Since 2019, young companies and startups based in Rhineland-Palatinate have been able to participate in the startup innovativ funding program. The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Economic Affairs, Transportation, Agriculture and Viniculture (MWVLW) tenders the associated grants annually. The funding is awarded in a competitive process. You can find information on the next application period here.
The current application period is from 15.02.2024 to 30.04.2024.
Are you the founder of a company located in Rhineland-Palatinate that is less than three years old? You can then submit your startup idea to startup innovativ. It is essential that your company’s headquarters be located in Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also important to ensure that your startup idea fulfills the necessary requirements.
The documents are only accepted in electronic form by the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Transportation, Agriculture and Viniculture, Department 8402. The call for submissions for each current year is announced individually at startupoffice.rlp.de. There you will also find further information on the application process. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at startupinnovativ(at)mwvlw.rlp.de.
The funding cannot be used to cover arbitrary expenses, and the allocation of funds is contingent upon specific criteria. Funding is allocated for purposes that include:
Conducting feasibility studies; paying personnel costs; developing, testing, and implementing prototypes; and market launch of the product or service
Investment measures such as acquisition and production expenses associated with tangible fixed assets such as machinery, equipment, and IT technology
Expenditures on design and patent applications, the development and acquisition of norms and standards, and the implementation of a quality management system
Non-investment measures such as technical consulting and development services or employee training and development
Expenses as stipulated by the State Travel Expenses Act (Landesreisekostengesetz)
Please note that only project-related expenses that have not yet been contracted or incurred at the time of application will be eligible for funding. Once you have received confirmation that your application has been received, you are authorized to begin using funds for the aforementioned purposes, allowing for an early start to the measures. Confirmation of receipt is not, however, equivalent to a guarantee of funding. Until a final decision has been made on your application, any expenses incurred will be at your own risk.
Qualified advisors will first verify the plausibility and completeness of all applications and documents submitted. This also includes an initial assessment.
The next step involves a state-wide jury that evaluates the submissions. This jury consists of five independent experts, who vote on the eligibility and funding priorities of the projects.
The startup projects submitted are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
Innovative content of the business idea
Business plan and/or pitch deck
Economic and social significance
Market potential and sales strategy
Personality of the founder or founding team
The available application documents
In addition to receiving individual funding, the selected startups and companies are provided with the opportunity to engage in idea exchange and networking within the startup scene. They can also tap into a network of mentors. In other words, if your startup project is selected as a winner, you can expect to receive a range of non-monetary benefits that will greatly propel your idea forward.
The grants are distributed with an earmark for a designated purpose, meaning they can only be utilized for the purpose mentioned above. If the funds are misused in violation of the agreed-upon terms, it should be anticipated that the grant will be rescinded and you will be required to repay the full amount of the grant, along with any accrued interest.
You will also receive a grant notification accompanied by a de minimis certificate. You are required to retain this certificate for a period of ten years and present it upon request within a specified timeframe. The de minimis certificate may be requested by entities such as the European Commission, federal or state governments, or the approving body. The document must also be attached to future funding applications.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact startupinnovativ(at)mwvlw.rlp.de
Further information on the funding program can be found here.