Introduction
Securing funding is one of the most critical steps for startups to ensure growth and sustainability. This guide highlights some of the top grants and investment programs available for startup, providing essential information about their offerings and eligibility criteria. In more detail, in this article, we would like to talk about grants.
Whether you are a visionary entrepreneur, a pioneering researcher, or an organization striving for growth, the guide will be your key to unlocking funding opportunities.
Each entry in the database is detailed. You receive the grant name, location, type and amount of funding (grant, loan, or equity investment), direct links to official websites for quick access to additional information and application procedures.
Download the "Guide 230+ Grants and Investment Programs for Startups" database.
Examples of Grants:
Top 3 grants in Austria:
aws Seedfinancing
Amount: €800000
Description: aws Seedfinancing is another of Austria’s top grants for startups. Like aws Preseed, aws Seedfinancing focuses only on deep tech startups. Yet, unlike aws Preseed, this grant is repayable.The grant funding aims to bridge the financing gap of deep tech startups developing innovative products and services, yet that need additional funding to either develop their products or go to market.To be eligible, your business must be considered deep tech and have less than 50 employees, and annual sales or balance sheet assets of mo more than €10 million.The amount is significantly higher though: companies can indeed receive up to €800,000 over 1 to 2 years. Also, the grant must be repaid no later than 12 years later, which gives ample room for businesses to generate positive cash flows.
FFG General Program
Amount: €3000000
Description: The funding strategy of General Programme is fundamentally based on the bottom-up principle. It is open to all branches of industry and research topics and eligible to companies and projects of all sizes. General Programme aims to strengthen the competiveness of companies based in Austria by funding the development of new products, processes and services. Funding is up to 50% (for Startups up to 70%) of total eligible project costs. The FFG uses a combination of several financing instruments - such as grants as well as low-interest loans. Submission of an application is possible at any time.
FFG AI for Green
Amount: €2000000
Description: The funding strategy of General Programme is fundamentally based on the bottom-up principle. It is open to all branches of industry and research topics and eligible to companies and projects of all sizes. General Programme aims to strengthen the competiveness of companies based in Austria by funding the development of new products, processes and services. Funding is up to 50% (for Startups up to 70%) of total eligible project costs. The FFG uses a combination of several financing instruments - such as grants as well as low-interest loans. Submission of an application is possible at any time.
Top 3 grants in Belgium:
BioVox Belgium Innovation Grants
Amount: €250000
Description: BioVox Belgium Innovation Grants are available for Belgian life sciences startups and SMEs that are developing innovative products, technologies, or services in the fields of human and animal health.
VLAIO
Amount: €3000000
Description: Projects applying for funding amounting to at least €100,000 and up to €3,000,000 with adequate information in the application document to start the evaluation, including the substantiated business case with a brief description of both the project and the impact; where the maximum number of pages is subject to the following strict limits: project description: maximum of 40 pages impact: maximum of 10 pages + 5 additional pages per additional business partner (subcontractors do not count) for example: for a project with 2 business partners, the project description is limited to 40 pages, and the impact to 15 pages. in principle with a maximum duration of 3 years (unless specific motivation is provided) starting at the earliest on the first of the month following the submission the application is prepared in 1 language: either Dutch or English each applicant has cumulatively been allocated no more than €8,000,000 in funding in the current calendar year (or €12,000,000 if projects are based on a partnership with SMEs or an (international) partnership).
EUREKA Network Projects
Amount: €3000000
Description: We can help you find international partners, build your ideal project consortium and choose the best programme. The Eureka contact in your country can advise, support and guide you from the development of your project idea to its commercialisation.
Top 3 grants in Czech Republic:
Young Agririan
Amount: €45000
Description: The Czech Republic has a tradition of supporting young agricultural entrepreneurs. In 2015-2020 support for young agrarian entrepreneurs is being provided via EU funding for persons interested in starting their entrepreneur activity in agriculture up to 40 years of age. The maximum subsidy is up to 45 000 EUR.
INI Prague
Amount: €42000
Description: The incubator operates under the auspices of i&i Prague. It provides a program for the development and technology transfer of biotechnology research to the commercial environment.
Hack the Crisis
Amount: €125000
Description: Hack the Crisis Czech Republic was a two-month virtual hackathon organised by CzechInvest together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in spring 2020 during the first wave of the global coronavirus pandemic. Its purpose was to coordinate the needs of the state with the energy and volunteering found in the IT community and the business environment and to thus support the implementation of relevant projects that can provide assistance in the crisis situation or mitigate its impacts. A total of 206 projects were entered in the hackathon in the course of its duration. Over fifty partners from the public and private sectors also took part in the event. Free mentoring was provided by more than 130 experts in various fields.
