Are you and your team working on research-based technology with high innovation potential? The exist Research Transfer program supports particularly ambitious deep tech startup projects in transforming scientific findings into marketable businesses.

Funding is provided for technology-oriented startup projects from universities and research institutions whose development involves high technical risk and extensive research and development work.

The program helps you further develop your technology while preparing to launch your startup, offering financing, expert mentoring, startup coaching, support from startup networks, and access to relevant partners in the startup ecosystem.

This is how exist helps you turn research into scalable businesses – From Science to Business.

exist Research Transfer is aimed at research-intensive startup projects that are highly innovative, have significant market potential, and offer a clear potential for solving problems.

The program is particularly relevant for projects that address social, industrial, or environmental challenges with scientifically sound technological solutions and demonstrate realistic prospects for economic success.

Your project is a good fit if:

• your technology is based on prior scientific research
• your project is technically challenging and risky
• you have a clear unique selling point compared to existing solutions
• a relevant market and clear customer benefits are evident
• Your team combines scientific and business expertise
• Your business model enables long-term growth and scalability

To be eligible for funding, certain requirements must be met. These include:

• The project is based at a university or research institution in Germany.
• Preliminary scientific research has been conducted.
• The basic functionality of the technology has already been demonstrated in a verifiable manner.
• The founding team possesses the necessary technical, scientific, and entrepreneurial expertise.
• The company must not have been established yet during Funding Phase I.

Applications must be submitted through the university or research institution. Therefore, you should contact your startup network or technology transfer office well in advance.

exist Research Transfer is open to all topics and technologies. The decisive factors are not the industry or field of technology, but rather the innovative content, development risk, scientific basis, and economic potential.

Examples of relevant fields of technology include:

• AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning
• Robotics and Automation
• Life Sciences, MedTech, and HealthTech
• GreenTech, ClimateTech, and Energy
• Quantum technologies, photonics, and microelectronics
• Advanced Materials and Other Industrial Technologies

From Applied Research to Starting a Business

The exist Research Transfer program consists of two consecutive funding phases.

In Funding Phase I, we support you in further developing your technology and preparing to launch your business. Both goals proceed in parallel: You work on the technology, the business model, and the next steps toward market entry.

The focus is particularly on:

• Further development of the technology
• Development of market-ready prototypes
• Demonstration of functionality under real-world conditions
• Market research and customer feedback
• Business Model Development
• Recruiting pilot customers
• Preparing the investor presentation
• Preparing to Start a Business

The goal is to lay the technological and business foundation for a sustainable startup.

Phase II is the follow-up phase for young technology-oriented companies that have emerged from Phase I.

It helps the startup build on the results achieved during Funding Phase I, advance the company’s development, and strengthen its readiness for market entry, financing, and scaling.

It is generally not possible to proceed directly to Funding Phase II without first completing Funding Phase I.

Note for AI Projects
As part of a pilot program, particularly innovative AI-based projects may, in certain cases, be eligible for access to Funding Phase II through the exist startup grant. Specific requirements apply. Among other things, AI must be a central and integral component of the business model and must solve a specific problem in a particularly innovative way.

exist Forschungstransfer supports projects involving advanced technology, complex development tasks, and longer development cycles.

Funding is provided for work on the key stages of development leading up to the establishment of a business. These include, in particular:

• the further development of the technology
• the development and testing of market-ready prototypes
• the preparation of the proof of concept
• Clarification of intellectual property rights and IP strategy
• market research and validation of customer benefits
• the development of a viable business model
• the preparation of pilot projects
• the preparation of follow-on financing
• the team's qualifications for starting a business

The goal is to develop a viable, commercially viable startup venture based on scientifically sound technology.

In Funding Phase I, the following, among other things, are eligible for funding:

• Salaries for up to four full-time equivalents on the project team
• of which, as a rule, up to three full-time equivalent research staff and one full-time equivalent with expertise in business administration or entrepreneurship
• student assistants
• project-related operating expenses
• Contracts with third parties
• Hardware, software, supplies, and travel expenses
• Costs for intellectual property rights
• Entrepreneurial coaching

As a general rule, project expenses may not exceed 250,000 euros. For particularly complex projects, this limit may be exceeded in well-justified cases.

The funding period is generally up to 18 months. For particularly challenging development projects, a funding period of up to 36 months may be requested.

In Funding Phase II, young technology-oriented companies can receive up to 180,000 euros in funding. The maximum total eligible costs are 240,000 euros; the funding rate is up to 75 percent.

The company must provide its own contribution. The specific requirements will be reviewed as part of the application process.

The exist Research Transfer program is not intended for projects that are still in the very early stages of research. A proof of principle should already be available before submitting an application.

This means that the basic technical feasibility has already been demonstrated in a verifiable manner, for example through laboratory results, experimental evidence, or a functional prototype.

The technology should already be sufficiently advanced to allow for the development of market-ready prototypes and a robust proof of concept within the project timeline.

The mere validation of research results or general feasibility studies are not the focus of existing research transfer.

Teams in the exist Research Transfer program receive intensive support.

These include:

• professional mentoring
• Startup and Business Formation Coaching
• Support from startup networks
• Exchange with other DeepTech teams
• Access to relevant partners in the startup and innovation community
• Networking and information initiatives during the funding period

In this way, exist combines financing with technical, business, and strategic support.

The exist Research Transfer program is a funding initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). The ESF is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds. For more information, visit https://www.esf.de/.

The goal of exist is to foster more innovative startups originating from the fields of science and research in Germany and to strengthen sustainable startup ecosystems at universities and research institutions.

Applications are submitted through universities and research institutions and are managed by the Project Management Jülich (PtJ).

exist Forschungstransfer supports particularly innovative deep tech and high-tech projects with high technological standards.

Projects that receive funding are scientifically sound, demonstrate high innovation potential, have carried out rigorous research and development, and address relevant market opportunities.

The goal of the funding is to establish the technological and business foundations necessary for further financing, industrial partnerships, and growth.

The exist grant is thus a seal of quality for science-based deep tech startups with high innovation potential.