With exist Research Transfer, you have the opportunity to gradually transform your research into a technology-driven company. During the funding period, you will work simultaneously on technological development, the business model, and preparations for launching the company.

Throughout the process, you will receive support from your university or research institution, the relevant startup network, a subject-matter mentor, and the project sponsor. At the same time, certain milestones, documentation requirements, and reporting obligations are part of the funding.

The goal is to further develop your project from both a technological and business perspective so that it can evolve into a scalable deep tech company with clear market and financing prospects – From Science to Business.

The following milestones outline the structure of Funding Phase I. Depending on the project and the grant award letter, additional conditions or specific requirements may apply.

To be eligible for research transfer, your application must already include a proof of principle. This means that the basic functionality of your technology has been clearly demonstrated, for example through laboratory results, experimental evidence, or a working prototype.

During the funding period, you will work on further developing this foundation into a proof of concept and prototypes. The goal is not only for the technology to work in principle, but also to make it more robust under real-world conditions.

Depending on the project, this may include, for example:

• experimental development work
• Design and further development of demonstrators or prototypes
• Validation of technological approaches under real-world conditions
• Further development of AI models, algorithms, or technical processes
• Tests with pilot customers or application partners

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

In addition to technological development, you’ll be working on the business prospects of your project right from the start. Especially with deep tech startups, it’s crucial to integrate technology development, customer value, and the business model early on.

These include, among other things:

• Target Audience and Market Analyses
• Meetings with potential customers
• Competitive Analysis and Differentiation from the State of the Art
• Pricing, Revenue, and Scaling Models
• Go-to-market strategies and potential barriers to market entry
• Recruiting pilot customers and application partners
• Preparation of the investor presentation and potential follow-on financing

The goal is to develop a robust business plan that clearly outlines technological development, the market, customer benefits, financing, and growth.

Throughout the funding period, you will receive technical and entrepreneurial guidance. A mentor from a university or research institution will provide technical support. In addition, the startup network will assist you with startup-related questions, business plans, coaching, intellectual property issues, and follow-up opportunities. Funding is allocated for entrepreneurial coaching during Funding Phase I.

An initial meeting is also held within the first few months. Its purpose is to assess the current situation and cover topics such as the development concept, business model, IP strategy, business plan, financing, project milestones, and administrative issues.

Within the first three months of the program’s start, you will receive an invitation to the “Startup Team” workshop. The workshop is designed to help you develop your team skills, refine your business idea, and prepare personally for launching your startup.

Among other things, the focus is on:

• Team Roles and Collaboration
• Team strengths and areas for development
• Communication and Decision-Making Processes
• Entrepreneurial mindset and personal development
• Developing the business idea

This workshop is not a selection process. It is designed to help you become a clearer, more resilient, and more startup-ready team.

Twice a year, exist invites the teams currently receiving funding through the exist Research Transfer program to the Startup Forum. The event provides an opportunity for discussion, networking, and professional insights.

Each startup forum focuses on a specific topic. Possible topics include intellectual property rights, financing, marketing, business development, or other issues related to the startup phase. Participation is not mandatory, but it is expected and recommended.

After six months, submit an interim report. It should document the key scientific and technical findings, a comparison with the original work, time, and budget plans, as well as any potential changes, risks, and prospects for commercialization.

After twelve months, you will give an interim presentation to the startup network. During this presentation, you will outline the current status of your project. The focus will be specifically on company development, business model, market, market entry strategy, customer benefits, unique selling points, competition, and financing.

The startup network will provide a written assessment of your progress to date. This assessment will help you identify your strengths, areas for improvement, and next steps more clearly.

In research-based deep tech projects, intellectual property rights, know-how, software, data, and other forms of intellectual property often play a central role. For this reason, it is important to clarify early on how the future company will obtain the rights necessary for its establishment.

Upon completion of the project, a contract must be in place that governs the transfer or use of the relevant intellectual property rights and purchased equipment. This ensures that the newly established company can continue to operate with the necessary technological foundations.

Depending on the duration of the funding period, submit a business plan. This plan should outline the key aspects of the future business and be suitable for discussions with investors.

The business plan includes, in particular:

• Business Model and Customer Benefits
• Market and Competitive Analysis
• Technology and Product Development
• Intellectual Property Rights and IP Strategy
• Financing Strategy
• Growth Planning and Scaling Potential

Before submitting an application for Funding Phase II, a status meeting will be held. During this meeting, the business plan, the formal requirements, the likelihood of success for the application, and the company’s future business and financing strategy will be discussed.

Phase II is the follow-up phase for young technology-oriented companies that have emerged from Phase I. It helps companies build on the results achieved in Phase I, advance their business development, and strengthen their 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. However, as part of a pilot program, particularly innovative AI-based projects funded through the exist startup grant may, in certain cases, be eligible for Funding Phase II. Special requirements apply in such cases.

In addition to documenting the project’s milestones, the use of the grant funds must also be documented. The interim report must be submitted annually by April 30 for the previous calendar year. The final report must be submitted no later than three months after the end of the grant period.

These documents are typically prepared by the finance or external funding department of the university or research institution. It is important that all expenses are clearly related to the project, fall within the funding period, and are properly documented.

Phase I of the exist Research Transfer program is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus). For this reason, certain information regarding the grant recipients and the project may be required both during and after the funding period. You will receive an automatically generated email containing the login credentials for the ESF questionnaire.

The data is used for billing, evaluation, and the further development of the grant program. It is processed exclusively in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

The end of the funding does not mark the end of your project’s development. For many teams, the next crucial phase begins now: building the business, securing follow-on financing, pilot projects, market access, and growth.

In conclusion, the following are particularly noteworthy:

• updated business plan
• Summary Performance Review Report
• Agreement on IP and Device Transmission
• Statement of Use
• any additional project-related documents

exist Research Transfer lays the technological and entrepreneurial groundwork for this.

The goal of this funding is to strengthen your project’s readiness for the market, financing, and scaling. Depending on your business model and stage of development, various options may be available after the funding period.

These include, for example:

• Phase II of the exist Research Transfer Program
• Venture Capital
• Business Angels
• public funding programs
• strategic industrial partnerships
• Accelerators and incubators
• European funding programs

The funding, business plan, initial market validation, and technological advancements together create a solid foundation for further financing and growth.

Even after the funding period ends, they remain part of the exist network. Many former teams share their experiences, support new startup projects, or contribute their insights as mentors.

Among other things, the network offers:

• Exchange with other founders
• Visibility within the startup community
• Contacts with partners in business, research, and finance
• Access to events and programs
• Links to other existing programs and ecosystems

In this way, exist supports many startups long after the funding period has ended.