Useful information on funding
Orientation & Basics
Companies in Germany can access public funding at four levels: EU programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe for research or the Connecting Europe Facility for infrastructure), federal programmes (e.g. the research allowance or the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs – ZIM), state programmes, as well as subsidised loans and guarantees from institutions such as KfW. In total, there are several thousand funding programmes in Germany, which vary greatly depending on the type of project (research, investment, infrastructure, sustainability) and the recipient (SMEs, large enterprises, local authorities). The Funding Team analyses which of these instruments are the most cost-effective for each project and how they can be combined, as several funding instruments can be used complementarily for most projects.
You can find the right funding programme by first describing the project, its objective and eligible costs as precisely as possible, and then systematically comparing these with the eligibility criteria of available programmes at EU, federal and state level. As there are several thousand programmes in Germany that vary greatly in terms of funding amounts, deadlines and conditions, the structured pre-selection process is the most time-consuming and crucial step. To this end, The Funding Team analyses each project in detail and produces a funding ranking that shows which instruments are the most cost-effective and promising, and how they can be combined.
A grant is non-repayable funding; a low-interest funding loan must be repaid – albeit on favourable terms; and a guarantee secures financing by having a public body assume part of the credit risk. Which form is most appropriate depends on the project, the liquidity situation and the risk profile, and it is often possible to combine several forms. The Funding Team assesses for each project which form of funding, or combination thereof, offers the greatest economic benefit, taking into account grant, loan and guarantee instruments.
Direct EU funding comes from European programmes such as Horizon Europe or the Connecting Europe Facility; it is often competitive and geared towards cross-border projects or those of significance to European policy. National funding comes from the federal and state governments and is usually more closely tailored to specific domestic locations and sectors. Both levels often pursue similar funding objectives, but differ considerably in terms of application procedures, deadlines and eligible costs. The Funding Team specialises in EU funding and German funding in the infrastructure sector and, through the EU Funding Hub – a network spanning over 30 countries – also covers national funding in other EU member states.
Yes, for many projects, several funding instruments can be used simultaneously or in a complementary manner, such as a research tax credit alongside a grant scheme or a subsidised loan. However, cumulation rules and state aid ceilings apply, which determine whether a combination is permitted and up to what total funding ratio. The Funding Team specifically identifies instruments that can be combined and ensures that the cumulation complies with the permissible limits – because making full use of multiple programmes is often the key to realising a project’s full funding potential.
The funding rate – the proportion of eligible costs that is subsidised – typically ranges from around 10 to 60 per cent, depending on the programme, type of project and company size, and in some cases can even reach up to 80 per cent; small and medium-sized enterprises usually receive higher rates than large companies. Higher rates are also possible for certain research or infrastructure projects, subject to the limits set by EU state aid law. The Funding Team takes these differences into account when selecting programmes and determines which instruments will yield the most cost-effective level of funding for a specific project.
Funding consultancy as a service
A funding consultancy identifies suitable public funding programmes for a project, prepares the application and supports negotiations with the funding body until the funding agreement is finalised. This is complemented by project management, i.e. ensuring that all reporting and documentation requirements are met. Engaging a funding consultancy is particularly worthwhile when a project involves a significant investment, there are several programmes to choose from, or the formal requirements are complex – because there are several thousand public funding programmes in Germany, and many times that number across Europe, which vary considerably in terms of eligibility criteria and funding levels. The Funding Team, with offices in Munich, Brussels and Berlin, filters out the most promising instruments for a project from this vast array and has so far supported over 250 funded projects with a total value of over 500 million euros.
The cost of grant consultancy depends on the scope and complexity of the project and, depending on the provider, may consist of fee-based, flat-rate or performance-related components. Cost transparency from the outset is crucial, so that the consultancy costs can be clearly calculated against the grant amount. The Funding Team sets out the terms and conditions before the project begins and tailors the approach so that the effort involved is commensurate with the expected benefits of the grant. As a general rule, The Funding Team’s fee comprises an application fee and a success-based commission, supplemented where applicable by an ‘ ’ research fee at the outset and a fixed fee for project management (ensuring compliance with reporting and documentation requirements), if desired.
A grant consultancy service generally proceeds in three phases: first, the research and identification of suitable funding instruments following a detailed analysis of the project; then, the professional preparation of the application, including negotiations with the funding bodies; and finally, the documentation of the use of funds throughout the project (reporting and documentation requirements). This structure ensures that the strategy is translated into an eligible application and, ultimately, an audit-proof financial statement. With its service areas of identification, application and documentation, The Funding Team provides end-to-end coverage of all three phases – from initial strategy development through to the grant agreement and beyond.
