Top 10 Government Grants for Startups in Germany in 2025
Germany is a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, offering a wide range of government grants to support startups.
These grants are designed to foster innovation, sustainability, and economic growth, providing startups with the resources they need to thrive.
Below is a detailed guide to the top 10 government grants available in 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application deadlines.
These grants are designed to foster innovation, sustainability, and economic growth, providing startups with the resources they need to thrive.
Below is a detailed guide to the top 10 government grants available in 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application deadlines.
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1. EXIST Business Start-up Grant
- Funding Amount: Up to €3,000 per month for living expenses, €30,000 for material costs, and €5,000 for coaching.
- Eligibility: Students, graduates, and researchers with innovative business ideas.
- Benefits: Supports the development of prototypes, MVPs, and business plans.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: EXIST Business Start-up Grant
2. High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
- Funding Amount: Up to €1 million in seed funding.
- Eligibility: Startups in digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, or chemistry, less than 3 years old.
- Benefits: Provides equity financing and mentorship for high-tech startups.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: High-Tech Gründerfonds
3. GründungsBONUS Berlin
- Funding Amount: Up to €50,000, covering 50% of startup costs.
- Eligibility: Startups in Berlin operating in tech, digital, creative, or sustainable industries.
- Benefits: Supports early-stage startups in their first two years of operation.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: GründungsBONUS Berlin
4. ERP Start-Up Loan
- Funding Amount: Up to €100,000 for small startups and €25 million for larger startups.
- Eligibility: Startups less than 5 years old.
- Benefits: Low-interest loans for commercial and professional startups.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: ERP Start-Up Loan
5. Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung)
- Funding Amount: Up to €500,000, with 50% as a non-repayable grant and 50% as a loan.
- Eligibility: Tech-oriented startups in Berlin with innovative R&D projects.
- Benefits: Supports early-stage R&D and commercialization.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: Pro FIT
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6. MEP (Markteinführung innovativer Produkte)
- Funding Amount: Up to €150,000 for startups less than 5 years old.
- Eligibility: SMEs launching innovative products or services in Saxony.
- Benefits: Covers up to 75% of eligible expenditures for market entry.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: MEP Grant
7. BayTOU (Bavarian Technology-Oriented Startups)
- Funding Amount: Up to €150,000, covering 35-45% of project costs.
- Eligibility: Tech-oriented startups in Bavaria with less than 10 employees.
- Benefits: Supports innovative technological projects.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: BayTOU
8. INVEST – Venture Capital Grant
- Funding Amount: 20% reimbursement of private investments (up to €3 million annually).
- Eligibility: Startups receiving investments from certified business angels.
- Benefits: Encourages private investment in innovative startups.
- Application Deadline: Rolling basis.
- Official Website: INVEST Grant
9. Prototype Fund
- Funding Amount: Up to €95,000 for 6 months or €158,000 for 10 months.
- Eligibility: Independent developers and small teams creating open-source software.
- Benefits: Funds innovative software projects in the public interest.
- Application Deadline: January 2, 2025 (for Class 01).
- Official Website: Prototype Fund
10. EIC Accelerator
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million and equity investments up to €10 million.
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with innovative products or services.
- Benefits: Supports high-risk innovations with market disruption potential.
- Application Deadline: Full application deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.
- Official Website: EIC Accelerator
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Conclusion
Germany’s government grants for startups in 2025 provide a robust framework for innovation and growth.
From equity-free funding to low-interest loans, these programs cater to a wide range of industries and project sizes.
Startups are encouraged to explore these opportunities to accelerate their growth and contribute to Germany’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
From equity-free funding to low-interest loans, these programs cater to a wide range of industries and project sizes.
Startups are encouraged to explore these opportunities to accelerate their growth and contribute to Germany’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
