Brandenburg Innovation Voucher - BIG (grant)

The Brandenburg Innovation Voucher Guidelines (abbreviated to BIG) includes four funding possibilities and is geared towards small and medium-sized companies in Brandenburg, which:

• wish to step up project-related collaboration with academic institutions (Small BIG-Transfer and Large BIG-Transfer module);
• wish to implement their own research and development projects which can be implemented in the short term (BIG-R&D module);
• require support consultation services for applications for an EU funding measure for collaborative R&D projects (BIG-EU module).

The Small Innovation Voucher (“Small BIG-Transfer”) can be requested for initial academic work such as consulting, feasibility studies or laboratory work and applies only to companies which do not yet have any contact with research institutions. Funding is available up to 100 percent at a maximum of 3,000 euros when a company applies for universities and non-university research institutions. The voucher can be used only once.

With the Large Innovation Voucher (“Large BIG-Transfer”), planning, development and implementation-oriented research and development activities are eligible for funding – with the aim of developing or improving products, processes and services. Company applications for universities and non-university establishments for academic services are eligible for funding. Maximum grants available are 15,000 euros at a funding rate of 50 percent. The voucher can be applied for once a year.

The Research and Development Innovation Voucher (“BIG-R&D”) is granted to companies for research and development projects which can be implemented in the short term, with the aim of developing new or improved products, processes and services that can be introduced directly into the market. Maximum grants available are 50,000 euros at a funding rate of up to 50 percent. The total project cost cannot exceed 100,000 euros.

BIG Digital is awarded for the preparation and implementation of digitalisation measures within a company, which help achieve the goal of uncovering and utilising innovation potential by digitalising business processes. BIG Digital supports the digitalisation process in business by means of modular funding:

Consulting modul:
Funding the analysis phase of business processes using external consultants, with maximum funding of 50.000 Euros.

Implementation modul:
Funding expenses committed to the actual implementation of digitalisation measures. The maximum funding amounts to 500.000 Euros.

Training modul:
Funding measures for employee qualification in the course of digitization measures with a maximum funding of 50.000 Euros.

The funding rate over the three modules amounts to up to 50 percent of the project volume.

The EU Innovation Voucher (“BIG-EU”) is available for use to businesses which require support to draw up a project proposal or application for an EU funding measure (R&D-related collaborative projects). The maximum grant amount for the consultation services of a consultant familiar with the EU application is 8,000 euros. If a company has taken over the consortium management of a business consortium, this company can be supported with up to 16,000 euros. The funding rate is 50 percent. The voucher is strictly only available once.

We provide free advice and assistance regarding all modules. Please contact the Regional offices of the Economic Development Agency Brandenburg (WFBB) which is responsible for your location.

• Brandenburg Innovation Voucher (BIG)