💡 The key facts about the Forschungszulage at a glance.

Up to €4.2 million in annual funding for your company — including retroactively

The Forschungszulage (Public Funding) is a tax-based incentive for R&D in Germany. Instead of months of preparation, we secure it for you in 4 calls— €300k average funding no equity required, 92% success rate and you only pay if we succeed.

Trusted by leading startups and SMEs

Kitekraft
Junto
IH
Shopvibes
Kokoro
Gitpod
Camp3
Voize
Gavel
Berlin Collective
Future Maps
Kitekraft
Junto
IH
Shopvibes
Kokoro
Gitpod
Camp3
Voize
Gavel
Berlin Collective
Future Maps

You can get up to 35% of your day-to-day work funded retroactively

In Germany, there's an innovation funding program that makes this possible. Up to 4 years retroactively and with a maximum of €4.2 million per year, you can have your costs supported by the government.

All of this is possible with the Forschungszulage. And no—you don't need to do basic research for it.

Sample projects

You can find examples of already funded projects here:

B2B Industrial AI

Development of camera- and AI-based real-time analysis of production lines.

Creative Tech

Development of prompting techniques for consistent image styles across multiple images.

B2B SaaS

Development of a data-driven B2B customer segmentation framework.

Hardware Tech

Development of airborne wind turbines for energy generation at higher altitudes.

FinTech

Development of a low-latency auction platform with proprietary wallet and synchronization technology.

AI SaaS

Development of dynamic prompt engineering and LLM integration for specialized text generation.

Manufacturing

Development of new 3D printing processes for integrating metal wires into transparent, stable structures.

Consumer FinTech

Development of a modular financial manager for structuring personal finances.

E-Commerce

Development of data normalization and interoperability in e-commerce.

GovTech

Design of a decentralized infrastructure for a "Trusted City ID".

Developer Tools

Development of a cloud-based development environment with extremely fast startup times.

HealthTech

Development of a mobile body scanner for precise 3D reconstruction of the human body.

Privacy Tech

AI-based, tracking-free analysis of online publications.

B2B Industrial AI

Development of camera- and AI-based real-time analysis of production lines.

Creative Tech

Development of prompting techniques for consistent image styles across multiple images.

B2B SaaS

Development of a data-driven B2B customer segmentation framework.

Hardware Tech

Development of airborne wind turbines for energy generation at higher altitudes.

FinTech

Development of a low-latency auction platform with proprietary wallet and synchronization technology.

AI SaaS

Development of dynamic prompt engineering and LLM integration for specialized text generation.

Manufacturing

Development of new 3D printing processes for integrating metal wires into transparent, stable structures.

Consumer FinTech

Development of a modular financial manager for structuring personal finances.

E-Commerce

Development of data normalization and interoperability in e-commerce.

GovTech

Design of a decentralized infrastructure for a "Trusted City ID".

Developer Tools

Development of a cloud-based development environment with extremely fast startup times.

HealthTech

Development of a mobile body scanner for precise 3D reconstruction of the human body.

Privacy Tech

AI-based, tracking-free analysis of online publications.

B2B Industrial AI

Development of camera- and AI-based real-time analysis of production lines.

Creative Tech

Development of prompting techniques for consistent image styles across multiple images.

B2B SaaS

Development of a data-driven B2B customer segmentation framework.

Hardware Tech

Development of airborne wind turbines for energy generation at higher altitudes.

FinTech

Development of a low-latency auction platform with proprietary wallet and synchronization technology.

AI SaaS

Development of dynamic prompt engineering and LLM integration for specialized text generation.

Manufacturing

Development of new 3D printing processes for integrating metal wires into transparent, stable structures.

Consumer FinTech

Development of a modular financial manager for structuring personal finances.

E-Commerce

Development of data normalization and interoperability in e-commerce.

GovTech

Design of a decentralized infrastructure for a "Trusted City ID".

Developer Tools

Development of a cloud-based development environment with extremely fast startup times.

HealthTech

Development of a mobile body scanner for precise 3D reconstruction of the human body.

Privacy Tech

AI-based, tracking-free analysis of online publications.

The key advantage:

You have a legal entitlement. If your project meets the criteria, it must be funded—regardless of the budget situation.

Find out whether your company meets the eligibility requirements for the Forschungszulage.

These questions are probably on your mind right now.

That's completely normal—we provide the answers here.

»Is the effort even worth it for us?«

»Isn't this an insane amount of bureaucracy?«

»What if the application gets rejected?«

»Consulting surely costs a fortune.«

»I don't have time to write applications.«

»We're not even a typical research company.«

We support you end-to-end and take care of everything

So you receive your funding at the maximum possible amount—reliably and stress-free

More money

€300k average funding

With us, companies often receive more money because we know which additional costs can still be claimed.

+€75k

more funding through us

Less effort

Instead of 4 weeks, just 4 calls

We handle the writing. You only contribute your expertise in a few calls.

4

calls to submission

Higher success rate

Confidently through the tax audit

While the average is around 75%, we achieve 92% thanks to our watertight documentation.

92%

success rate

Proven results

Trusted experience

We have already guided numerous companies successfully to the Forschungszulage (Public Funding).

€8M+

Forschungszulage secured • 35+ customers

Customer testimonials

€314,825

Super fast and efficient support with the Forschungszulage. The process was completed in just 4 calls.

Fabio Schmidberger
Fabio Schmidberger
Founder
voize · YC W22

100% success-based – zero risk, full motivation

Scope of service
Die Forschungszulage
Full support through payout
Typical agencies
Consulting ends after the BSFZ certificate
Working style
Die Forschungszulage
Personal interviews, proactive writing of the applications
Typical agencies
Only questionnaires, self-completion
Time required
Die Forschungszulage
Minimal (approx. 4–8 hours in calls)
Typical agencies
High effort due to lack of support
Documentation
Die Forschungszulage
Practical help with timesheets
Typical agencies
Complex self-tracking without templates
Cost structure
Die Forschungszulage
100% success-based
Typical agencies
Fixed upfront fees, costs even if rejected
Payment timing
Die Forschungszulage
50% upon positive BSFZ decision, 50% upon receipt of funds
Typical agencies
Full payment already upon BSFZ decision
Track record
Die Forschungszulage
Verifiable results, references
Typical agencies
Missing proof of successfully handled cases

Here's our guides on the application and funding

Everything you need for a successful application—clear, structured, and practical. And if you want support, we're always here for you.

Eligibility requirements

All requirements at a glance.

Read more

Calculation

Funding rates, caps, and examples.

Read more

Application process

From the BSFZ certificate to payout.

Read more

Sample projects

Examples of eligible R&D projects.

Read more

Ask us

Do you have questions about the Forschungszulage? I'd be happy to help.
Erich Lehmann

Erich Lehmann

Managing Director

Die Forschungszulage

Erich is a multiple founder and Y Combinator alumnus. He has personally and successfully helped many companies.

Book an appointment

Book a free consultation appointment.

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