Startup funding and grants in North Rhine-Westphalia

NRW.BANKEquity

NRW.SeedCap

Equity, not a grant: NRW.BANK co-invests EUR 100,000 to EUR 500,000 alongside a business angel or private seed investor in young SMEs based in NRW, with up to EUR 750,000 for climate and environmental tech.

NRW.BANKEquity

NRW.Venture

Equity, not a grant: minority stakes alongside private investors, up to EUR 15 million per NRW start-up across several rounds, typically after a seed or first VC round.

State of NRW / NRW.BANKGrant

Gründungsstipendium.NRW

Up to EUR 1,200 per month per founder for up to 12 months, for innovative micro-enterprises in NRW applying within 12 months of registration, with a recommendation from an accredited founder network.

BMWEGrant

EXIST-Gründungsstipendium

A 12-month federal stipend for pre-founding teams of up to three from research and science, with EUR 3,000/month for PhDs, material costs of EUR 30,000 for teams and EUR 5,000 for coaching. The company must not be founded before funding starts.

BMWE (Projektträger Jülich)Grant

EXIST-Forschungstransfer

Federal grant for development-intensive spin-offs with a proof of principle, applied for through a German university or research institution before the company is founded. Phase I material expenses are "in der Regel bis zu 250.000 Euro"; Phase II provides up to EUR 180,000.

BMWEGrant

EXIST Women

A federal programme of up to 10 months for women with a first start-up idea from universities and research institutions. Each participant gets EUR 2,000 in material funds, and some also receive a stipend. Applications go through a participating university.

BMFTRGrant

KMU-innovativ

Federal grant for high-risk R&D by SMEs, as single or joint projects across 10 technology fields. A two-stage procedure with outline cut-off dates of 15 April and 15 October. Newly founded companies may take part if they can co-finance.

SPRINDGrant

SPRIND – Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen

The federal agency for breakthrough innovation funds projects, Challenges and strategic programmes. Teams can propose projects directly or enter open Challenges, which are financed through fixed-price contracts.

Forschungszulage

A tax allowance, not a grant: 25 % of eligible R&D costs, with SMEs able to claim 10 percentage points more. Open to companies of any size, legal form or sector, with a BSFZ certificate and no application deadline.

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)Equity

High-Tech Gründerfonds

Equity, not a grant: High-Tech Gründerfonds is a public-private seed investor that invests "bis zu einer Million Euro in der Seed-Runde" and up to EUR 4m per start-up across all rounds, in start-ups younger than 3 years.

BMWE / BAFAGrant

INVEST – Zuschuss für Wagniskapital

A grant to private investors, not to the company: business angels receive 15 % of the issue price of their shares, up to EUR 100,000 per investor, for investments of at least EUR 10,000. An exit grant is also offered.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.