Grants

Starting your own business can be an exciting journey, but it also requires financial support. In Lower Saxony, a variety of funding and financing options make it easier for budding entrepreneurs to become self-employed. Some of the most important programmes and resources available to science start-ups in Lower Saxony are summarised below.

If you have an innovative idea and are thinking about starting a business, you should definitely consider the resources available. We will be happy to advise you and guide you through the application process.

Leuphana start-up idea of the year

©Leuphana

Every year, the Chair of Start-up Management organises the start-up competition for the Leuphana start-up idea of the year, sponsored by the Rainer Adank Foundation. Students and employees of Leuphana University of Lüneburg are invited to apply with their start-up idea. The best concept will be honoured during the Lünale and rewarded with 1,500 euros.

EXIST start-up grant

©Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie
©BMWI

What? 
Innovative technology-orientated start-up projects and knowledge-based services based on scientific findings

Who can apply?
Students, university graduates, scientists from public & non-profit research institutions, max. three persons

When? 
Pre-foundation phase

Benefits

Personal living expenses depending on qualification level

Material expenses up to EUR 10,000 per team member

Coaching up to EUR 5,000

Duration
12 months

Goal 
Create a business plan within 10 months

To the Website 

EXIST Forschungstransfer

©Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie
©BMWI

Funding phase I

What?
Research-based, high-risk start-up projects with a need for further development, open to all technologies

Who? 
Research teams at universities and non-university research institutions, max. 3 people and one person with business management skills

When?
Pre-foundation phase

Funding
A total of € 250,000 for personnel and material expenses

Duration
18 months, extension of up to 36 months possible

Objective 
Development of research results, proof of technical feasibility, preparation of a business plan and company foundation

 

Funding phase II

What?
Technology-orientated corporations that were founded in funding phase I and have an initial capital contribution of at least € 25,000

When?
Post-foundation phase

Funding
180.000 €

Duration
18 months

Objective
Further development work, commencement of business activities and creation of external corporate financing

NBank start-up grant

©NBank
©NBank/ Startup.Niedersachsen

What?
Innovative, digital or knowledge-orientated business ideas in Lower Saxony

Who?
A team of up to three people based in Lower Saxony

When?
Pre-foundation phase or shortly after foundation

Funding
Non-repayable grant, € 2000 for founders with a degree or training and € 1000 for founders without a degree or training qualification

NBeteiligung

©NBank

What?
Innovative, technology-orientated and knowledge-based projects and business ideas

Who? 
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector with their registered office or permanent establishment in Lower Saxony
(does not apply to companies of the corporate form UG, Limited, sole proprietorship or GbR)

When?
Early phase of company foundation or company succession

Funding
Investment volume between 250,000 euros and 600,000 euros (without exception minority shareholding) for companies that have been active on the market for less than 5 years

Duration
Target exit after 7 to 10 years, in individual cases up to 12 years

Objective 
Utilisation of growth potential by strengthening the equity base in the event of liquidity requirements for investments in fixed and current assets

NSeed

©NBank

What is it?
Realisation of innovative and technological ideas

Who? 
Start-ups with registered office or permanent establishment in Lower Saxony
(does not apply to companies of the corporate form UG, Limited, sole proprietorship or GbR)

When?
Post-foundation phase (seed) and first growth phase

Funding
Investment volume between 150,000 euros and 600,000 euros (without exception, minority participation) for start-up and early-stage financing

Duration
Target exit after 7 to 10 years, in individual cases up to 12 years

Objective 
Overcome capital bottlenecks, optimise growth opportunities and generate employment

BMBF funding programme ‘Start-ups: Innovative start-ups in the field of human-technology interaction’

©BMBF

Module 1

What?
Innovations with an MTI research programme and high spin-off prospects

Who? 
Universities and non-university research institutions

When?
Pre-establishment phase

Funding
Depends on the available budget and the requirements of the project applied for

Duration
Up to 3 years

Objective 
Further development of research results


Module 2

What?
Development projects that have an impact on the innovative capacity and expected competitive opportunities of the participating start-ups

Who? 
Start-ups, SMEs, medium-sized companies, universities and non-university research institutions based in Germany

Funding
Depends on the available budget and the requirements of the project applied for

Duration
Up to 3 years

Objective 
Further development of research results

INVEST - Subsidy for venture capital

©BMWI

Who? 
Small and innovative companies that are less than 7 years old

When?
Post-foundation phase

Funding
Help in the search for an investor as well as grants and benefits for investors through INVEST

Duration
Minimum holding period of the investor's shares is 3 years

Goal 
To prevent start-ups from failing due to a lack of capital

Startup Port Financing Compass

©Startup Port

You can find further funding programmes and forms of financing from the Hamburg metropolitan region to support your business start-up in the Startup Port Financing Compass. By answering a questionnaire, you can get an initial overview of which forms of financing could be a good fit for you and your startup.

Contact

Dipl.-Kfm. Carsten Wille
Universitätsallee 1, C40.M12
21335 Lüneburg
Fon +49.4131.677-2245
carsten.wille@leuphana.de