Startups can receive support for innovations such as new digital business models and data-driven pioneer solutions through the IGP. The concepts should promise significant advantages over existing solutions. The selection of funded projects takes place through thematic calls, to which project ideas are submitted in a competitive process. The first call is intended to address the topic area of business models and pioneer solutions for ecological innovation. This can include, for example, new circular economy concepts, designs for climate protection and energy transition, or digital solutions for resource conservation and sustainability.
The Federal Ministry of Economics will likely announce further details about the first call and the application process this summer. Further calls are planned to follow at approximately six-month intervals. Currently, around 10 million euros in funding is allocated for each call.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck says:
“Modern economic policy must view innovation holistically. Groundbreaking innovations don’t come solely from technical research and development. New business models, organizational concepts, and service designs can also be highly innovative. By promoting such non-technical innovations, we expand our funding spectrum and thus our perspective on innovation.”
The IGP initially ran as a limited pilot project that launched around 300 innovation projects with the new innovation policy approach. These included, among others, creative economy concepts, new organizational models, innovative platform formats, and educational tools.
An external evaluation confirmed the success of the new approach in the pilot project. Positive effects on both the funding recipients and third parties are expected, and the continuation of the program that has now been decided is recommended. This allows the Federal Ministry of Economics to expand its innovation policy focus beyond technology development and opens up new support opportunities for a diverse range of innovators.
The program is embedded in the funding concept “From idea to market success” and contributes to the implementation of the startup strategy of the federal government. With its focus on non-technical innovations and its call system, it can support various innovation policy objectives, such as the areas of digital, creative economy, social, and ecological innovation mentioned in the coalition agreement.
