In May, the founders of Eovent successfully presented their technology and business idea to the jury of EXIST Forschungstransfer, the most important German hightech startup grant financed by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). Now the funding period officially started.
EXIST is a support program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) aimed at improving the entrepreneurial environment at universities and research institutions and at increasing the number of technology and knowledge based business start-ups. The EXIST program is part of the German government’s “Hightech Strategy for Germany” and is co-financed by funding of the European Social Fund (ESF). EXIST Transfer of Research promotes technology-based business start-up projects in the pre-start-up and the start-up stage. EXIST Transfer of Research” complements the broadly targeted EXIST Business Start-Up Grants with an excellence-oriented measure for high-tech start-ups.
The purpose of the first funding phase is to support research teams at universities or research institutes so as to enable them to provide proof for the technological feasibility of their product idea and to prepare the business start-up. The funding includes staff expenses for up to three staff members and 50,000 euro for materials and equipment. After one year, funding is available for another person with managerial skills to become a member of the start-up team later. The maximum funding period is 18 months in the pre-start-up phase.
During the second funding phase, the newly founded technology-oriented companies can be supported with up to 150,000 euro to continue the product design, for instance up to the prototype realization and to be able to solicit external funding for their company.
Applications for all program lines are to be submitted to the respective university or research institute.
For more information about EXIST visit www.exist.de. | 
