Funding to match every stage.

Grants from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the federal government and the city of Cologne are available for consulting, process design and implementation. Which program fits depends on your project and on which programs are currently open. We check this with you before you receive an offer.

Grant
usually 50% of eligible costs
For
mainly SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia
Funding bodies
State of NRW, federal government, City of Cologne
As of
October 2026

Three questions. Your programs.

The guide shows which programs fit your project and whether they currently accept applications. We clarify the details in a conversation.

  1. Choose the programBy project, location, size and the current status of the calls.
  2. Shape the scopeWe align scope and description with the funding guidelines.
  3. Application before contractWith a free right of withdrawal if the grant application is rejected.
What are you planning?
Where is your company based?
How large is it?
If your company belongs to a group, affiliated companies count toward the SME assessment.
Select all three answers.Suitable programs appear immediately.

    All programs at a glance.

    Sorted by the stage in which they apply. Programs open and close, so each one shows its current status.

    ProgramGrantPurposeFitsStatus
    BAFA UnternehmensberatungFederal government (BAFA) · SMEs and freelancers50% of consulting costsin NRW at most €1,750 per consultationConsulting on economic, organizational and entrepreneurial questions, such as responsibilities and decision pathsWorkshopRoadmapAdvisoryongoing
    NRW.BANK.Impuls KIState of NRW · SMEs based in NRW50% of eligible costsup to €25,000 within two yearsExternal consulting on AI use cases, AI concepts, preparing AI deployment and testing AI systemsRoadmapcurrently closed
    MID – Digitale ProzesseState of NRW · Micro-enterprises and SMEs in NRW50% of eligible expensesup to €15,000, consulting up to €500 per dayAs-is analysis, target concept, software selection and support in digitalizing internal processesRoadmapImplementationcall open until 1 December 2026
    MID – DigitalisierungState of NRW · Micro-enterprises and SMEs in NRW50% of eligible expensesup to €15,000Development of innovative digital products, services and applications, including AIImplementationmonthly selection by lot
    NRW.BANK.Invest ZukunftState of NRW · Companies in NRWLoan for up to 100% of the investmentrepayment bonus of up to 20% for SMEsInvestments in digitalization, new technologies and digital processesImplementationongoing via your bank
    Kölner RahmenCity of Cologne · Companies based in CologneGrant per projectup to €10,000Innovative digital products, services or business models with development contentImplementationnew round planned from February 2027

    As of October 2026, without guarantee. The guidelines of the funding bodies are authoritative. The amount of the grant depends on the program and on your company.