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KMU-innovativ

Programm · 5 minutes

KMU-innovativ funds high-risk R&D projects by small and medium-sized companies with grants of up to 70%. Two stages, organised by theme, run by the BMFTR.

Up to 70% funding for high-risk R&D. Two deadlines a year, not rolling submission.

KMU-innovativ is the BMFTR programme for high-risk leading-edge research in small and medium-sized companies. You submit an outline by the deadline of 15 April or 15 October; if it is assessed positively, the full application follows. Eleven thematic fields cover biomedicine, ICT, energy efficiency, medical technology, photonics, materials research and other key technologies. The funding is based on Art. 25 GBER, not on a de minimis regime.

Eligibility

  • SME status under GBER Annex I: fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover of no more than €50m, or a balance sheet total of no more than €43m (linked and partner companies are counted pro rata)
  • The project is leading-edge research: high scientific and technical risk going beyond applied routine development and beyond the international state of research
  • The project fits one of the 11 current BMFTR thematic fields (as at May 2026: biomedicine, bioeconomy, electronics/autonomous driving/HPC, energy efficiency/climate protection/climate adaptation, ICT, interactive technologies for health and quality of life*, materials research, medical technology, photonics and quantum technologies, resources and the circular economy, the future of value creation)
  • The project qualifies as industrial research or experimental development under Art. 25 GBER
  • The operating site and registered office are in Germany
  • Not an undertaking in difficulty within the meaning of Art. 2 no. 18 GBER
  • No outstanding EU recovery order under Art. 1 (4) (a) GBER
  • Evidenced R&D capability: at least one qualified R&D specialist, or cooperation with a university or research institution

Eligible costs

  • Staff costs: gross pay plus the employer's social security contribution, apportioned by R&D involvement (time recording required)
  • Materials and consumables: consumables, chemicals, samples, prototype materials
  • Equipment and plant: pro rata depreciation on equipment and plant used on the project
  • Travel: project-related business travel under the Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG)
  • External services and subcontracts: external analysis, testing, specialist manufacturing and similar (with contracts and proof of delivery)
  • Project flat rate: 20% on the total grant, exclusively for universities, not for companies or non-university research institutions

Common pitfalls

Missing the deadline

The next chance to submit is six months away. Allow at least 2–3 weeks of lead time: PT-Outline can be overloaded on the deadline day.

An outline that's too long

A maximum of 12 pages (A4, 11pt, 1.5 line spacing). Pages beyond the limit are not read. No annexes at the outline stage.

The wrong thematic field

Each of the 11 thematic fields has its own project management agency. The wrong assignment leads to rejection or delay. If in doubt, call the BMFTR helpline (0800 26 23 009).

Leading-edge character not evidenced

Reviewers expect an international literature comparison and a clear delimitation from the state of the art. Not marketing language, but scientific depth at publication level.

Starting the work early

The project may only begin once the funding decision has been served. Orders, contracts and hiring for the project before the approval date can lead to full clawback.

Cumulation with the FZulG planned wrongly

Costs funded by KMU-innovativ may not also be claimed in the FZulG assessment base. Your own contribution and staff costs not covered by KMU-innovativ, on the other hand, do qualify for the FZulG.

The application process

  • 1 — Check eligibility and the thematic field. Confirm SME status under GBER Annex I (including linked companies). Assign the project to one of the 11 thematic fields. For borderline cases, use the BMFTR helpline (0800 26 23 009).
  • 2 — Write the project outline (stage 1). Produce an outline of exactly 10–12 pages. Mandatory structure: topic and objective, state of the science, innovative approach, work plan, exploitation plan, team qualifications. Have the SME self-declaration and company profile to hand.
  • 3 — Submit through PT-Outline by the deadline. Submit the outline through PT-Outline (the BMFTR's electronic outline tool). Deadlines: 15 April and 15 October. Finalise at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
  • 4 — Wait for the assessment. The responsible agency's review panel assesses the outline within around 2 months. Positively assessed outlines receive an invitation to submit a full application.
  • 5 — Submit the full application through easy-Online (stage 2). Submit through easy-Online (foerderportal.bund.de/easyonline/) within typically 3 months of the invitation. Required: a detailed project description, AZK (companies) or AZA (universities), the SME declaration under GBER Annex I, an exploitation plan, a cooperation agreement (for joint projects) and the last 2 sets of annual accounts.
  • 6 — Approval and project start. The funding decision arrives around 2–3 months after the full application. Only then may the project begin. Funds are drawn down through profi-Online.

How upsmart helps

We match your project against all eleven thematic fields and name the responsible agency before you write a line of the outline. We check SME status under GBER Annex I including linked companies, calculate your funding rate (60 or 70%, with or without the cooperation bonus) and flag which staff costs remain FZulG-eligible so you don't breach the cumulation limit. We keep the 15 April and 15 October deadlines in view.

Combining it with other programmes

KMU-innovativ runs under Art. 25 GBER (not de minimis). Combining it with the Forschungszulage (FZulG) is possible, but only for different cost blocks: costs funded by KMU-innovativ may not also be claimed in the FZulG assessment base. Your own KMU-innovativ contribution and staff costs not covered by KMU-innovativ do qualify for the FZulG. The GBER aid intensity limits (Art. 25 (5)–(6)) apply to all combined aid.

Frequently asked questions

Only SMEs as defined by the EU: fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover of no more than €50m or a balance sheet total of no more than €43m, with an operating site in Germany. Larger companies cannot apply even in cooperations. Universities and research institutions can take part as joint partners but not as lead applicant.

Small SMEs receive up to 70% for industrial research and up to 45% for experimental development. Medium-sized SMEs receive up to 60% and 35% respectively. With an effective cooperation with a research institution the rate rises by 15 percentage points. Eligible costs are capped at €500,000 per SME share (guide figure). Universities receive up to 100% plus a 20% project flat rate.

The procedure has two stages. First you submit a project outline (10–12 pages, strictly) through PT-Outline by the deadline of 15 April or 15 October. After a positive assessment (around 2 months) you are invited to submit the full application through easy-Online, typically within 3 months. The agency decides on the full application around 2–3 months after it arrives.

KMU-innovativ explicitly funds leading-edge research with high scientific and technical risk, whereas ZIM also accepts applied development without that character. KMU-innovativ has two stages (outline then full application), ZIM one. KMU-innovativ has fixed deadlines (April and October), ZIM accepts applications on a rolling basis. KMU-innovativ is based on Art. 25 GBER, ZIM partly on de minimis.

As at May 2026 there are 11 thematic fields: biomedicine, bioeconomy, electronics/autonomous driving/HPC, energy efficiency/climate protection/climate adaptation, ICT, interactive technologies for health and quality of life (last deadline 15 October 2025, check the status), materials research, medical technology, photonics and quantum technologies, resources and the circular economy, and the future of value creation. Each field has its own project management agency.

Read on in the blog

Funding strategy across the innovation process

Primary sources

  • KMU-innovativ programme portal (federal funding information system)— Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
  • KMU-innovativ ministry page, BMFTR— Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
  • 4th amending notice, KMU-innovativ (20 January 2026)— Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
  • easy-Online federal application portal— Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

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Research & development

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