Top 3 grants in Denmark:
SMV Digital
Amount: €33500
Description: Backed by Denmark government’s Strategy for Denmark’s Digital Growth, SMV:Digital is a grant program that aims to promote digitalisation and ecommerce solutions amongst SMEs.
SMV Gron
Amount: €48000
Description: Backed by the EU, SMV:Gron is another of Denmark’s top grant funding programs for startups. SMV:Gron aims to support companies and startups developing sustainable products, processes or services.
InnoExplorer
Amount: €200000
Description: Innoexplorer is another of Innovationsfonden’s 3 grant programs for startups and entrepreneurs, yet less famous than the other 2.Innoexplorer funds project that need experimental, market or technical research to assess their commercial and/or societal potential. These projects must be conducted by entrepreneurs who are researchers, or any employees of public research and educational and health institutions.The funding covers the expenses for the employees’ salaries other expenses related to the project (overheads, materials, etc.).
Top 3 grants in France:
Agence France Développement
Amount: €1500000
Description: In 2021, the AFD group committed €12.15 billion to development projects, utilizing a wide range of financial tools such as loans, grants, and guarantees to support partners' priorities, adapting its offer to evolving needs with grants in low-income countries, favorable loans in middle-income countries, market-rate loans in emerging countries for climate and sustainable projects, and advising and financing local activities in overseas territories.
Canceropole-paca
Amount: €300000
Description: Build ambitious projects over a period of 2 to 5 years; enable academic or private entities to take risks and invest in the fight against cancer. Each project must be co-financed by one or more partners (Satt, Idex, Biopharmas, etc.) with amounts at least equivalent to those committed by the Canceropôle Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
DigiFed
Amount: €55000
Description: Funded by the EU (H2020-TIC), this €3.8 million project aims to boost the adoption of advanced digital technologies (CPS) by SMEs and mid-sized companies through partnerships with key stakeholders, providing up to €55,000 in vouchers to 60 selected companies for integrating new technologies.
Top 3 grants in Germany:
FUNDED
Amount: €5000000
Description: The German government provided a grant volume of around €47.2 billion in 20221. This was supplemented by further subsidies at EU level amounting to billions.Companies can benefit from various programs, including the research allowance, which allows them to receive up to €5 million tax-free for research and development (R&D) projects.
Pro FIT (Projektfinanzierung)
Amount: €1000000
Description: The grant funds industrial research, experimental development, market preparation and launch projects.
Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung)
Amount: €500000
Description: Pro FIT is a number of grant programs for startups backed by the State of Berlin through the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB). IBB offers financial assistance to technology-oriented SMEs and startups in the early stages of their business operation.Pro FIT (Frühphasenfinanzierung) is abnother of Germany’s top public grants that supports startups with financing in their first years. The grant covers expenses such as personnel costs, investment in material & equipment and other operating expenses.
Top 2 grants in Greece:
Ennovation
Amount: €100000
Description: Ennovation is an international student competition on Digital Entrepreneurship, Innovation and e-Business. The competition is organised by the Athens University of Economics and Business (ELTRUN, the eBusiness Centre), the International Hellenic University and the University of Nicosia. Run through the Ennovation Universities Network, the competition aims to educate students and young researchers in the field of innovation and digital entrepreneurship, as well as to promote young entrepreneurship in the fields of internet, mobile business, etc. Experts in the field help students to analyse and promote new entrepreneurial ideas and models for electronic businesses, along with new digital products/services. An additional aim is to generate a collaborative environment for the further development of new innovative digital enterprises.
Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award
Amount: €700000
Description: The eight HEA winners are benefiting from funding, mentoring and business support. The award programme aims to create opportunity for both experienced and budding entrepreneurs by providing winners with the resources they need to get a new business started. The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award is funded and administered by the Libra Group on behalf of The Hellenic Initiative, a non-profit organization that is undertaking a number of economic development programmes designed to encourage entrepreneurship and investment in Greece. The Libra Group has committed over €7 million to the award.
Top 3 grants in Ireland:
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund
Amount: €1500000
Description: To be eligible for DTIF Call 6, projects must seek a minimum of €1.5 million over three years, include at least three independent partners (one SME and one enterprise), with SMEs able to claim up to 50% and large companies up to 40% of eligible costs, research organizations up to 100% but no more than 50% of the total DTIF grant, partners must be clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, or an eligible RPO, based in Ireland, and conduct industrial research or experimental development within TRL 3-9, while company partners must demonstrate financial stability.
