reduce the material consumption of industrial processes, increase the sustainability of materials, improve modularity and up-grade capabilities, or are aimed at extending the life of products. Projects for the development of critical technologies in the following areas can be funded:
- digital technology and technology-intensive innovations such as advanced semiconductor technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, advanced sensor technologies, robotics and autonomous systems
- environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies such as solar technologies, technologies for onshore wind power and renewable offshore energy, battery and energy storage technologies, heat pumps and technologies for geothermal energy and hydrogen technologies
- Biotechnologies such as DNA/RNA, proteins and other molecules, cell and tissue culture and engineering, biotechnology process technologies, gene and RNA vectors, bioinformatics or nanobiotechnology
Deadline: 31 March 2025
Federal Funding Opportunities
CooperationVET - Projekte der internationalen Berufsbildungszusammenarbeit
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports individual and joint projects within the framework of international vocational training cooperation (iBBZ).
Funding is provided for exemplary, innovative concepts for action in vocational training and continuing education in 2 modules. You align your project with the interests and reform concerns of the BMBF partner countries and, as far as possible, take into account the needs of the German companies operating there in terms of recruiting and securing skilled workers.
Deadline: depending on individual programme published on www.berufsbildung-international.de
Development and application of bio-based additives
The call for funding is aimed at research submissions and companies that are involved in the development of new bio-based additives or the further development of existing additives. The focus is on additives that have a comparable performance to conventional petrochemical additives or even surpass them in their functionality. In particular, the substitution of substances that are hazardous to health or the environment, such as phthalates, is also being sought. In addition, innovative ways are to be found to replace petrochemical additives with bio-based alternatives, focussing on new production processes and molecular structures.
Deadline: 30 June 2025
Entwicklung regenerativer Kraftstoffe
The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) supports you in the development of renewable fuels.
Funding is provided in particular for application-oriented projects on Development and demonstration projects, feasibility studies, Innovation clusters on topics that are central to the objectives of the funding program, innovation consulting services and innovation support services such as testing and certification for the purpose of developing more efficient products, processes or services, and obtaining, validating and defending patents.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off dates until 31 December 2026
EXIST-Forschungstransfer (research transfer)
EXIST Transfer of Research has two phases of funding:
In the first phase, results of research that have the potential of becoming the basis of a start-up business are developed further. The objective is to carry out further resource development to clarify fundamental problems involved in converting academic findings into technical products and processes. The business concept based on these findings should be made into a business plan and the planned business start-up should be prepared systematically.
In the second phase of funding further resource development, measures to start business operations and meeting the prerequisites for external business financing are at the centre of interest.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off date on 31 January and 31 July
EXIST-Gründungsstipendium (start-up grant)
The exist business Start-up grant supports students, graduates, and scientists from universities and research institutes who want to turn their business idea into a business plan. The start-up projects should be innovative technology or knowledge-based projects with significant unique features and good commercial prospects of success.
The start-up teams receive an EXIST start-up grant at attractive conditions for a period of 12 months to develop a business plan and prepare for their business start-up with the support of their university or research institution.
Deadline: continuous
Förderprogramm Industrielle Bioökonomie
The funding programme consists of four modules that support the further development, upscaling and testing of bio-based products and processes (A), the planning (B) and construction of demonstration plants (C) as well as innovation clusters for the transformation of existing industrial regions into regions of the industrial bioeconomy (D).
The funding is aimed at commercial enterprises (SMEs including start-ups, large companies) as individual projects or as partners in joint projects,
colleges, universities, non-university research and scientific institutions and comparable institutions (in modules A, B and C only as part of a consortium with industry participation), as well as all the institutions mentioned in the planning/construction of multi-purpose demonstration plants.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off dates on 15 April (modul A, B, D) and 15 October (all modules)
Förderprogramm „Nachhaltige Erneuerbare Ressourcen“ (FPNR)
The funding programme „Sustainable Renewable Resources“ (FPNR) provides the framework conditions for renewable resources through the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The FPNR is primarily intended to support applied research and development, including applied basic research, in the field of sustainable production and utilisation of renewable resources. In particular, it aims to promote the sustainable extraction and utilisation of biomass from agriculture, forestry and waste management.
Deadline: depending on individual calls
GO-Bio initial
Through its “GO-Bio initial” funding programme, the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to identify and develop early research ideas in life sciences that have a clear potential for innovation.
