As a small or medium-sized enterprise or research institution, you can apply for innovation funding to finance innovative projects in agriculture, forestry, viticulture, horticulture, fisheries and aquaculture.

The federal government's special-purpose fund, which is set up and managed by Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, provides financial support for the following projects:

• Experimental development projects:
• Projects in the field of experimental development of innovations, for example the implementation of findings from industrial or university research into new or improved products, processes or services
• Market and practical launches:
  • Conceptual planning and design of new products, processes or services
  • Technical feasibility studies, for example for the development of commercially viable prototypes and pilot projects.

The procedure for applying for funding is two-stage, both for experimental development projects and for market and practical launches. If demonstration or pilot projects are subsequently used, the resulting income is deducted from the eligible costs.

Projects are not eligible for funding,

• which are assigned to the areas of basic or industrial research or
• which correspond to the state of the art in the market and in practice as well as organizational, sales or financing standards.

You may only begin the measure to be funded after submitting your application. In the case of investments, the conclusion of supply and service contracts is deemed to be the start of the project. You may provide planning services before submitting your application.