Use government funding for your R&D projects

Secure your Forschungszulage now!

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Why Forschungszulage?

Funding of up to € 3.5 million per year (including CAPEX)

High approval rate of 70% compared to other funding programs, e.g. EIC with only 5%

Fast allocation process - the average allocation time is 56 calendar days compared to e.g. 8-9 months for the EIC

Forschungszulage - Up to €3.5 million in funding per year

The Forschungzulage (FZul) is a tax incentive instrument to support research and development in companies of all sizes and sectors in Germany. The aim is to promote innovation and strengthen competitiveness in the long term.

Secure up to €15 million in non-dilutive, tax-free funding with the Forschungszulage

Why FUNDED is the best partner for your Forschungszulage application

Process with FUNDED

Experienced in grant funding

Experienced in grant funding

With expertise from nearly 100 applications, we know what matters most.

~1–2 days time invest

~1–2 days time invest

You focus on the essentials - we take care of the rest.

Documentation via software

Documentation via software

Automated, structured, and tax office compliant.

Process without FUNDED

No experience with grant funding

No experience with grant funding

You’re left to navigate complex laws, requirements, and formalities on your own.

Significant time invest

Significant time invest

Complex requirements demand significant individual effort.

Manual Documentation

Manual Documentation

Error-prone, time-consuming, and not formatted correctly for funding.

Selected Clients

Ventures who trust us

"Working with Alex and his team was very pleasing for us. The structured process helped us to successfully apply for and receive approval for the FZuL."

Dr. Gideon Schwich
Co-Founder Cylib

"The collaboration with FUNDED was outstandingly good, incredibly professional and efficient."

René Haas
Co-Founder Neocarbon

"It took us 6 weeks from kick-off to application, which is definitely due to the good communication, structure and collaboration with the team."

Tom Lüdersdorf
Co-Founder Ultihash

"FUNDED played a crucial role in helping us navigate the FZuL application process efficiently and successfully."

Nick Zumbühl
Co-founder Nala Earth

“The combination of expertise, attention to detail, and high responsiveness from the FUNDED team is impressive. We really enjoyed working together, even during stressful phases.“

Prof. Dr. Achim Oberg
Uni Hamburg
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Satisfied clients

Ranging from stealth start-ups to decacorns

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Advised funding

In grants and venture debt

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users

On FundedOS

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Four steps to your successful Forschungszulage application

Our clients typically invest just ~1–2 days and benefit from a success rate of over 95% when applying for the Forschungszulage.
01

Identification

02

Drafting the Application

03

Payout

01

Identification

Most companies pursue numerous innovative projects – together, we identify the one with the highest funding potential.

Project A

90%

Project B

70%

Project C

100%
01

Vorbereitung

Wir prüfen alle Projektinfos – von technischen Beschreibungen bis zu Entwicklungszielen – und skizzieren einen ersten Aufbau für den FZul-Antrag.

02

Workshop

Im gemeinsamen Workshop besprechen wir die Projektdetails, grenzen förderfähige Inhalte ab und heben das Innovationspotenzial gezielt hervor.

03

Dokumentation

Wir erstellen die Projektdokumentation mit unserer eigenen Software – förderfähig, strukturiert und BMF-konform.

02

Schreiben des Antrags

Basierend auf deinem F&E-Vorhaben erstellen wir einen strukturierten Antrag nach den Anforderungen der Forschungszulage. Dabei heben wir die technischen Unsicherheiten, den Erkenntnisgewinn und die methodische Planung gezielt hervor – die zentralen Kriterien für die Förderfähigkeit.

01

Preparation

We review all project information – from technical descriptions to development objectives – and outline an initial structure for the FZul application.

02

Workshop

In a joint workshop, we discuss the project details, define the eligible components, and strategically highlight the innovation potential.

03

Documentation

Project documentation is prepared with our own software – ensuring structure, compliance with BMF, and full funding eligibility.

02

Drafting the Application

Based on your R&D project, we prepare a structured application aligned with the requirements of the FZul. We specifically emphasize technical uncertainties, knowledge gain, and methodological planning – the key criteria for funding eligibility.

03

Payout

We support you in efficiently documenting your R&D activities to ensure that the FZul is paid out correctly, completely, and on time. Our proprietary SaaS solution, FundedOS, guarantees that all documentation complies with BSFZ requirements – from performance records to expenditure proof.

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Secure up to €15 million in non-dilutive, tax-free funding with the Forschungszulage

Questions?

How does the Forschungszulage work?

The Forschungszulage is a tax-based incentive for companies investing in research and development (R&D). It allows personnel-related R&D expenses as well as external development contracts to be claimed retroactively from January 1, 2020. The funding is independent of company size or profitability and is disbursed directly through the tax return – providing real liquidity support.

How is the Forschungszulage paid out?

The Forschungszulage is applied within the next income or corporate tax assessment. It is initially offset against the assessed tax liability. If the allowance exceeds the tax owed, the remaining amount is paid out by the tax office – regardless of whether the company has generated profits.

 

What and how much is funded with the Forschungzulage?

Until March 27, personnel costs were eligible for funding of up to €1 million. Since March 28, the Forschungszulage allows accreditation of up to €10 million per year – up to a maximum of €60 million over several years – for internal and external personnel costs as well as CAPEX. Up to €3.5 million per year (35%) is reimbursed tax-free in cash, with a total maximum of €15 million. 

 

What documentation work is required internally?

Applying for the Forschungszulage requires structured and traceable documentation of all R&D activities. This includes, in particular:

  • Time records of the employees involved

  • Technical descriptions of the research and development projects

  • Contracts and evidence for external development assignments

  • Financial overviews clearly identifying eligible expenses

This documentation forms the foundation of a successful application – and is crucial for substantiating the funding claim in the event of a tax audit.