The goal of the first funding phase of EXIST-Forschungstransfer is to carry out development work to demonstrate technical feasibility, develop prototypes, draft a business plan, and ultimately establish the company.

Funding is available for research teams at universities and non-university research institutions (up to three researchers and technical assistants) and one person with expertise in business administration.

Through the EXIST Research Transfer program, personnel expenses/costs for up to four staff positions, as well as material expenses/costs, can be funded. Material expenses/costs include, for example, everyday items, consumables, capital goods, intellectual property rights, market research, as well as the awarding of contracts and coaching measures. Student assistants may also be funded. Expenses/costs for student assistants and material expenses/costs are generally eligible for funding up to a total of €250,000.

Projects carried out by research institutions jointly funded by the federal and state governments—including the FhG, HGF, Max Planck Society, and Leibniz Association—are eligible for up to 90 % in funding, while those carried out by universities and other research institutions are eligible for up to 100 %. The funding period is generally up to 18 months. For highly innovative and demonstrably time-intensive development projects, a funding period of up to 36 months may be granted with the express approval of the expert jury.

In addition, the „Startup Team“ seminar, which has proven successful in the EXIST Startup Grant program, will also be offered for EXIST Research Transfer projects.

For more information, please visit Application for Funding Phase I.

The funding is intended to support further development work, measures to launch business operations in the newly established technology company, and the creation of the conditions necessary for external corporate financing.

Applicants are small technology-oriented corporations with a minimum capital contribution of €25,000 that were founded during Funding Phase I, provided that the key experts from Funding Phase I contribute their knowledge and labor to the new company and are represented on the management board by at least one person. Well over 50% of the shares must be owned by the founders active in the company.

During Funding Phase II, a non-repayable grant of up to 180,000 euros may be awarded, though not exceeding 75 percent of the project’s eligible costs.

To qualify for funding, the company must provide its own funds and, if applicable, equity capital in a 1:3 ratio (up to 60,000 euros). Funding Phase II should generally not exceed a period of 18 months.

For more information, please visit Application for the funding phase II.

• The local startup network is the main point of contact for initial inquiries. This is where you can receive initial guidance and assistance with the formal application process.
• However, the applicant is always the university or research institution, which means that the application must usually be signed by an authorized representative of the administration.
• In addition, the founding team should receive guidance from a mentor throughout the project period. This person is an experienced university professor or researcher (at least a research group leader) who, based on their academic expertise, can provide technical support for the project’s further development. However, the mentor cannot be named as the project leader.
• Additional partners from the business community or support from business angels is expressly encouraged.

• The local startup network is the main point of contact for initial inquiries. This is where you can receive initial guidance and assistance with the formal application process.
• However, the applicant is always the university or research institution, which means that the application must usually be signed by an authorized representative of the administration.
• In addition, the founding team should receive guidance from a mentor throughout the project period. This person is an experienced university professor or researcher (at least a research group leader) who, based on their academic expertise, can provide technical support for the project’s further development. However, the mentor cannot be named as the project leader.
• Additional partners from the business community or support from business angels is expressly encouraged.

• Project proposals may be submitted at any time; however, they are collected by August 31, November 30, and March 31, and then processed.
• Following an evaluation (approx. 2 months), if funding is recommended, the startup team will be invited to present to a panel of experts, who will then cast their votes. The results will be announced shortly thereafter by the project sponsor, Jülich. The jury meetings take place approximately 3 months after the dates mentioned above.
• Following the evaluation process, any conditions imposed by the review panel are communicated, the administrative review of the requested personnel and material resources is completed, and the grant award notice is issued. This process can take up to 2 months. The process may be further delayed at the turn of the year (year-end closing, release of new budget funds) or in the event of jury requirements. A start is generally possible 5–6 months after the above-mentioned submission deadlines.
• Eligibility for funding begins upon receipt of the grant notification, not upon the jury’s positive decision. Please note that binding orders and the awarding of contracts may only take place after the project has commenced. Furthermore, before filling positions that were still listed as “NN” in the application, approval must be obtained from the project sponsor, Jülich.
• Note: Please contact the relevant procurement officer well in advance, as universities and research institutions have specific rules, deadlines, and regulations regarding contract awards and purchases that must be followed.

