Ideen!Reich
Supporting innovation: for smart, practical, and exciting ideas
Promoting innovation – one grant application every 36 hours
Styrian companies are constantly developing smart new products, processes, and services. On business days, we receive an application for innovation funding every 36 hours on average. Between 400 and 500 patents are filed each year. After all, business in the 21st century means innovation. If you want to be successful, you must be able to anticipate trends and, whenever possible, shape future developments yourself.
Children and Ideas
Ideas and children have something in common: when they come into the world, they are not yet viable on their own. To develop into strong, independent beings, they need the time, passion, and attention of the people who care about them. So if step one is a good business idea and the project’s completion is a market-ready product, then there’s a journey in between—and the SFG’s “Ideen!Reich” grant program.
Ideen!Reich XS: Tailored for small, brilliant ideas
The “Ideen!Reich XS” funding module is designed to spark, support, and immediately implement smaller-scale innovations. Do you have plans for a prototype that you’d like to develop further with a team of experts? Are you planning to develop a new and innovative business model for your company? Do you want to have your company certified to enter a new industry? Perhaps you’d also like to commission an innovation-focused master’s thesis or dissertation, or submit an EU project proposal? Then please contact us. You’ll receive a maximum funding rate of 70 percent on up to 20,000 euros in project costs, for a total funding amount of up to 14,000 euros. We can include, for example, internal personnel costs associated with the project, costs for materials used in prototype construction, or expenses for external (consulting) services such as feasibility studies, business model development, industrial design, patent searches, or the preparation of EU project proposals.
Want a little more? Ideen!Reich XL!
For larger innovation projects and their implementation, Ideen!Reich XL is exactly the right choice. Build a demo system, a beta version, or a prototype. Bring your product or service to market and try out a new business model at the same time. In the Ideen!Reich XL module, you’ll receive a funding rate of up to 50 percent or a maximum grant amount of 75,000 euros.
Cut-off Dates – We’re Looking for the Best
We award grants under the “Ideen!Reich” initiative on a cut-off basis. This means that you must submit your projects by specific dates—known as cut-off dates. We then take a snapshot at that point in time (cut-off), review all projects submitted by that date, and evaluate them—we support the best ones.
By the way: Companies with digitization or sustainability projects receive a bonus that increases the grant amount.
- For whom?
-
- micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises
- manufacturing and craft businesses
- business-related service providers
- For whom not?
-
- large companies
- companies outside the SFG target group
- companies that have not yet been established.
- For what?
-
- entrepreneurial innovation, including the development of new products, services, and business models
- internal personnel costs in project work
- material costs that can be directly allocated to the project
- external consulting fees and creative services
- How much?
-
- up to 70 percent of eligible project costs
- maximum of 20,000 euros in eligible project costs
- maximum grant of 14,000 euros
- base funding rate: 30 percent of eligible project costs
- plus a 10 percent regional bonus for projects by companies headquartered outside of Graz
- plus a 10 percent collaboration bonus for projects conducted in collaboration with a research institution
- plus a 10 percent digitization bonus for digitization projects*
- plus a 10 percent sustainability bonus for sustainability projects*
- * For definitions related to digitization and sustainability projects, see sections 8.4 and 8.5 of the detailed information.
- Important hints
-
- The grant application must be submitted in German BEFORE the project begins.
- Only costs incurred after the application is received are eligible for funding.
- Deadlines: Project proposals may be submitted at any time. On specific deadlines, all submitted projects will be evaluated, and the best ones will be selected and funded. You will receive a response from us no sooner than 6 weeks after that.
- Deadlines for the Ideen!Reich XS module in 2026: Jan. 15, Feb. 16, Mar. 16, April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, September 15, October 15, November 16
Funding process
- advise
-
You’re planning a project. What grants are available from the SFG? Pick up the phone and ask our experts. We’d be happy to set aside time for a personal consultation.
- apply for
-
Submit your application online through our portal!
Important: Submit your application before you begin your project!
- review the application
-
By the cut-off dates, we will evaluate all submitted projects and select the best ones. You will receive a response from us no sooner than 6 weeks after the cut-off dates.
- announce the cut-off date for credit
-
We will notify you of your official credit assessment date.
- start the project
-
Start your project as soon as you receive a credit date from us.
- approve the funding
-
If we are able to support you, you will receive your grant agreement. If your project is not eligible for funding, we will notify you in writing.
- complete the project
-
Now it’s your turn again: Complete your project.
Important: Please contact us right away if anything changes.
We wish you the best of luck!
- submit Invoices
-
Please send us your billing documents.
You will receive a checklist in plenty of time to help you compile the documents. - review invoices
-
We will review your billing documents.
- pay out the grant
-
If all eligibility requirements are met, we will transfer the funds to your account.
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube.
Mehr erfahren
Downloads & Links