Business Expansion Grants (LEO)
Amount: €150000
Description: Business Expansion Grants are another of LEO’s funding programs for businesses and startups.
Feasibility grants (LEO)
Amount: €150000
Description: Feasibility Grants are grants that aims to assist early-stage businesses with researching market demand for a product or service.Therefore, the funds must be spend against expenses incurred for feasibility analyses. For example they can be spent for market research, 3rd party consultancy costs, technical development and prototype, etc.In total, businesses can claim a maximum of €15,000 and must cover 50% of the expenses themselves.
Top 3 grants in Israel:
R&D Fund
Amount: €1250000
Description: The R&D Fund program is Israel’s top public grant program for startups. As most startup grants in this list, it is offered via the government-backed Israel Innovation Authority.It aims to stimulate R&D investment from companies in Israel by providing financial support of 20% to 50% of approved budget R&D costs.Note that in 2010 the R&D Fund program was merged with the Early Stage Incentive Program. The latter is a similar grant that supports early stage companies that invest in innovative technological projects and intend to commercialise the end products, services or processes.
Innovation Labs
Amount: €250000
Description: Innovation Labs isn’t purely a grant funding program. Instead, it aims at supporting startups that need an infrastructure and equipment to assess the feasibility of a technological idea or product.Therefore, successful applicants get access to unique infrastructure, insights, material and equipment from leading companies and research institutes in Israel. The aim of this collaboration is to help companies (not just startups) to develop technological ideas and turn them into a commercial product.
Tnufa
Amount: €50000
Description: The Ideation (Tnufa) Program is Israel’s top grant program for very early stage projects and startups.Indeed, the grant only funds project costs such as: initial prototype, market research expenses, intellectual property protection, patent acquisition and related early-stage expenses.
Top 2 grants in Italy:
National Fund for Energy Efficiency (FNEE)
Amount: €2500000
Description: The FNEE is an incentive provided by the MISE and the Ministry of the Environment, which aims to support the implementation of interventions aimed at ensuring the achievement of the energy efficiency objectives set by the Kyoto Protocol, by companies, Energy service companies – ESCo (consisting of at least 2 years; in single or associated/aggregate form as Consortia, Network Contracts and ATI) and Public Administration.
Smart Money
Amount: €30000
Description: With this measure, the MISE provides two types of facilitation: the first allocates non-repayable grants of up to 10,000 euros to start-ups – which covers up to 80% of eligible expenses – to purchase the services provided by the network of incubators, accelerators and other authorized entities.To obtain it, start-ups must submit a development project that includes an activity plan to be implemented in at least 12 months.The second – intended for innovative start-ups that will complete the aforementioned business plan – provides for a non-repayable grant equal to 100% of the investment in risk capital (within the overall limit of 30,000 euros) by authorized entities, qualified investors or business angels, to finance their development plans.
Top 3 grants in Netherlands:
Dusk Network
Amount: €30000
Description: The Dusk Grants Program helps projects and developers launch to drive mainstream adoption of blockchain and build the future of finance. Opportunities on Dusk Network are endless.
OP Zuid
Amount: €1000000
Description: Regional grant with a European touch. Funds are provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) but distributed regionally by the OP Zuid program. The aim of the program is to use the local innovative ecosystem in the south of the Netherlands to realize economic and social impact in ongoing transitions in energy, climate, raw materials, agriculture and food and health. In the current round of funding, partnerships of two organizations (or more) can receive up to €1 million in grant funding. Larger projects with a variety of project partners are best suited for the OP Zuid grant.
Top 2 grants in Portugal:
Incubation Valley
Amount: Not disclosed
Description: Support for companies in their first year of business in the area of entrepreneurship, by contracting incubation services provided by certified incubators. The support includes management, marketing, consultancy and legal support services, support for digitisation and intellectual property protection and support for applications for entrepreneurship and innovation tenders.
Pitch Voucher
Amount: Not disclosed
Description: The Pitch Voucher promotes the strengthening of the relationship between start-ups and large undertakings. Through the Startup Centre platform, undertakings can raise technological challenges and start-ups can respond with innovative solutions.
Top 2 grants in Serbia:
Innovation Fund Serbia
Amount: €5000000
Description: Serbia, through its Innovation Fund established in 2011, aims to boost economic growth by supporting innovative entrepreneurship and strengthening the collaboration between science and the private sector, with significant support from the European Union and the World Bank.