Support with the application process is provided by the local startup network at the university or research institution (technology transfer office, startup office, Center for Entrepreneurship, etc.). Staff members of the startup network have usually assisted with applications before and are well-equipped to assess whether a project is generally eligible for the funding program. If the staff of the startup network are still unsure, a preliminary inquiry of up to 2 pages can be submitted through the network. However, this should not be a superficial overview, but should address the questions specifically. A preliminary inquiry is not mandatory and will not be considered in the subsequent evaluation. The response should also be regarded as non-binding.

The GO-Bio next funding guidelines include eligibility criteria that must be met to ensure funding under the EXIST Research Transfer program. Key criteria include the required development time and the total funding requirement. The total funding requested for EXIST Research Transfer Phase I is typically less than €2.5 million. The development period in funding phase I should not significantly exceed 2.5 years.

If you are planning to start a business that might be eligible for EXIST Research Transfer or GO-Bio next, please feel free to contact the project management agency before submitting your application.

Inquiries can be submitted via the EXIST hotline. Inquiries via email regarding EXIST Research Transfer can be sent to ptj-exist-forschungstransfer@fz-juelich.de can be addressed. To schedule a personal consultation, please contact the EXIST team at 030/20199-411. Please understand that the hotline may not always be staffed, as our staff members also have other responsibilities to attend to as part of their daily work. However, it is generally not necessary to schedule an appointment in advance.

No, that is generally not possible. The official language is German (see Section 23 of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)).

No, that is generally not possible. The official language is German (see Section 23 of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)).

• The page limit must be strictly adhered to. However, it is permissible to present the proof of principle on three separate pages (e.g., measurement curves, photos of laboratory setups, etc.).
• Tables of contents, bibliographies, or external documents (e.g., letters of intent from partners or potential pilot customers) are not included in the 25-page limit.

No, unfortunately, joint projects cannot be carried out under the EXIST program. If the startup team consists of members from multiple institutions, the team should choose one institution.

• Operating funds cover all expenses and costs related to purchases, student assistants, rent, services, coaching, patents, etc. They do not include personnel funds for the startup team or the incentive allowance for the startup network.
• The EXST Research Transfer Guidelines set a budget of €250,000 for material resources. This limit may be exceeded in exceptional cases if a particularly high need can be demonstrated, especially for the purchase of specialized equipment without which the project could not be carried out.

In certain cases, particularly time-consuming and highly innovative development projects may be funded for up to 36 months. However, this requires the express approval of the expert panel. Examples include projects with stringent regulatory requirements or particularly long development periods, such as those in the fields of biotechnology, medical technology, diagnostics, or energy technologies.

• Operating funds cover all expenses and costs related to purchases, student assistants, rent, services, coaching, patents, etc. They do not include personnel funds for the startup team or the incentive allowance for the startup network.
• The EXST Research Transfer Guidelines set a budget of €250,000 for material resources. This limit may be exceeded in exceptional cases if a particularly high need can be demonstrated, especially for the purchase of specialized equipment without which the project could not be carried out.

Doctoral degrees should ideally be completed by the time the project begins. A copy of the doctoral degree certificate may be submitted at a later date if necessary. However, we do not recommend pursuing a doctoral degree concurrently with the startup project in order to avoid a double workload and potential conflicts of interest (e.g., regarding IP transfer).

• The intellectual property rights to inventions arising from prior research or from the results of Funding Phase I, which form the basis of the planned company, must be made available to the company for commercial exploitation without restriction. To this end, a corresponding contractual arrangement must be made between the university or research institution and the start-up company, e.g., within the framework of a license, purchase, or investment agreement. This is a prerequisite for Funding Phase II.
• The first step is to submit an appendix regarding the future transfer of intellectual property, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU), along with the application documents. This appendix should already contain detailed information on the terms of the agreement. This could include, for example, information on the amount of the license fees and the date from which payments are to be made. The startup network and/or mentor should facilitate contact with the relevant departments at the university or research institution.
• Within 12 months of the start of the term, a term sheet or option agreement must be submitted in which the university or research institution grants the startup team the opportunity to complete the transfer under specified terms, even if the company has not yet been formally established.
• When submitting the application for Funding Phase II—at the latest upon submission of the statement of funds used—the IP transfer should be finalized through a final contractual agreement.

