About exist
exist — From science to business
The vision is clear: to foster more innovative startups originating from the academic community, accelerate the commercialization of technological advancements, and strengthen Germany’s position as a leading hub for deep tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
To this end, exist supports startup projects throughout the entire innovation process, from the initial business idea to a growth-oriented startup. exist Women harnesses untapped potential and helps women develop business ideas, build networks, and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills. The exist Startup Grant supports innovative, knowledge-based startup ideas in the early pre-launch phase. The exist Research Transfer supports particularly ambitious DeepTech innovations that are highly complex from a technological standpoint and have clear market and financing prospects. With the exist Startup Factories In addition, the program strengthens robust regional startup ecosystems in which academia, businesses, and investors work closely together.
This funding program is complemented by additional pilot projects and initiatives that reach out to new target groups, support international teams, and facilitate access to the German startup ecosystem.
Yet exist offers far more than just financial support. Coaching, mentoring, university infrastructure, startup networks, visibility, and access to relevant partners in business, academia, and the investment community create the conditions necessary for research to be transformed into marketable products, innovations into successful business models, and ideas into sustainable companies.
An exist grant is a mark of verified quality, scientific merit, and high innovation potential. It thus serves as a seal of quality for innovative startups originating in academia and, for many teams, represents the first crucial step on the path from idea to successful startup. From Science to Business.
3.235
€928 million
37.972
440
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) is committed to promoting economic strength, innovation, and competitiveness in Germany. It places a particular emphasis on fostering new technologies, entrepreneurial initiative, and sustainable business models.
Through the exist funding program, the BMWE supports start-ups originating in academia and research, thereby strengthening the transfer of ideas, research findings, and technological innovations to the market. The goal is to tap into the significant start-up potential at Germany’s universities and research institutions and to generate economic and social impact as a result.
The program supports startup teams as they progress from an idea to a business and creates the conditions necessary for research to generate economic value. In this way, exist makes an important contribution to the innovative strength, competitiveness, and sustainability of Germany as a business location.
Why exist?
The startups of tomorrow are born from research, knowledge, and ideas. exist supports you and your team in successfully translating scientific innovations into practical applications through financial support, personalized guidance, and a strong network spanning academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem.
Whether it’s an initial startup idea, an ambitious deep tech project, or the next step toward growth, exist is here to support you and your team every step of the way From Science to Business. As a funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, exist has stood for many years for quality, innovation, and successful startups originating in science and research.
Why Germany?
Germany offers strong conditions for science-based startups: excellent universities and research institutions, an industry with international connections, robust deep tech ecosystems, and access to the European market. For teams in research and science, this creates an environment where technological innovations can be tested, funded, and further developed with the right partners.
exist helps you and your team capitalize on this locational advantage. The programs combine funding, expertise, networks, and access to universities, research institutions, companies, and investors. This enables a scientific idea to evolve into a market-ready startup—in Germany and with an international outlook.
exist: Many programs – one goal
exist aims to tap into the vast startup potential at Germany’s universities and research institutions and generate economic and social impact as a result. Entrepreneurship should become a natural career option for students, researchers, and academic teams, particularly in areas where Germany has particular strengths: DeepTech, technology transfer, and research-based innovations.
To this end, exist strengthens startup pipelines, unlocks untapped potential, and connects academia with capital and industry. At the same time, the program supports the development of robust regional startup ecosystems that specifically foster innovation and enable growth.
In this way, exist helps turn more ideas from the lab into successful, scalable companies. These companies not only create value, skilled jobs, and future-oriented technologies, but also make an important contribution to addressing the societal challenges of today and tomorrow.
The Programs
GCCC
Events
exist Update
Learn more
I'd like to learn more about exist
I'm already familiar with exist and would like to get started
I receive exist funding and need assistance
I support innovation and would like to learn more
question_answer::What is exist?
exist is the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy’s startup support program for ventures originating in academia and research. The program helps students, graduates, researchers, startup teams, and universities turn knowledge, research, and technology into successful startups.
"exist" stands for the path From Science to Business: from the initial idea through the preparatory stages of founding a company to the further development of research-based startups and robust startup ecosystems.
