Funding
Science drives innovation - in technology, business and society. For research to have a sustained impact, practical application and knowledge transfer are becoming increasingly important. Public funding bodies expect clear strategies for implementing the results as early as the application stage. At the same time, innovations open up new research fields and industry collaborations.
As a central contact point for researchers, we offer comprehensive advice and support for funding measures with targeted commercialisation strategies:
Validation funding – harnessing research potential
Not every research result is immediately ripe for the market. Validation funding helps to assess and demonstrate innovation potential and to identify suitable fields of application. Successful validation reduces the risk for external investors and facilitates the next stage of development.
Business cooperation – synergies between research and industry
Collaborative projects enable research institutions and companies to work together on scientific challenges. These synergies create innovative solutions and commercial opportunities. Numerous funding programs support such collaborations.
Startup support – from idea to startup
The Berlin startup network Science & Startups supports science-based startups and strengthens the innovative power of research.
Do you have questions about the right funding strategy?
We provide tailored advice - get in touch!
Funding opportunities: validation, business partnerships & startup funding
| Funding Programme | Focus Area | Max. Duration & Funding Amount (Estimate) | Application Deadlines |
Validation |
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| ProValid | Open to all disciplines | 12 months / EUR 100,000 | Call closed; next deadline to be announced |
| Ideas Competition: New Products for the Bioeconomy |
Biomaterials & bio-based tools | Exploratory Phase: 12 months / EUR 65,000 Feasibility Phase: 36 months / No fixed funding limit |
Final deadline: February 1, 2027 |
| Experiment!Material | Materials and materials engineering research | 18 months / EUR 200,000 | June 1 |
| GO-Bio initial | Therapeutics & diagnostics | Exploratory Phase: 12 months / EUR 100,000 Feasibility Phase: 24 months / EUR 1,000,000 |
February 15 |
| DBU Project Funding – German Federal Environmental Foundation |
Environmental technology, research and communication; nature conservation and cultural heritage preservation | Usually 18–36 months / EUR 100,000–400,000 | Applications accepted on a rolling basis |
| VIP+ | Open to all disciplines | 36 months / EUR 1,500,000 | Applications accepted on a rolling basis |
| ERC Proof of Concept | Open to all disciplines | 18 months / EUR 150,000 | Call with fixed cut-off dates |
Industry Collaboration |
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| ZIM – Central Innovation Programme for SMEs | Open to all technology fields | Usually 24–36 months / EUR 280,000 | Applications temporarily suspended; exceptions for international cooperation projects |
| KMU-innovativ | Open to all technology fields | Usually 36 months / EUR 1,000,000 total funding per collaborative project | April 15 / October 15 |
| Innovation Programme for Business Models and Pioneer Solutions (IGP) |
Topic-specific funding calls | Up to 24 months / EUR 180,000 | Call closed; next deadline to be announced |
Startup Funding |
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| Berlin Startup Scholarship (BSS) | "Bridging the Health Data Gap" – Batch IV on FemTech | 6–12 months / EUR 2,500 per person per month | November 4, 2026 (Batch IV) |
| EXIST Business Startup Grant | Open to all disciplines | 12 months / EUR 135,000 | Applications accepted on a rolling basis |
| EXIST Transfer of Research | Open to all disciplines | 18–36 months / EUR 1,100,000 | March 31 / August 31 / November 30 |
| GO-Bio next | Therapeutics & diagnostics | 6 years / EUR 8,500,000 | March 15 / September 15 |
