ZIM is a nationwide funding program in Germany, designed to be open to all technologies and industries. Its goal is to strengthen the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and thus ensure their long-term competitiveness. At the same time, the program aims to foster economic growth by unlocking new value creation potential and raising the level of practice-oriented knowledge.
Strengthen innovation sustainably and secure a lasting competitive edge
Secure your ZIM funding now!
Why ZIM?
Funding of up to €1.83 million for internal and external personnel costs, as well as other eligible expenses per year
High approval rate of 62% compared to other funding programs, e.g. EIC with only 7%
Funding is disbursed in regular installments throughout the project duration – not only after the project has been completed.
Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand - Up to €1.83 million in funding per year
The Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) is a cross-industry funding program that supports innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. Its aim is to strengthen the economic stability and competitiveness of the Mittelstand.
Secure up to €1.83 million in non-dilutive, tax-free funding with ZIM
Why FUNDED is the best partner for your ZIM 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
EUR +
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Advised funding
In grants and venture debt
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users
On FundedOS
See more references
Four steps to your successful ZIM application
We minimize the time investment required from our clients while maximizing their chances of success with ZIM applications.
01
Identification
02
Drafting the Application
03
Submitting the application
04
Examination and approval of application
Technical risk
90%
Degree of innovation
100%
Market potential
70%
01
Identification
We assess whether your project meets the ZIM eligibility criteria. This includes analyzing its level of technical risk, innovation, and market potential – ensuring that the application has strong prospects for approval.
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.
02
Drafting the Application
Following a positive assessment, we prepare the complete funding application, including the detailed project description, cost planning, and formal compliance. We support you throughout all three possible application types for individual ZIM projects:
Prozess ohne FUNDED
Feasibility study
Feasibility study
Feasibility analysis to evaluate innovation potential and technical solutions. We provide precise and well-structured documentation.
R&D-Project
R&D-Project
Development of new products, processes, or services. We prepare the complete project description.
Go-to-market Strategy
Go-to-market Strategy
A strategic plan for bringing new innovations to market. We develop a compelling commercialization concept.
03
Submitting the Application
We handle the digital submission of your application via the ZIM portal. We ensure completeness and error-free forms to prevent delays in the approval process.
04
Examination and approval of application
The project management agency reviews the application and we support in the communication in case of follow-up questions. Once approved, we start with your project.
01
Examination
02
Approval
03
Project start
Secure up to €1.83 million in non-dilutive, tax-free funding with ZIM
Questions?
What is the goal of the Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM)?
What is funded?
Funding is provided for the development of new products, processes, and services that offer significant improvements over existing solutions. Projects must contribute to enhancing the company’s long-term competitiveness in a sustainable way.
Who is funded?
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SMEs with fewer than 500 employees
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Companies with up to 1,000 employees if cooperating with an SME
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Open to all industries and technological fields
How is funding provided?
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ZIM individual projects: ZIM supports innovative research and development projects carried out by individual companies, with eligible project costs of up to €690,000.
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Funding rate and market introduction: The funding rate ranges between 30% and 60%, depending on company size, location, and age. In addition, external market introduction costs of up to €60,000 can be subsidized at a rate of 50%.