Big Small Business Project
Amount: Not disclosed
Description: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Big Small Businesses project (Projekat velika mala privreda) is a five-year activity ACDI/VOCA is implementing in partnership with J.E. Austin Associates, Center for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES), and the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation.
Top 2 grants in Spain:
ESA BIC Madrid Region
Amount: €50000
Description: Participation requirements:Have an innovative project and be a start-up with less than 5 years of life or be in the process of creating it.Want to develop a technological solution that includes the use of:Space technologies or infrastructures to develop innovative products or services for any sector (Spin off).Non-space technologies used for the development of innovative products or services for the space sector (Spin in).Your project must have a high growth potentialIn case of being selected the company will be established at one of the five locations of the ESA BIC Comunidad de Madrid incubator.
Eurostar CDTI
Amount: €400000
Description: Eurostars supports innovative SMEs by providing public financing and fostering R&D projects that promote technological advancement and internationalization, with funds managed and coordinated through national agencies and the Eureka Secretariat.
Top 2 grants in Sweden:
Wallenberg Foundation
Amount: €2000000
Description: The Foundation supports long-term, free basic research beneficial to Sweden.
Swedish Institute (SI)
Amount: €2000000
Description: The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency whose mission is to show Sweden’s progress to the world, that is, to raise awareness of Sweden’s potential. Their objective is to achieve a high level of trust in Sweden so that the conditions of trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange improve, and this way foster the attraction of international talent.The SI has a total budget of SEK 294 million allocated to grants and scholarships, where candidates can find different projects to apply, and about two thirds of this budget is provided by the Swedish aid budget.
Top 3 grants in Switzerland:
NRP (National Research Programmes)
Amount: €2000000
Description: Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the National Research Programmes (NRPs) are a number of grant programs that aim to finance scientific experiments and innovative projects in a number of areas.The range of areas is vast and includes, among others: energy, nanosciences, urbanisation, healthcare but also gender equality, ageing population, immigration, etc.Each start-up initially get CHF 50,000 in order to get their projects started. Then, subsequent funding is provided for research costs and staff salaries, as well as of scientific cooperation, networking and communication.In total, startups can receive anywhere from CHF 300,000 to CHF 2 million across 4 years’ time.
Innosuisse Booster
Amount: €500000
Description: Innosuisse Booster is a type of funding initiative that aims to foster new technical innovation that solves a wide range of problems and issues relevant to Switzerland.To be eligible, you will need to prove the project is indeed innovative and has the potential to become a product, service or process available on the market in the future.The Innosuisse Booster programme provides an even larger funding opportunity for start-ups that caps at CHF 500,000 annually.
The Hashgraph Association
Amount: €250000
Description: Hashgraph Innovation Program from Hedera is the Grant program to provide support and funding startups and founders in the blockchain.
Top 3 grants in United Kingdom:
BIRAX
Amount: €420000
Description: BIRAX (the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership) is a £multi-million initiative of the British Council and the British Embassy in Israel, together with the Pears Foundation , investing in world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in Britain and Israel.
Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
Amount: €23000000
Description: We are dedicated to supporting the UK’s global leadership position in scientific research, automotive engineering and net-zero political ambition by enabling the de-risking of new product and process development, supporting domestic and export markets.
UKRI (UK Research and Innovation)
Amount: €4500000
Description: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) offers various funds, including the £6.6 billion Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to support projects in clean growth, ageing society, future mobility, and AI/data economy, with specific grants available for eligible businesses and startups.
How to Apply for Startup Grants
- Familiarize Yourself with the Eligibility Requirements
It’s crucial to understand the eligibility criteria before you apply for any grant. Each program has its set of requirements concerning project type, industry focus and startup stage.
- Craft a Compelling Application
A crafted application boosts your chances of securing funding. Make sure your proposal clearly articulates the projects goals, innovative aspects and potential impact. Provide projections and a robust business plan.
- Utilize Networking Opportunities
Participate in events and networking sessions hosted by these grant programs to engage with startups and investors.
Conclusion
Countries provides a range of grants and investment initiatives to aid startups, in sectors. By familiarizing themselves with each programs details and submitting an application startups can greatly improve their prospects of obtaining the funding needed for their development and creativity.
This guide acts as a resource for aspiring business owners seeking to delve into funding options. Use the suggested links and details to navigate through the application procedure.