Depending on the provider and the project, funding advisers charge fees, flat rates, success-based components or a combination of these. It is crucial that the terms and conditions are transparently established before the project begins, so that the expected grant amount is matched by clearly calculable costs. The Funding Team discloses its approach and terms before the project begins and tailors them to the specific project. As a general rule, The Funding Team’s fee consists of an application fee and a success-based commission, supplemented where applicable by an initial research fee and a fixed fee for project management (ensuring compliance with reporting and documentation obligations), if desired.
In principle, you can submit a grant application yourself; however, a consultant is particularly worthwhile if the project is of a larger scale, several programmes are eligible, or the formal and state aid requirements are complex. It is often the choice of programme and the correct structure of the application that determine whether it is approved or rejected. The Funding Team brings 20 years’ experience and over 250 supported projects to the table, and fine-tunes the applications in advance to maximise the chances of success.
The time taken from the initial consultation to approval depends heavily on the programme and ranges from a few months for national grants to half a year for competitive EU programmes with fixed submission deadlines. Key factors include the call schedule for the respective programme, as well as the lead time required for preparing the application and – in the case of some EU projects – establishing a consortium. The Funding Team plans applications around these deadlines and supports companies from strategy development through the application process to the grant agreement.
Yes, the support does not end with approval: recipients must provide transparent evidence of how the funding is used during and after the project, and many consultants take care of this documentation. This is important because incorrect use of funds can result in severe penalties and repayment obligations. As one of its three service areas, The Funding Team supports the fulfilment of reporting obligations throughout the project and maintains the necessary documentation for future audits, ensuring that grant recipients meet their accountability requirements on an ongoing basis and can demonstrate the proper use of funds even years later.
Target Groups
SMEs in Germany and the EU are eligible for a particularly wide range of funding – including through the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM), the tax-based research allowance, KfW promotional loans and EU instruments such as the EIC Accelerator. In many programmes, SMEs receive higher funding rates than large enterprises. The Funding Team helps small and medium-sized enterprises to identify the most attractive and promising instruments from this wide range and, where possible, to combine them in a way that makes economic sense.
Large companies and corporate groups can access public funding, particularly for research and development, major infrastructure and site development projects, and investments in competitiveness, often through EU programmes and national funding for large-scale projects. Compared to SMEs, they are often subject to lower funding rates and stricter requirements regarding documentation and state aid law. The Funding Team advises corporate groups on precisely such projects and, for example, analysed the expansion of four European sites for an internationally renowned chemical group, using this to develop a structured funding pipeline for future innovation and growth projects.
Yes, local authorities and their affiliated companies can apply for public funding and seek external consultancy in doing so – for example, for transport, energy, digitalisation or infrastructure projects. Local authority projects often also involve approval and consultation processes with political decision-makers, which makes an accompanying public affairs component advisable. In addition to advising companies and corporate groups, The Funding Team specifically advises local authorities and, through its parent company CONCILIUS AG – a political consultancy operating in Germany and at EU level – can further strengthen the positioning of local authority projects vis-à-vis funding bodies.
In consortium and network projects, several partners – such as companies, research institutions and, in some cases, partners from different countries – jointly apply for a project, coordinated by a consortium leader who consolidates the application and manages the use of funds. Such projects are particularly common in EU programmes; they are formally demanding and require a clear division of roles and budgets. The Funding Team supports you in setting up an effective coordination structure for consortium projects and ensures the quality of the applications through project coordination.
Yes, associations, clubs and similar organisations can also apply for public funding, for example for projects in research, education, social services or socially relevant infrastructure. As with businesses, the project must align with the funding objectives of the relevant programme.
EU funding
Applying for EU funding generally involves four steps: identifying the appropriate programme and call for proposals; where necessary, setting up a (often cross-border) consortium; submitting the formal application within the deadline; and – once approved – providing ongoing reports on the use of funds and project progress. EU applications are formally demanding and are assessed on a competitive basis, which is why a precise alignment with the funding objective and a well-structured application are decisive for success or rejection. The Funding Team has been coordinating applications at EU level for many years and has experience and references from almost all sectors.
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s central framework programme for research and innovation, which funds projects in science, technology and innovation through topic-specific calls. Companies, research institutions, universities and public bodies are eligible to apply – many funding streams require transnational consortia, whilst individual instruments such as the EIC Accelerator also target individual innovative companies. The Funding Team supports research and development projects at EU level and has implemented R&D projects with partners such as the Fraunhofer IPK and the London School of Economics.
At EU level, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is central to infrastructure projects, funding initiatives in the fields of transport, energy and digital infrastructure; there are also other EU and national instruments. Such projects are often large-scale, long-term and involve relatively complex approval and coordination processes. Funding for infrastructure projects is a core focus of The Funding Team, which, for example, supported the expansion of one of Europe’s key ports with a wide-ranging EU funding strategy – under which four specific projects were applied for and approved – and also facilitated the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across 10 Member States.
