Germany's BMDS Releases Digital Technology Funding Guidelines, Up to €5 Million per Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 17, Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation launched the "Digital Tech-to-Product" digital technology funding programme, aimed at start-ups and SMEs to support the transition of digital technologies from the technology validation stage to commercialised products, services and business models. The first application round has been opened, focusing on artificial intelligence and AI solutions, data ecosystems, cybersecurity and cryptographic technologies, cloud computing and edge computing, with a project application deadline of October 11.

According to the first-round funding rules published by Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation, a single project can receive up to €5 million in funding support, with priority given to product-oriented innovation projects that have completed technology demonstration and are continuing to advance toward the pre-commercial maturity stage, with support available up to Technology Readiness Level TRL 8. Some projects at the proof-of-concept stage, approximately TRL 4 to 5, may also be included for support under specific circumstances.

The programme adopts a two-stage application mechanism. Companies or consortia first submit project proposals through the German Federal Government's "easy-Online" system, and after passing the preliminary review, submit complete application materials. The funding targets primarily include start-ups and SMEs, while also allowing companies, research institutions and others to form consortia to apply. Project selection will focus on the technical approach, market transformation capability, and support for Germany's digital technology sovereignty.

The first round explicitly lists artificial intelligence as one of the key directions, requiring supported projects to develop digital products with practical market application capabilities. The official funding guidelines also propose that relevant technologies should strengthen controllability, adaptability, security, interoperability, substitutability and system resilience, and reduce dependence of critical digital technologies on external supply systems.

In March of this year, Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernisation conducted a survey of the needs of companies and research institutions regarding digital key technology funding programmes. Key feedback included expanding market-oriented support, strengthening research-industry cooperation, improving project planning certainty, and simplifying funding procedures. The survey results published in June showed that the new programme will focus on advancing artificial intelligence and other key digital technologies from the research and prototype stage into concrete products and commercial applications.

In addition to industrialisation funding, Germany and Canada also announced on September 16 a plan to jointly provide 300 million Canadian dollars in support to AI research organisation LawZero, with Germany expected to contribute approximately half, equivalent to about €100 million, for the development of new artificial intelligence systems for safe and trustworthy applications. This project belongs to a different funding arrangement from "Digital Tech-to-Product".