Innovative SMEs

The BMBF’s “KMU innovativ” program family is a funding initiative designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in research and experimental development projects aimed at strengthening their capacity for innovation. A key objective of the funding is to preserve, harness, and expand the existing innovation potential of German SMEs.

Universities may submit applications for this program only in partnership with an SME. Unlike the BMWK’s ZIM program, funding is not open-ended but is limited to specific research topics in designated technology fields, as outlined in specific calls for proposals:


An overview (updated as needed) of the aforementioned topic areas, as well as relevant contacts, can be found at the bottom of the SME innovation page on the Federal Funding Advisory Service website.

The application process follows the two-stage federal procedure (AZAP) described above, meaning that the R&D consortium—led by an SME—must first submit a detailed project outline, which is then evaluated by the project management agency. If the evaluation is positive, a request for a full application is issued; in this case, the financial details in particular must generally be presented in greater detail. The project description is already of great importance here in the outline phase. Similarly, the project budget is usually finalized during the outline phase. TUC-specific calculation tools are available that can be customized to your project plans. Please contact the funding advisory service. Outline templates for the project description can usually be found in the respective funding announcement or guideline (e.g., in Section 7). Please note that these outlines may be customized for the specific call for proposals, and that funding agencies may even provide templates that differ from the guidelines. Please note that there is a separate funding guideline for each technology field!