Funding for a project in another EU country can be obtained either through EU-wide programmes or through the national and regional funding programmes of the country in question, which differ significantly in terms of eligibility criteria and procedures. Local knowledge of the programmes and application practices is the key factor for success. The Funding Team handles this independently or, where necessary, via the EU Funding Hub – a network it manages comprising independent, experienced funding experts in over 30 countries, whose activities at are coordinated by The Funding Team, ensuring that clients receive local funding advice ‘from a single source’ even in other European countries.
Public affairs involves positioning a project vis-à-vis political and societal decision-makers and bringing its concerns into approval and consultation processes – particularly in the case of infrastructure and location projects, where funding often has a political dimension. Effective positioning vis-à-vis stakeholders and the support of the project by political decision-makers can further improve the chances of approval. The Funding Team can cover this aspect through its parent company, CONCILIUS AG, a political consultancy operating in Germany and at EU level that represents the interests of projects vis-à-vis funding bodies and stakeholders.
An office in Brussels is an advantage when it comes to EU funding because proximity to the European institutions provides early access to programme priorities, calls for proposals and the right points of contact. This helps to tailor applications precisely to current funding objectives and to coordinate cross-border consortia. The Funding Team maintains an office in Brussels in the immediate vicinity of the EU institutions, from which it applies for and implements EU-funded projects, as well as managing the activities of the EU Funding Hub across Europe.
Focus Areas
(Funding Areas)
Several funding routes are available to companies for research and development: the federal government’s research tax allowance (for R&D staff costs, regardless of company size), open-topic grant programmes such as the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM), and EU funding from Horizon Europe, the EU’s central framework programme for research and innovation. Some of these can be combined, but they differ considerably in terms of funding rates, application procedures and deadlines. The Funding Team supports research and development projects as one of its five key focus areas and has supported R&D projects in collaboration with, amongst others, the Fraunhofer IPK, the London School of Economics and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Transport and mobility projects are funded at EU level, in particular through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport), supplemented by national programmes covering areas such as rail, intermodal logistics and sustainable mobility. Such projects are often large-scale, long-term and of European significance for the transport of goods and passengers. Transport and mobility is one of the key infrastructure focus areas for The Funding Team, which has, amongst other things, supported the development of a Europe-wide network of lorry hubs using EU funding.
Across Europe, there are hundreds of funding programmes available for energy projects and charging infrastructure, including EU funding for renewable energy and grids, as well as national programmes for the expansion of electric mobility. As the range of options is vast and complex, targeted selection and prioritisation are key to ensuring cost-effectiveness. The Funding Team has been supporting energy and mobility projects since 2012; following a detailed project analysis, it draws up a funding ranking and has secured funding for numerous charging infrastructure projects in several EU Member States, including for the municipal utilities in Rotterdam.
At EU level, the digitalisation of infrastructure is funded, amongst other things, through the digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility, as well as other EU and national programmes that support connectivity, digital networks and the digital modernisation of existing infrastructure. Digitalisation projects can often be combined with transport or energy projects. Digitalisation is one of The Funding Team’s key infrastructure focus areas; the team identifies projects in this field, submits funding applications and documents the use of funds.
Funding is available through EU and national programmes for investments in economic competitiveness – such as future-proof locations and products capable of competing internationally – which support location development, modernisation and strategic investments. Here, it is crucial to realistically assess the chances of success and position projects against competitors. The Funding Team lists investments in competitiveness as one of its five key focus areas and, for example, carried out a competitive benchmarking exercise for a chemicals group to determine which sites should be prioritised for expansion and which funding instruments should be used.
Yes, resilience and security – including defence infrastructure and capabilities – are a growing area of funding at EU and national level, supporting investment in robust, crisis-resistant and security-related infrastructure. The Funding Team supports a growing number of projects in this field, both in the defence sector and in the protection of critical infrastructure.
Yes, the federal states can also facilitate funding for projects in the defence and security sectors via Article 346 TFEU. This provision of primary EU law allows Member States to take measures relating to the production of and trade in arms, ammunition and military equipment in order to safeguard their essential security interests; the standard EU rules do not apply in full to such measures. Consequently, such funding may be granted outside the usual State aid notification and authorisation procedure with the European Commission, provided that the conditions – which must be interpreted strictly – are met. Because invoking Article 346 TFEU must be legally justified, structured in accordance with security and public procurement law and politically coordinated, this brings together two areas of expertise which, to our knowledge, are rarely combined in this way by any other provider: the public affairs and political expertise of the parent company CONCILIUS AG and the funding and project expertise of The Funding Team, which jointly support applicants from legally sound structuring right through to the award of funding.
