Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) www.zim-bmwi.de

Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) www.zim-bmwi.de

Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) Central Program for innovations in SME-s ZIM cooperation module Central Program for innovations in SME-s ZIM network module Annual budget: 230 Mio Euro www.zim-bmwi.de

Main intentions of the central programme innovations in SME-s increasing innovation capacities of SME-s increasing competitiveness stimulation of growth/ stabilisation of enterprises Building and conservation of Jobs ZIM

Results of the funding program PRO INNO II Size of companies, being granted: Medium enterprises 50 to 250 employees 21,5 % Very small enterprises Up to 10 employees 27,8 % small enterprises 10 to 49 employees 50,7 %

Funding modules What can be funded? Cooperation projects R&D-projects aimed at the development of new products, processes or technical services without limitation regarding technologies or branches. Network projects Management and organization services for the installation of innovative networks with at least six companies as members without limitation regarding technologies or branches. Funding of single companies (start in 2009 - for enterprises from eastern Germany only) R&D projects of single enterprises aimed at the development of new products, processes or technical services without limitation regarding technologies or branches.

Cooperation projects: Who can apply? Enterprises of all legal forms with business operations in Germany, if - they have less then 250 employees and - the annual turnover is not higher than 50 Mio. - or the total asset is max 43 Mio.. If the company is legally part of a group, the aggregated numbers of the group are the basis (www.zim-bmwi.de/kmu.pdf). Non profit oriented research institutions in Germany, if they are cooperation partners of applying companies and their part of the project is funded a) public research institutions b) private non-profit R&D units

Cooperation projects: shapes of cooperation KU KF KA E cooperation project between companies cooperation project between companies and research institution(s) cooperation project company with a R&D contract Entry project of an enterprise DL Supporting services for innovations and consulting services

cooperation projects: KU Cooperation projects between companies Equal R&D cooperation between enterprises (no one way - contract) Balanced partnership, all partnering companies have to provide challenging R&D work In case of bilateral R&D cooperation no partner is allowed to apply for more than 70 % of the eligible costs of the project. In case of more than two partners, no partner is allowed to apply for more than 50% of the eligible costs of the project. Every single company applies for a grant for its part of the project on its own. Partners can be companies, who are not allowed to apply for a grant on their own (companies from abroad or larger companies) Cooperation in marketing the research results.

cooperation projects: KF Cooperation projects between companies and research institutions Equal R&D cooperation between enterprises and research institutions (no one way - contract). In case of bilateral R&D cooperation the SME is not allowed to apply for more than 70 % of the eligible costs of the project, the research institution for not more than 50% of these costs. In case of more than two partners, no partner is allowed to apply for more than 50% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects with more than two partners are allowed. Every partner has to apply himself for getting funding for his part of the project. It is allowed to involve partners in the project, who are not allowed to apply for a grant (foreign companies or researchers, large enterprises) Cooperation in marketing the research results.

cooperation projects: VP Joint research project between companies and research institutions Equal R&D cooperation between enterprises and research institutions (no one way - contract). At least four SME-s and two research institutions have to be involved in the project and they have to collaborate trans disciplinary and integrate different technologies. No partner is allowed to apply for more than 50% of the total eligible costs of the whole project. Every partner applies for grants for his part of the project on his own. Partners, who are due to different reasons not allowed to apply for a grant can join these projects (partners from abroad, large companies) Cooperation in marketing the research results.

cooperation projects: KA project of an enterprise on the basis of a research contract No pure contract research, because the company has to provide a significant part of the research work. One or more companies and research institutions can act as partners, applicant is always the company! Balanced partnership (share of the research partner should be between 30 and 70 % of the eligible man-months of the whole project) Research partners: research institution or research companies also from abroad are possible partners

cooperation projects: E Entry project of a single company Funding of research projects of single companies precondition: at least five years or never before no own research work done goal: long term improvement of the competitiveness of an enterprise on high innovative level.