Its purpose is to support project work in order to advance research outcomes to a level where they become eligible for other more established programmes.
Deadline: annual cut-off date on 15 February
GO-Bio next
Strengthening start-ups in the life sciences: The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports research projects in the field of life sciences that have a high potential for commercialisation. Funding is provided to start-up teams that drive innovative research and development approaches and develop them to a level of maturity that enables a successful spin-off. You can receive funding in two phases: proof-of-concept and development of market entry strategies.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off date on 15 March and 15 September
Funding of research projects by universities of applied sciences in cooperation with practice partners (HAW-ForschungsPraxis)
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the governments of the federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany are supporting the establishment and expansion of long-term research collaborations between science, industry and society as part of the programme for the promotion of application-oriented research at universities of applied sciences (HAW) with the „HAW-ForschungsPraxis“ funding guideline. The aim is to strengthen application-oriented research and the transfer of scientific results through the cooperation of UAS with non-university practice partners (e.g. companies, municipalities, clubs, associations, administration). The processing of the research project is intended to contribute to the development or further development of the research profile or a research focus of the HAW.
Deadline: 28 November 2025
Innovative Bioproduktion für eine klimaneutrale Industrie
As part of the „Future Technologies for the Industrial Bioeconomy“ programme, this call supports pre-competitive research and development (R&D) projects that decisively advance innovative biotechnological processes on their way to industrial application. Bio-based products and processes are intended to pave the way to climate-neutral and recyclable industry. The call for funding is open to all industries. The chemical industry has a key role to play.
The R&D projects are to be carried out in cooperation between industry and science – ideally under industrial leadership. The participation of industrial partners with strong implementation skills, who can later apply the developed processes, is expected.
Deadline: 03 March 2025
Internationale Zusammenarbeit in Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the networking of research and education with partners around the world in different calls. Funding is provided for the expansion of international contacts and networks.
Depending on the project, German universities, non-university institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises are eligible to apply.
Deadline: Individual deadlines for the country-specific calls
INVEST - Subsidy for venture capital
If you are a young innovative company looking for capital and you would like to acquire business shares in young innovative companies as a private investor, you can receive an acquisition grant or an exit grant under certain conditions.
The amount of funding for the acquisition grant is 20 percent (or 10 percent in the case of convertible loans) of the issue price of the shares.
In the case of an exit grant, you receive 25 percent of the profit from the sale of an INVEST share.
Deadline: continuous
KMU-innovativ: Biomedizin
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports high-risk industrial research and pre-competitive development projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of biomedicine. Your project can be funded as an application-related industrial research project and also as a pre-competitive development project. Your project must be important for the future market positioning of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off date on 15 April and 15 October
KMU-innovativ: Bioökonomie
The funding focuses on forward-looking, climate-neutral products from biogenic resources that minimise environmentally harmful emissions and waste or integrate processes into natural cycles or value chains.
Funding is provided for individual and collaborative projects in industrial research and experimental development.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off date on 15 April and 15 October
KMU-innovativ: Ressourcen und Kreislaufwirtschaft
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports high-risk industrial research and pre-competitive development projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The focus of the funding is on cross-technology and application-oriented individual and joint projects on the following topics: raw material efficiency and circular economy and sustainable water management.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off dates on 15 April and 15 October
KMU-innovativ: Ressourceneffizienz und Klimaschutz
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports high-risk industrial research and pre-competitive development projects of SMEs. The funding focuses on cross-technology and application-related individual and joint projects on the thematic priorities of raw material efficiency, energy efficiency and climate protection, sustainable water management and sustainable land management.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off dates on 15 April and 15 October
KMU-innovativ: Zukunft der Wertschöpfung
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports SMEs or medium-sized companies in high-risk pre-competitive and company-driven research, development and transformation projects.
Funding is granted, for example, for the following topis:
- new and improved products, machines and systems for industrial production,
- new manufacturing technologies and process chains,
- making production more flexible,
- digitalisation and virtualisation of production and production systems (Industry 4.0),
- new business models, for example monetisation of data, blockchain technologies, B2B platforms,
- adaptation of companies and employees to change,
- increasing the competences and qualifications of the workforce, lifelong learning.
