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Find similar grantsZentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) is sponsored by Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE). Provides grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for research and development projects to foster innovation and competitiveness.
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Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) | Wir bitten Sie an dieser Stelle um Ihre Einwilligung für die Nutzung unseres Videodienstes. Nähere Informationen zu allen Diensten finden Sie, wenn Sie die Pfeile rechts aufklappen. Sie können Ihre Einwilligungen jederzeit erteilen oder für die Zukunft widerrufen.
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Einwilligung zum Videodienst JW-Player ZIM – Germany’s largest innovation programme for small and medium-sized enterprises “ZIM” stands for “Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand”, which means “Central Innovation Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)”. It is a funding programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy that aims to foster the innovative capacity of SMEs.
It launches several thousand new projects every year all around Germany, making it the country’s largest innovation programme for SMEs. ZIM funds innovative companies with business operations in Germany which want to develop new or significantly improve existing products, processes or technical services.
Public and private non-profit research and technology organisations (RTOs) acting as a cooperation partner of an SME are also eligible for ZIM funding. The programme is open to all sectors and fields of technology. Funded projects must be highly innovative, market-oriented and entail a substantial technological risk.
Since ZIM strictly focuses on the needs of SMEs, it offers easy application and quick decision-making processes. Another feature which accommodates the needs of SMEs is that ZIM offers a range of possibilities to structure innovative activities in various project forms. They also include various possibilities for transnational cooperation.
Feasibility Study (including Transnational Activities) Feasibility Study (including Transnational Activities) Innovative projects and processes can only be successfully implemented if all the necessary scientific, technical and financial resources are available and used efficiently. Measures that serve to prepare appropriately before the start of the project are often associated with considerable costs and require special know-how.
In advance, services to check the feasibility of an intended R&D individual or cooperation project can therefore also be funded. Learn more about the feasibility studies Individual Projects (only National Activities) Individual Projects (only National Activities) Funding of research and development (R&D) projects carried out by one SME.
Innovative companies with business operations in Germany and with fewer than 500 employees can receive funding of up to 45% of their costs.
Contact: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH Cooperation Projects (including Transnational Activities) Cooperation Projects (including Transnational Activities) Funding of cooperative R&D projects between SMEs or between SMEs and public and private non-profit research and technology organisations (RTOs).
There are several ways to set up a ZIM cooperation project: R&D cooperation projects between at least two companies R&D cooperation projects between at least one company and at least one RTO Within ZIM there are various ways to cooperate with transnational partners. German companies working with foreign partners in a ZIM project receive a bonus of 10% on top of the regular funding rates, up to a maximum funding rate of 60% .
Participation of transnational partners of eligible German companies: As a subcontractor or by being awarded a R&D contract (but without the bonus for the German companies) As a "non-applying partner" in cooperation projects. Transnational partners need to arrange financing for their subproject through local funding programmes or from their own financial resources.
Necessary documents from "non-applying partners": Description of the subproject Working plan with person-months Short portrait of business and technical experience of the partner Letter of intent with signature Only German SMEs are eligible; foreign companies or partners need to obtain funding within their national innovation programmes or fund their activities on their own.
Contact: AiF Projekt GmbH Innovation Networks (including Transnational Activities) Innovation Networks (including Transnational Activities) Funding of management of innovative company networks and R&D projects generated by them (minimum requirement for national networks: six German SME partners mandating an organisation to manage the network).
To encourage partnerships between German and international companies as well as, optionally, research and technology organisations (RTOs), international networks have now become part of the regular ZIM funding scheme after the completion of a successful pilot project.
Eligible international ZIM cooperation networks must involve at least four German SMEs mandating a German organisation to manage the network and at least three partners from other countries (two SMEs and an organisation serving as coordinator providing network management services abroad). However, the ZIM programme provides financial support only for the German partners involved.
International organisations (coordinators, companies, RTOs and others) are responsible for their own funding. Contact: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH Here you can find some examples of international successful ZIM R&D projects and international ZIM networks from different technology areas and federal states. Ideal Conditions for Medicinal Cannabis Öffnet PDF "Ideal Conditions for Medicinal Cannabis" in neuem Fenster.
Better than New: Battery Recycling Öffnet PDF "Better than New: Battery Recycling" in neuem Fenster. Bipolar Plates for Modern Battery Systems Öffnet PDF "Bipolar Plates for Modern Battery Systems" in neuem Fenster. Laboratory Analytics in the Smallest of Spaces Öffnet PDF "Laboratory Analytics in the Smallest of Spaces" in neuem Fenster.