• A coach is a startup consultant who advises the research team on all aspects of startup preparation, selecting an appropriate product and service offering, marketing strategy, and corporate financing. When selecting a coach, it is essential to ask for references (their own practical startup experience). Ultimately, the deciding factor in hiring a coach is „personal chemistry,“ as a coach typically serves as a trusted advisor to the research team—and the startup team that emerges from it—for many months.
• In many cases, however, a single coach cannot cover all aspects. It is therefore permissible to select more than one coach. To this end, a coaching plan is drawn up that specifically identifies the consultants and their services (in days of work). This plan should also include additional training measures on entrepreneurial thinking and action, tailored to the individual needs of the startup team. The coaching plan must be coordinated with the project sponsor, Jülich.
• In addition to being matched with a coach through the local startup network, researchers or startup teams can also seek out a suitable coach on their own initiative, independent of the university. Other startups often share their experiences as well.

The company may already be established during the project period in Funding Phase I. Business operations may commence, and revenue may be generated. It is important to note that an agreement regarding secondary employment must be reached with the university or research institution, or that the weekly working hours on the funded project must be reduced. The economic activities of the established company must be strictly separated from the funded EXIST research transfer project at the university or research institution in terms of revenue and all costs.

• The intellectual property rights to inventions arising from prior research or from the results of Funding Phase I, which form the basis of the planned company, must be made available to the company for commercial exploitation without restriction. To this end, a corresponding contractual arrangement must be made between the university or research institution and the start-up company, e.g., within the framework of a license, purchase, or investment agreement. This is a prerequisite for Funding Phase II.
• The first step is to submit an appendix regarding the future transfer of intellectual property, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU), along with the application documents. This appendix should already contain detailed information on the terms of the agreement. This could include, for example, information on the amount of the license fees and the date from which payments are to be made. The startup network and/or mentor should facilitate contact with the relevant departments at the university or research institution.
• Within 12 months of the start of the term, a term sheet or option agreement must be submitted in which the university or research institution grants the startup team the opportunity to complete the transfer under specified terms, even if the company has not yet been formally established.
• When submitting the application for Funding Phase II—at the latest upon submission of the statement of funds used—the IP transfer should be finalized through a final contractual agreement.

• The prototypes and investments belong to the university or research institution. The intent of the funding program is to ensure that the start-up company can continue to use or acquire these assets even after the funding period has ended. By the end of Funding Phase I, this letter of intent is to be converted into a contractual agreement between the startup and the university or research institution.
• The use of the equipment/prototypes could be facilitated, for example, through a lease agreement (which may include an option to purchase at a later date), a permanent loan, a transfer at residual value, or similar arrangements. A specific agreement must be reached depending on the type of equipment/prototypes.
• The contractual terms must be in line with market practices and should promote the sustainable commercial development of the company. Deviations from standard market terms may be permitted in favor of the start-up company if the difference below standard market terms is granted by the university/research institution as „de minimis“ aid. (Legal basis for „de minimis“ aid: Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013 of the European Commission dated December 18, 2013; Declaration for de minimis aid and certificate for de minimis aid).
• If the university generates revenue from the sale of prototypes or investments, the proceeds must be reimbursed to the BMWE in proportion to the funding rate.

• Applications for Funding Phase II may be submitted to the Jülich Project Management Agency approximately 6 months before the end of Funding Phase I. Please consult with the relevant contacts at the Jülich Project Management Agency in a timely manner to clarify the exact procedures. Please also allow sufficient time for the processing and review of the applications.
• Key requirements for funding in Phase II include demonstrating proof of concept and submitting a compelling business plan that includes a sound financing plan.
• Phase I of the funding program must result in the establishment of a business, which must be completed before Phase II funding is approved. The legal form chosen must be a corporation with a minimum share capital of €25,000.

The application must be submitted by the newly established company. If the incorporation of the corporation has not yet been completed, the application may be submitted by the company in the process of being established (i. G) or in the planning stage (i. Pl.). Before the start of Funding Phase II, the incorporation must be completed (entry in the commercial register) and proof of the necessary equity capital must be provided.

• No, unfortunately that is not possible. The guidelines stipulate that only companies—or companies in the process of being established—that have successfully completed Funding Phase I are eligible to apply.
• An exception has been made for companies that have successfully completed the EXIST startup grant with a focus on AI („model project“). However, this applies only to startup teams that were awarded the startup grant after the publication of the guidelines on April 11, 2023.