This German national funding guideline (published in the Federal Gazette on 28 January 2021) supports R&D projects by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the “KMU-innovativ” scheme, with a thematic focus on “Interactive Technologies for Health and Quality of Life”. The measure forms part of the Federal Government’s High-Tech Strategy and the ministry’s SME innovation agenda, and it aims to strengthen the R&D capacity of SMEs and to better leverage their innovation potential for the economy and society.

The programme’s structural objective is to enable SMEs to access and apply state-of-the-art scientific and technological knowledge by collaborating with universities, research organisations and other partners in joint projects. Cooperation with other companies and start-ups is also encouraged to help SMEs develop innovations and commercialise them. As a guiding principle, at least 50% of the funding committed under the measure should benefit SMEs.

Supported projects must fall within the spectrum of the research programme “Together through Innovation: Interactive Technologies for Health and Quality of Life”. Two research fields are highlighted: (1) digitally supported health and care, and (2) liveable spaces: smart, sustainable and innovative. In “digitally supported health and care”, the focus is on interactive technologies that strengthen health literacy through sovereign handling of health data, improve health behaviour, and can be used for therapy, prevention and health management, as well as technologies that can shape care arrangements sustainably. In “liveable spaces”, the focus is on physical and virtual assistance systems for private and public spaces, interactive systems for school and working life, and smart connected assistants supporting social interaction and mobility (e.g., at municipal level).

Across both fields, the programme applies an integrated research approach. Ethical, legal and social aspects are to be integrated from the outset into technology development projects, together with ecological and societal sustainability considerations. User involvement is expected throughout the research and development process via suitable participation formats and co-creation approaches. Applicants must also explain how they will ensure appropriate consideration of relevant legal, ethical and social aspects—especially for studies involving participants, field trials, and solutions relying on extensive collection and processing of user data, or those that may influence social interaction.

The funding instrument supports high-risk industrial research and pre-competitive experimental development projects that are application-oriented and cross-technology. Eligible projects include (i) single-SME projects and (ii) collaborative projects (consortia) involving one or more SMEs together with universities, research institutions, other SMEs/mid-sized companies and additional partners. At least one SME must participate; projects without SME participation are excluded. Consortia should be initiated and coordinated by an SME or mid-sized company, and a significant share of the funding as well as the main benefits and exploitation should lie with the participating SMEs.

Funding is provided as non-repayable grants (project funding). For companies, the funding base is eligible project-related costs, co-financed in line with state-aid rules (AGVO/GBER). For universities and non-economic research activities, eligible project-related expenditures can be funded up to 100% (plus, for universities/university hospitals in non-economic research projects, a 20% project overhead may apply). The typical project duration is up to three years.

The application procedure is two-stage. In stage 1, project outlines (up to 10 pages plus cover and annexes) can be submitted twice per year, with cut-off dates of 15 April and 15 October. After evaluation, only selected project ideas are invited to submit full proposals in stage 2 using the electronic application system. Evaluation criteria include thematic fit, innovation level, scientific/technical risk, quality of the approach and work plan, partner qualification and management, adequacy of budgeting, and the quality and feasibility of exploitation and commercialisation plans.

Opening: 28.01.2021

Two annual cut-off dates (April 15 and October 15). The funding call is open until December 31, 2030.