Supporting services and consulting DL Supporting services and consulting Fundings are available for contracts, who aim at the improvement of the utilization of the results of the research project, like: Technical support Technology transfer services education Protection of IPR, trade with these rights and license agreement Consulting regarding management Consulting regarding utilization of standards Office costs Databases Technical literature Market research Utilization of laboratories cachet, tests and certificates

Cooperation projects: eligible costs KU KF KA E Costs of staff other costs maximum 100% (SMEs or researchers) of the costs of staff, in case of transnational projects or higher transaction costs up to 120% for SMEs costs of subcontracts of third partners maximum 25% of costs of staff costs for research contract in case of a KA - project

Cooperation projects: eligible costs maximum amount of the eligible costs KU KF for SMEs (per project max. eligible costs) 350.000 for research institutions maximum bonus per project (exception VP) 175.000 In case of VP the maximum amount depends on the E KA DL division of labour and the upper limit of funding of 2 Mio. for SMEs (max. eligible costs ) 350.000 for SMEs and R&D-contract (max. eligible costs ) 350.000 Supporting services (max. eligible costs ) 50.000

Cooperation projects: funding rates KA E KU KF Companies for R&D-projects KA, E KU, KF medium enterprises old Bundeslaender 35 % 40 % medium enterprises new Bundeslaender 35 % 45 % small enterprises old Bundeslaender 40 % 45 % small enterprises new Bundeslaender 45 % 50 % small enterprises medium enterprises < 50 employees < 250 employees < = 10 Mio. annual turnover < = 50 Mio. annual turnover < = 10 Mio. total asset < = 43 Mio. total asset for supporting services 50 % R&D institutions (KF, VP) 100 %

ZIM-module networks: intentions initiation of networks of SMEs and research organisations enlarge the technology base of SMEs improving the technological competence and marketing opportunities of SMEs improve the innovation, cooperation and networking behavior of SMEs compensation of drawbacks for small companies compensation of lack of time within the companies (daily business) compensation of lack of know-how no money no time no know-how high risk

ZIM- module networks : model of phases idea partners, willing to collaborate common target strategic approach rough concept (simplified picture, the whole list of tasks can be found in the guideline - annex 2) Concept, establishment (1) Acquisition of more partners strengths/weaknesses market analyses goals, activities, strategies detailed concept, milestones realization (2) realization of the common activities (training and others) exploitation of synergies controlling concepts for the future

ZIM- module networks : qualification to apply Competent entity, which has experiences as a manger of cooperations and who are entrusted by the participating companies to manage the network. Research entities, who are partners of the network. The Management has to: have the technological competence, needed for the project have sufficient experiences in project management have experiences in moderation and Coaching of innovation processes have experiences in marketing have experiences in cooperating with companies and research institutions. The management is not allowed to have its own economical interest in the results of the activities of the network and to own one of the partners of the network uncommitted intermediate).

ZIM- module networks : examples of activities analyses Analyses of the potential of the network partners search for potential customers and their needs market analyses detection of barriers for the market entry Organisation moderation and coaching grouping of competences organization of trainings and exchange of experiences contract management project controlling concept joint activities to exploit synergies technological concepts qualification matching of R&D - activities marketing concepts Public relation web-presentation of the project events activities on trade fairs cooperation with partner networks acquisition of new partners

ZIM-module network: how does the funding work? eligible costs: costs of staff Basis: gross salary and productive annual working hours, max. 80.000 per person/year subcontracts up to 25 % of the total costs other costs SMEs 100 % and R&D units 75 % of their costs of staff Upper limit of funding Phase 1: 90 % (max. 150.000 ) Phase 2: 70 % (1. year) 50 % (2. year) 30 % (3. year) max. 350.000 for both phases growing equity ratio of the partners of the network simplified clearance declining funding

Informationen zum ZIM: www.zim-bmwi.de Vielen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit