{"id":8238,"date":"2026-07-07T20:18:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/nicht-kategorisiert\/please-note-the-central-innovation-program-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-zim-has-run-out-of-funds\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T20:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:20:16","slug":"please-note-the-central-innovation-program-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-zim-has-run-out-of-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/services-en\/please-note-the-central-innovation-program-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-zim-has-run-out-of-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Please note: The Central Innovation Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ZIM) has run out of funds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-margin-top-small:40px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1256.6px;margin-left: calc(-3% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-3% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.455%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.455%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.455%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.455%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.455%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.455%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:40px;\"><p><span class=\"fusion-dropcap dropcap\" style=\"--awb-color:var(--awb-custom_color_1);\">A<\/span>Attention: The brilliant ZIM program has run out of funds and, as of today, July 7, 2026, has suspended the acceptance of applications until further notice.  <\/p>\n<p>What should be done? We support the program and trust that policymakers will continue to allocate funds for this outstanding program.   <\/p>\n<p>And we&#8217;re using the time until the end of the year to fine-tune our clients&#8217; applications. That way, we can submit them promptly when the program resumes in the new year. <\/p>\n<p>Here are the details about ZIM:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Maximum grant per company:<\/strong> 168,000\u2013336,000 EUR<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flat rate:<\/strong> Upon submission of supporting documentation, up to 100% of personnel costs for companies, 85% for research institutions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grant:<\/strong> 25\u201360% of the costs + a lump sum<\/li>\n<li><strong>Funding agencies:<\/strong> Federal Government \u2013&gt; BMWK \u2013&gt; AiF\/VDI VDE-IT#<\/li>\n<li><strong>Program budget:<\/strong> approximately 650 million euros per year<\/li>\n<li><strong>Funding areas:<\/strong> Development of innovative products, processes, or technical services, without restriction to specific technologies or industries<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eligible applicants:<\/strong> SMEs and medium-sized companies with up to 1,000 employees<\/li>\n<li><strong>Formats:<\/strong> In-house (single project), consortia (2 or more SMEs), networks (6 or more SMEs)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application process:<\/strong> single-stage, applications accepted on an ongoing basis<\/li>\n<li><strong>Requirements:<\/strong> Innovation, technical risks, commercial exploitation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Difficulty level:<\/strong> Easy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:34px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;font-size:1em;--fontSize:34;line-height:var(--awb-typography1-line-height);\">The ZIM Program<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p class=\"\" data-start=\"176\" data-end=\"508\">ZIM is the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action\u2019s (BMWK) largest technology- and sector-neutral funding program for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. It supports research and development projects carried out by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and collaborating research institutions. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"510\" data-end=\"524\">Objectives:<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"525\" data-end=\"728\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"525\" data-end=\"583\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"583\">Strengthening the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"525\" data-end=\"583\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"583\">Bring new products, processes, and services to market faster<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"525\" data-end=\"583\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"583\">Promoting collaboration between industry and academia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:30px;\"><h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"730\" data-end=\"758\">Funding opportunities:<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"759\" data-end=\"991\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"759\" data-end=\"824\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"761\" data-end=\"824\">Individual projects: R&#038;D projects carried out by a single company<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"825\" data-end=\"889\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"827\" data-end=\"889\">Collaborative Projects: R&#038;D Projects Involving Multiple Partners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"890\" data-end=\"991\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"892\" data-end=\"991\">Innovation Networks: Building and Managing Networks with Shared Development Goals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"993\" data-end=\"1120\">ZIM funding is non-repayable funding and can be combined on a case-by-case basis\u2014including with international partners.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element awb-imageframe-style awb-imageframe-style-below awb-imageframe-style-1\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:30px;--awb-margin-bottom:10px;--awb-caption-title-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-caption-text-size:var(--awb-typography5-font-size);--awb-caption-text-transform:var(--awb-typography5-text-transform);--awb-caption-text-line-height:var(--awb-typography5-line-height);--awb-caption-text-letter-spacing:var(--awb-typography5-letter-spacing);--awb-caption-margin-top:-10px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h3_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h3_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h3_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h3_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h3_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h3_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h3_typography-letter-spacing);--awb-caption-text-font-family:var(--awb-typography5-font-family);--awb-caption-text-font-weight:var(--awb-typography5-font-weight);--awb-caption-text-font-style:var(--awb-typography5-font-style);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" title=\"Whiterock ZIM Project Molds\" src=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen.png\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5638\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201280%20720%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen-200x113.png 200w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterock-ZIM-Projektformen.png 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><div class=\"awb-imageframe-caption-container\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><div class=\"awb-imageframe-caption\"><h3 class=\"awb-imageframe-caption-title\">Whiterock ZIM Project Molds<\/h3><p class=\"awb-imageframe-caption-text\">In addition to individual projects, ZIM offers various forms of collaboration through cooperative projects (above) and innovation networks (below)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:50px;--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:34px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;font-size:1em;--fontSize:34;line-height:var(--awb-typography1-line-height);\">ZIM Funding Rates<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:20px;\"><p>The following table shows the funding rates (in yellow) for companies of different sizes. Classification is based on the number of employees and revenue\/total assets. Higher funding rates apply to start-ups and companies in structurally weak regions. Higher funding rates also apply to cooperation partners with international participation.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element awb-imageframe-style awb-imageframe-style-below awb-imageframe-style-2\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:20px;--awb-caption-title-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-caption-text-size:var(--awb-typography5-font-size);--awb-caption-text-transform:var(--awb-typography5-text-transform);--awb-caption-text-line-height:var(--awb-typography5-line-height);--awb-caption-text-letter-spacing:var(--awb-typography5-letter-spacing);--awb-caption-margin-top:-10px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h3_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h3_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h3_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h3_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h3_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h3_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h3_typography-letter-spacing);--awb-caption-text-font-family:var(--awb-typography5-font-family);--awb-caption-text-font-weight:var(--awb-typography5-font-weight);--awb-caption-text-font-style:var(--awb-typography5-font-style);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:20px;\"><a class=\"fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1.png\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"Whiterrock ZIM funding rates\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1.png\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5728\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201280%20720%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1-200x113.png 200w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1-800x450.png 800w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Whiterrock-ZIM-Foerdersaetze-1.png 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/span><div class=\"awb-imageframe-caption-container\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><div class=\"awb-imageframe-caption\"><h3 class=\"awb-imageframe-caption-title\">Whiterrock ZIM funding rates<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><p>Click on the table to enlarge it. For more information: <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zim.de\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1145\" data-end=\"1177\">www.zim.de<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the latest insights, market trends &#038; inspiration!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-funding-programs","category-services-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8238"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8241,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8238\/revisions\/8241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baumgaertnerinnovation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}