The ascent for your startup or SME
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All grants EU-wide
3 steps to your funding
funding strategy
We develop a strategy specifically for your offer on how to finance your project in the best possible way. Funding is usually only part of the strategy here.
grant management
This strategy then needs to be implemented together. We support you not only with the submission but also beyond.
Up to 75 % time saving
Direttissima method TM
Our direct route to funding: With the Direttissima method, we guide your project safely and efficiently through the entire funding process - from submission to implementation.
Up to 75% time savings, clear processes and strong support from our team. Our managing partners personally check the crucial points - for the highest quality and maximum security.
The most popular grants at the moment
FFG Basic Program 2025
As an innovative Austrian company, the FFG Basic Program provides you with financial support for the (experimental) development of new products, processes or services - including digital solutions. The funding is open to all technologies and can be used flexibly for projects by individual companies or consortia.
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Up to EUR 3 million funding
(grant + subsidized loan or guarantee) -
Up to 70% total funding rate
(depending on company size & federal state) - Ongoing submission & up to 7 funding meetings per year
Important: Innovation content, technical difficulty, economic utilization as well as ecological and social aspects are included in the evaluation.
Vienna Business Agency - "Innovation" funding
With this funding program, the Vienna Business Agency supports innovative start-ups and SMEs in the development of new or significantly improved products, services and processes with a clear focus on economic impact and social benefit.
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Non-repayable grant of up to EUR 300,000
(max. funding rate: 45% for small companies, 35% for medium-sized companies) - Ongoing submission until 31.12.2026, evaluation according to the competition principle
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Additional bonuses possible
(e.g. EUR 10,000 women's bonus, EUR 5,000 start-up bonus)
SFG Ideas! Reich XL - Innovation in Styria
The funding is aimed at Styrian SMEs that want to develop innovative products or services and make them ready for the market - with a particular focus on digitalization and sustainability.
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Non-repayable grant of up to EUR 75,000
(funding rate: 30-50%) - Funding is available for innovative SMEs with business premises in Styria that implement the development of prototypes, new products, business models & demonstrators
- Ongoing submission with evaluation by expert jury on several cut-off dates per year
aws PreSeed and Seedfinancing - Deep Tech
These programs support highly innovative deep-tech start-ups in Austria in the development of prototypes and the market readiness of their products or services.
- aws PreSeed - Deep Tech: Non-repayable grant for the development of a proof of concept or prototype, ideally at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3.
- aws Seedfinancing - Deep Tech: Funding for start-ups to develop pre-series products and services, typically at TRL 6.
- Funding rate: Up to 80 %, with gender bonus up to 90 %.
FFG Austrian Life Sciences 2024-2026
Targeted FFG funding for life sciences innovations to strengthen competitiveness, resilience and value creation in Austria - from research to clinical application.
- Grants of up to EUR 3 million for R&D projects in the field of industrial research and experimental development, clinical studies & cooperative lead projects
- Submission ongoing until 18.12.2026 (for flagship projects: separate deadlines & mandatory preliminary meeting)
- Funding rate: Up to 80 %, with gender bonus up to 90 %.
FFG Spin-off Fellowship - promoting spin-offs from science
The program supports researchers at Austrian universities and research institutions in preparing the foundation of a company based on their research results.
- Funding: Grant of up to EUR 500,000 with up to 100 % funding rate, maximum term 18 months
- Eligible for funding: R&D activities, prototyping, coaching, further training & commercialization strategies
- Target group: employed academic staff (Bachelor's degree and above) at research-active institutions
EIC Accelerator - funding for groundbreaking innovations
The European Innovation Council (EIC) program supports start-ups and SMEs in the development and scaling of innovations with high market potential.
- Funding: Up to €2.5 million grant for innovation activities (TRL 6-8); additional investments between €0.5 million and €10 million through the EIC fund for market launch and scaling.
- Target group: Individual start-ups and SMEs with ground-breaking products, services or business models that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
- Application procedure: Three-stage process consisting of short application, full application and personal interview with an EIC jury.