But exist is much more than just funding. The funding combines financial support with coaching, mentoring, university infrastructure, startup networks, and access to the German startup and innovation ecosystem. A successfully approved exist grant also demonstrates that your project has innovation potential and has undergone expert review. This makes exist the seal of quality for science-based startups from Germany.
Whether you're just starting to think about starting a business, preparing to launch a startup, or looking to turn your research into a scalable company, exist can help you take the next step.
question_answer::What requirements must be met?
The type of startup funding that’s right for you and your team depends on where your project is in its development. Support is available for innovative startup projects in science and research: from initial ideas and knowledge-based startups to deep tech companies with a high research component.
Key factors include an affiliation with a university or research institution, a compelling potential for innovation or problem-solving, and a commitment to advancing your project in collaboration with a startup network.
question_answer::How does exist work?
exist supports startup projects originating from academia and research at various stages of their development. The funding option that’s right for you depends on where you and your team currently stand: Do you already have a concrete business idea? Are you working on a research-intensive DeepTech innovation? Or would you like to become part of a strong startup ecosystem?
The first step is always to contact the startup network at a university or research institution. There, you’ll receive guidance on the appropriate funding programs, the application requirements, and the necessary documents. Together, you’ll determine which path is right for your project.
The usual procedure is:
- Contact the Startup Network
- Classify an idea or research finding
- Select the appropriate exist program
- Prepare the application together
- Take advantage of funding and further develop your project
- Preparing for the next round of funding or the growth phase
question_answer::What does exist offer?
exist helps you and your team turn scientific ideas, research findings, and technological innovations into a startup. Depending on the program pillar, exist offers financial support, mentoring, access to university infrastructure, and guidance from experienced startup networks.
In addition, exist helps you build valuable connections within the startup ecosystem: with other founders, universities, research institutions, investors, companies, and further funding and support programs. In this way, exist guides you from your initial idea through the next steps toward founding your business, securing funding, and achieving growth – From Science to Business.
An EXIST grant is much more than just financial support. It demonstrates that a project meets the highest scientific standards, possesses significant innovation potential, and has a strong foundation for further business development.
question_answer::What are the requirements for exist?
The type of startup funding that’s right for you and your team depends on where your project is in its development. Support is available for innovative startup projects in science and research: from initial ideas and knowledge-based startups to deep tech companies with a high research component.
Key factors include an affiliation with a university or research institution, a compelling potential for innovation or problem-solving, and a commitment to advancing your project in collaboration with a startup network.
You can find more information about the eligibility requirements for the various exist programs here.
question_answer::What types of financial aid are available?
The exist Startup Grant is designed for startup ideas originating from research and academia that are in the pre-launch phase; exist Women supports women interested in starting a business who have an initial startup idea; and the exist Research Transfer program supports particularly development-intensive startup projects that have already demonstrated proof of concept.
question_answer::How do I submit an application?
The application for an exist grant is prepared step by step. The first step is to meet with the startup network at your university or research institution. After that, your idea, eligibility for funding, team, innovative content, and next steps are reviewed.
The specific procedures vary depending on the program.
question_answer::What milestones and obligations do I have during an exist grant?
During the funding period, different deadlines, obligations, and milestones apply depending on the program pillar. As your project progresses, check the details for your specific program pillar to see which requirements apply to you.
question_answer::Where can I find information about the project timeline?
Would you like to know what happens with an exist project after it has been approved? Here is an overview of the key steps during the funding period: from the project launch through milestones, events, and reporting requirements to project completion and the next steps in development.
Since each exist program pillar is structured differently, the links will take you directly to the respective project timelines for the exist Startup Grant, exist Research Transfer, and exist Women. This way, you can find out what’s important in your funding track and when, and how you and your team can make the best use of the funding.
question_answer::Why is "exist" considered a mark of quality?
An exist grant demonstrates that a startup project has undergone a technical review and possesses significant innovation potential. Funded teams typically bring scientific substance, a compelling business model, and clear development prospects to the table. As a result, exist stands not only for financial support but also for verified quality, and can serve as a strong signal to investors, companies, and other partners, helping to open crucial doors.