EXIST Start-up Grant

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Who is funded

The EXIST Start-up Grant is aimed at universities and research institutions in Germany that support innovative start-up projects from their environment. The goal is to mobilize knowledge-based start-up ventures and to promote the transfer of research results into marketable products and services.

What is funded

The EXIST Start-up Grant promotes innovative start-up projects originating from universities and research institutions. The support extends from the business idea to the preparation of the start-up, with certain cost categories being eligible for funding and others explicitly excluded to ensure the uniqueness of the supported projects.

Type and Scope of Funding

The EXIST Start-up Grant offers financial support in the form of a non-repayable grant as full financing. The amount of the grant is based on the eligible expenses, including grants for team members, material resources, and lump sums for consulting services, and considers co-financing shares from the European Social Fund Plus.

Conditions and Requirements

For the application and project implementation of the EXIST Start-up Grant, specific conditions and requirements apply, affecting both the applying universities and research institutions and the founding teams. These include legal provisions, rules for cooperation, and regulations for the use of funds and transparency.

Application Procedure

The application for the EXIST Start-up Grant is submitted in a one-stage process electronically and in writing. The evaluation is carried out by the project management agency and, if necessary, external experts. Continuous application is possible, with the project start planned three months after the complete application is received.

Legal Bases

The funding guideline for the EXIST Start-up Grant forms the central legal basis of the program, supplemented by national budget regulations and extensive provisions of the European Social Fund Plus, which ensures co-financing of the program.