In many areas of cutting-edge research, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are pioneers of technological progress. With KMU-innovativ, the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) aims to simplify the application and approval of funding for SMEs. A central pilot service helps with all questions, binding processing deadlines provide planning security. KMU-innovativ is integrated in technology fields that are particularly important for Germany's future:

• Bioeconomy
• Biomedicine
• Electronics and autonomous driving; Supercomputing
• Research for civil security
• Medical technology
• Information and communication technologies
• Interactive technologies for health and quality of life
• Materials research
• Photonics and quantum technologies
• Resource efficiency and climate protection

Cutting-edge research offers SMEs the chance to compete successfully in the marketplace with new products and processes. SMEs are particularly flexible and fast when it comes to opening up new markets. This is especially true for new research fields where speed is of the essence. In many cases, important impulses for this come from SMEs.

Application procedure

German SME may form research consortia and apply as SME partnership or together with Research Institutes with a short proposal (15 pages) twice a year.

Application deadlines are every 15th April and 15th October