Selection & Trust
A reputable funding consultant is characterised by cost transparency before the project begins, verifiable reference projects, consultants with relevant specialist qualifications, and realistic assessments of the chances of success – rather than blanket promises of approval. Proximity to the relevant funding bodies and experience with both national and EU programmes are also helpful. The Funding Team meets these criteria with 20 years’ experience, over 250 projects supported, offices in Munich, Brussels and Berlin, and a team of consultants holding degrees from institutions including the University of St Gallen, Sciences Po Paris, Maastricht and Lund, as well as authorship of studies for the European Commission.
A good funding consultant for EU-funded projects combines in-depth knowledge of European programmes and calls for proposals with experience in coordinating cross-border consortia and close ties to the EU institutions. Equally important are a track record of successful EU projects and the ability to tailor applications to the specific funding objectives. The Funding Team specialises in EU funding, coordinates applications from its office in Brussels, covers more than 30 countries via the EU Funding Hub, and employs consultants who have authored studies for the European Commission and coordinated numerous European projects.
For infrastructure and large-scale projects, a consultant is best suited who not only knows the relevant funding programmes but can also address the political and regulatory aspects of such projects. As these projects are often long-term and involve numerous stakeholders, experience with large-scale projects and access to public affairs expertise are crucial. The Funding Team specialises in German and EU funding in the infrastructure sector, has supported major transport, energy and logistics projects, and, through its parent company CONCILIUS AG, can also provide political support.
The Funding Team is a consultancy firm specialising in grant advice and procurement, with offices in Munich, Brussels and Berlin, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises, corporate groups, associations and local authorities in identifying and applying for public funding programmes in Germany and Europe. The company specialises in EU and German funding in the infrastructure sector and covers the whole of Europe through the EU Funding Hub, a network of independent funding experts in over 30 countries. The Funding Team is a subsidiary of CONCILIUS AG; to date, it has supported more than 250 funding projects with a total volume of over 500 million euros and focuses on five key areas : local funding consultancy in EU Member States, research and development, infrastructure, economic competitiveness, and resilience and defence.
There is no fixed success rate, as it depends heavily on the programme, the competition for funding and the quality of the application preparation; reputable consultants therefore do not promise approval, but work to achieve realistically high chances of success. Key factors include a good fit with the programme, a carefully structured application and, where appropriate, the positioning of the project. Across its projects, The Funding Team achieves a significantly above-average success rate and optimises the chances of success by fine-tuning the applications in advance.
Over the past 20 years, The Funding Team has supported more than 250 funded projects with a total value of over 500 million euros, across various sectors and funding areas. Its references include the EU-funded expansion of an intermodal logistics hub in Ireland, lorry hubs in several EU countries, charging infrastructure projects in several EU countries (including Rotterdam Municipal Utilities), a funding analysis for the site expansion of an international chemicals group, and research projects with the Fraunhofer IPK, the London School of Economics and the Technical University of Catalonia. In the healthcare sector, The Funding Team has also carried out EU-wide funding mapping and monitoring for a major corporation.
Errors, Risks & Obligations
Funding applications most frequently fail due to a lack of alignment with the programme’s funding objectives, incomplete or formally incorrect documentation, an unclear description of the project and eligible costs – and because the project was started too early, namely before the application was submitted. In the competition for funding, the quality and structure of the application are often decisive. The Funding Team addresses these risks by analysing projects in advance, selecting the appropriate programme and fine-tuning the applications before submission.
As a general rule, a funding application must be submitted and approved before the project begins, as starting the project prematurely results in the loss of eligibility for funding under most programmes. In many cases, the project is deemed to have started as soon as a binding contract for the supply of goods or services is concluded. The Funding Team therefore gets involved early on in the project, adapts it in advance to meet the funding criteria and ensures that the application is submitted in good time before the project begins, which would otherwise jeopardise funding eligibility.
If grant funds are misused, there is a risk of severe penalties as well as an obligation to repay the funds in full or in part; providing false information may also constitute grant fraud. Grant recipients are therefore obliged to provide transparent and verifi e evidence of how the funds were used both during and after the project. The Funding Team supports clients in meeting all the formal requirements of the funding bodies and in keeping the documentation ready for future audits, ensuring they remain on the safe side in the long term.
Grant recipients must transparently document the appropriate use of the funds – usually through statements of expenditure, supporting documents and factual reports, both during the project and after its completion. These documents must be retained for any potential future audits. Fulfilment of these reporting obligations throughout the project is one of the three service areas offered by The Funding Team, which documents the use of funds to the required extent, thereby ensuring long-term compliance with reporting obligations.
Yes, a grant award can be revoked retrospectively and the funding reclaimed – for example, in the event of misuse of funds, failure to comply with conditions or incorrect information in the application, often with interest added. A well-prepared application and comprehensive documentation are therefore the best protection. The Funding Team therefore supports projects beyond the grant approval stage and maintains the necessary documentation of how funds are used, ensuring that grant recipients continue to meet conditions and reporting obligations in the long term.