Funding & grants in Thuringia
Grants, investment funding, Forschungszulage, GRW and much more: an overview of funding programs for companies in Thuringia.
Thuringia offers companies a wide range of funding opportunities – from direct grants and low-interest loans to tax concessions. Whether for start-ups, digitalization or research: suitable programmes are available for almost every project at state, federal or EU level.
Funding & grant programs in Thuringia
Overview, state and regional
Forschungszulage
Forschungszulage is a funding instrument aimed specifically at German companies that invest in research and development (R&D). Since 2020, the Forschungszulage Act (FZulG) has enabled companies to deduct up to 35% of their R&D costs from their tax burden and thus gain valuable liquidity. This applies to both in-house research projects and contract research.
GRW
GRW (Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures) promotes investments in structurally weak regions. Grants of up to 50% are available for small companies from an investment sum of 60,000 euros. Medium-sized and large companies can receive funding for investments of 2 million euros or more. Eligible projects include production facilities, tourism projects and job creation.
KMU-innovativ
The program is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that are active in research. Funding is provided for high-risk, technology-oriented R&D projects in future-oriented fields such as bioeconomy, medical technology or IT security. The funding rate is between 40% and 60%, depending on the topic and company size.
ZIM
ZIM promotes technology-open research and development projects in SMEs and in cooperation with research institutions. Funding is provided as a grant of up to 45%, with maximum funding depending on the type of project and number of partners. Innovation networks are also supported.