Deadline: semi-annual cut-off dates on 15 April and 15 October
Kreativer Nachwuchs forscht für die Bioökonomie
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports research, development and innovation projects by junior research groups in the natural sciences, information technology and engineering that are driving the transition to a bioeconomy.
You will receive funding if you offer junior research groups a reliable and attractive environment in which to work intensively on bioeconomy topics. Projects on new achievements in expertise, processes, technology or software that support the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy are funded.
Deadline: annual cut-off dates on 15 April until 2026
neue Produkte für die Bioökonomie
The object of the funding is the exploration of new product ideas for a bio-based economy as well as feasibility studies on their technical implementation. The call is open to all topics and covers all areas of the bioeconomy as defined in the „National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030“.
Projects can be funded in these 2 phases: Exploratory phase and Feasibility phase.
Deadline: annual cut-off dates on 01 February
Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen SPRIND
SPRIND’s goal is to create new leap innovations from Germany. That means products, services and systems that make all of our lives noticeably and sustainably better.
The support is comprehensive. SPRIND finances, helps assemble teams and connects with the right networks in science, business and politics.
Deadline: continuous
Strengthening the transformation dynamics and new beginnings in the coalfields and at the coal-fired power plant sites (STARK)
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) supports projects that contribute to the successful transformation of coal regions.
Its project is intended to contribute to making the coal regions internationally visible model regions for greenhouse gas-neutral, resource-efficient and sustainable development.
You can receive funding in the following categories:
- Networking
- Knowledge and technology transfer
- Consulting
- Qualification / education and training
- Sustainable adaptation of public services
- Planning capacities and structural development companies
- Public spirit and a common understanding of the future
- Foreign trade
- Scientific monitoring of the transformation process
- Strengthening entrepreneurial action
- Innovative approaches
- Transformation technologies
Deadline: continuous
Validierung des technologischen und gesellschaftlichen Innovationspotenzials wissenschaftlicher Forschung – VIP+
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports you as a research institution, university or public institution in financing projects in all research areas. Funding is provided for projects that systematically demonstrate the feasibility and practicability of research results as well as their innovation potential. The research results concerned must be in the validation phase at the time of the project, i.e. between discovery and application.
Deadline: continuous
Förderung des Technologie- und Wissenstransfers durch Patente, Normung und Standardisierung zur wirtschaftlichen Verwertung innovativer Ideen von Hochschulen und Unternehmen (WIPANO)
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) supports you as a company, university or research institution in the efficient use of intellectual property and the transfer of the latest research results into standardisation.
You receive funding in 2 areas:
- Funding is provided in the area of patenting in the funding priority „Patenting – Companies“ the entire patent application process, including the necessary consultancy services, and a cost-benefit analysis relating to the invention with regard to commercialisation and initial commercialisation activities.
- Funding is provided in the area of standardisation the active participation of companies in national, European and international standardisation committees in the funding priority „Standardisation – companies“ and in the funding priority „Knowledge transfer through standardisation“, cooperation projects between universities, research institutions and companies that transfer the latest research findings into norms and standards.
Deadline: continuous with deadlines depending on funding priority between 31 May 2026 and 31 October 2027
Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)
The Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) is a nationwide funding programme that is open to all technologies and sectors. The ZIM aims to sustainably strengthen the innovative power and thus the competitiveness of SMEs. Companies can carry out research and development as individual projects or as cooperation projects with research institutions or other companies.
Deadline: continuous
Zukunftstechnologien für die industrielle Bioökonomie
The aim of this programme is to drive forward the development of competitive bioprocesses and biotechnological products. Innovations are intended to actively shape the transformation of industry towards greater sustainability and strengthen the competitiveness of the German economy. The funding is aimed at specifically supporting the transfer of research results into application and the integration of bioeconomic solutions into practice.
To ensure that the research and development projects contribute effectively to the objectives outlined, they are characterised by:
- Orientation towards the needs of industry
- Effective contribution to the transformation towards sustainability
- Impetus for innovative key technologies
Eligible applicants are commercial enterprises, including in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and non-university research institutions, scientific institutes, federal and state institutions with research tasks as well as German public and private corporations.
Several calls, current call „Innovative Bioproduktion für eine klimaneutrale Industrie“ (see separate entry)
European Funding Opportunities
COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology
COST funds interdisciplinary research networks called COST Actions. These Actions bring together researchers, innovators and other professionals including industry specialists, who are based in Europe and beyond, to collaborate on research topics for a period of 4 years.
