Berlin Innovation Professionals

The "Berlin Innovation Professionals" program is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Berlin that want to drive innovative projects by hiring qualified university or technical college graduates as innovation professionals. The funding aims to strengthen the competitiveness of these companies and facilitate access to scientific knowledge.

Funding is provided for innovative projects in Berlin SMEs, implemented by university graduates as innovation professionals. The funding relates to the personnel costs of these specialists for activities that include technological innovations or business management tasks.

Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant for personnel costs for up to two innovation professionals over a period of 12 months each. The amount of the grant is up to 50 percent of the gross salary, limited to a maximum of 20,000 euros per professional.

Specific conditions apply for the application and implementation of the funding regarding the company's perspective, de minimis aid, employment relationships, and other legal provisions.

The application for the "Berlin Innovation Professionals" program must be submitted via the online application portal of Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) before the start of the project. Approval is at the discretion of the IBB, which may also conduct personal interviews to assess suitability.

The funding is based on the guidelines of the State of Berlin for the "Berlin Innovation Professionals" program from January 1, 2023, and is subject to various overarching laws and regulations, including EU state aid rules and the State Budget Ordinance.