Sun Simulator Tests Double-Sided Solar Cells Öffnet PDF "Sun Simulator Tests Double-Sided Solar Cells" in neuem Fenster. An Automated Way to Refinish Marble Öffnet PDF "An Automated Way to Refinish Marble" in neuem Fenster. High Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries Öffnet PDF "High Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries" in neuem Fenster.
What Was Old Is New Again: Recycling Solar Panels Öffnet PDF "What Was Old Is New Again: Recycling Solar Panels" in neuem Fenster. Biofungicides for Sustainable Agriculture Öffnet PDF "Biofungicides for Sustainable Agriculture" in neuem Fenster. Free-Flowing Freight Traffic Thanks to More Precise Planning Öffnet PDF "Free-Flowing Freight Traffic Thanks to More Precise Planning" in neuem Fenster.
Reliable Service Robots Now Coming to Restaurants Öffnet PDF "Reliable Service Robots Now Coming to Restaurants" in neuem Fenster. A secure way to identify transport damage Öffnet PDF "A secure way to identify transport damage" in neuem Fenster. Öffnet PDF "Fine-Tuned Acoustics" in neuem Fenster.
A Constant Eye on Energy Grid Loads Öffnet PDF "A Constant Eye on Energy Grid Loads" in neuem Fenster. Hygienic Check – safe and efficient Öffnet PDF "Hygienic Check – safe and efficient" in neuem Fenster. Well informed – specific actions Öffnet PDF "Well informed – specific actions" in neuem Fenster.
A Second Life as EUR-Pallets Öffnet PDF "A Second Life as EUR-Pallets" in neuem Fenster. A Gentle Way to Harvest Windfall Fruit Öffnet PDF "A Gentle Way to Harvest Windfall Fruit" in neuem Fenster. Repair instead of dispose Öffnet PDF "Repair instead of dispose" in neuem Fenster.
International Cooperation Bilateral Agreements connected to ZIM As a service for German applicants, several bilateral agreements with other countries facilitate synchronised funding with foreign national programmes, while ZIM finances only the German partners. Currently, bilateral agreements are in effect with the countries linked here .
Not all calls are open to all countries, and it may be the case that further countries/regions have been added since this page was last updated. A current list can be found on the German page linked below. Calls for proposals for transnational cooperative research projects are published for SMEs and RTOs with the objective of developing innovative products, processes or technical services.
Additional bilateral agreements with other countries are planned. » Further information on bilateral agreements and open calls Network IraSME for Transnational Projects The ZIM funding programme participates in IraSME, a network of ministries and funding agencies which provide or manage national and regional funding programmes for cooperative research projects between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Research and technology organisations (RTOs) are also invited to participate as cooperation partners of a participating SME . Twice a year IraSME issues joint calls for proposals for transnational cooperative research projects between SMEs and RTOs with the objective of developing innovative products, processes or technical services. Currently, the network connects the countries linked here .
Russia is currently suspended from any IraSME activities. It is planned to include additional countries and regions in the future.
» Further information on IraSME and open calls Current International Calls for Proposals IraSME - 38th Call for Proposals | open until 30 September 2026 Sweden: 7th Call | open until 13 October 2026 Taiwan: 9th Call | open until 28 October 2026 France: 13th Call | open until 18 November 2026 Wie können wir Sie unterstützen? Befristeter Antragsstopp seit 7. Juli 2026 Sie suchen einen kurzen Überblick über das ZIM?
So hilft das ZIM in wenigen Schritten bei Innovationen. Die Antragstellung im ZIM erfolgt einfach und volldigitalisiert über die Förderzentrale Deutschland. Sie haben allgemeine oder detailliertere Fragen?
Schauen Sie in die FAQs . Sie suchen einen direkten Ansprechpartner? Rufen Sie den zuständigen Projektträger an.
Sie möchten auf dem Laufenden bleiben? Abonnieren Sie die ZIM-News . Sie möchten Informationen vom ZIM über LinkedIn erhalten?
Treten Sie hier ZIM auf LinkedIn bei. Sie möchten sich zu verschiedenen Themenschwerpunkten informieren? Finden Sie hier passende ZIM-Webinare .
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) is funded by Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.