The funding a COST Action receives covers the expenses of networking activities rather than research and as such is used to organise and fund events, Short-term Scientific Missions, Training Schools, communication activities, and virtual networking tools.
Deadline: continuous, next collection date expected in Autumn 2025
EIC Accelerator Pilot
The EIC Accelerator supports individual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in particular Startups and spinout companies to develop and scaleup game-changing innovations. In some cases small mid-caps (up to 500 employees) are supported.
The EIC Accelerator provides substantial financial support. In addition, EIC selected companies receive coaching, mentoring, access to investors and corporates, and many other opportunities as part of the EIC community.
Deadline: continuous
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries.
The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets.
Deadline: continuous
ERC Consolidator Grants
The ERC funding line Consolidator Grants (CoG) supports excellent, promising scientists whose own independent working group is in the consolidation phase. Depending on the field of research and career date, certain benchmarks serve as the basis for the evaluation. For example, applicants should be able to provide evidence of important publications without their doctoral supervisor. Other benchmarks include publications as first author in leading international journals, monographs, patents, presentations at international conferences or national and international science awards. Researchers of any nationality who are 7 to 12 years after completing their doctorate can apply for a Consolidator Grant.
Deadline: 14 January 2025
eureka Network projects
The Network projects programme eases collaboration between organisations in Eureka countries offering you the freedom to design your project proposal and build your ideal consortium. With limited eligibility criteria and minimal paperwork, taking part accelerates your access to public funding.
Deadline: programme ending 31 December 2025
FutureFoodS 1st Call
In its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), FutureFoodS has identified four thematic areas for which better knowledge, advanced know-how and more scalable, innovative solutions can be determinant to fulfill food system transformations:
- change the way we eat,
- change the way we process and supply food,
- change the way we connect, and
- change the way we govern food systems.
Within these four thematic R&I Areas, the partnership has identified a subset of high priority topics, with regards to the need for new knowledge and innovations in society and the food sector, that require specific attention within the framework of this first call.
The objective of this call is to fund transnational research and/or innovation projects addressing one of the following call topics. Each call topic brings together several of the priority thematic areas identified by the partnership and presented here above. Proposals are expected to lie within technology readiness level three to seven11, depending on national/ regional funding regulations.
Deadline: 09 July 2025
Horizon Europe Annual Work Programme 2023-24
The Commission has now adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme 2023-24, with a budget of ca. 13.5 billion EUR, over 40 % of which is aimed towards projects connected to climate action, biodiversity and reducing GHG. Calls will open in different clusters and programmes, including the Cluster 6, of special interest to CLIB members active in biotech and bioeconomy.
Deadline: various deadlines for the different clusters and programmes
Contact us if you want to know more or are interested in submitting a proposal.
IraSME - Grenzüberschreitende Kooperationen
IraSME is a network of ministries and funding agencies for the joint support of transnational projects of companies in national/regional funding programmes. In Germany the network is funded by the BMWK.
Network partners are Alberta (Canada), Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia regions), Brazil, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Turkey.
Deadline: annually at the end of March and the end of September
Interreg NWE Programme 2021-2027
Since the industrial revolution, North West Europe has been at the vanguard of industrialisation and economic development in Europe. However, this century of growth came at a cost on the environment, on people, and on territorial inequalities.
The Interreg NWE Programme is looking for ways to restore this. The NWE territorial analysis highlights specific territorial needs where action is required to reverse the trends of the past and to prepare regions for the sustainable transition towards better environmental conditions and new socio-economic opportunities.
Deadline: several calls twice per year
Interreg VI-Programm Deutschland-Nederland
Interreg is funding cross-border projects between Germany and the Netherlands in the programme Deutschland-Nederlands. In different priorities and focus topics, and project sizes consortia can apply for funding. Please get in contact with the regional programme management if you are interested in submitting a proposal
Deadline: continuous, cut-off dates every 4 month
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Staff Exchange
The Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations from the academic and non-academic sectors (in particular SMEs), based in Europe and beyond.
Exchanged staff benefit from new knowledge, skills and career development perspectives, while participating organisations increase their research and innovation capacities.
Staff Exchanges are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organisations. They need to include at least three organisations in three different countries, two of which need to be located in a different EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Above this minimum, the participation of organisations from any country is possible.
Deadline: 05 February 2025
