The support of startups is among the most successful instruments of forward-looking economic promotion strategies. As part of the ESF+ programme of the funding period 2021-2027, innovative startups are being supported in the framework of “founders’ workshops” and similar formats. The funding relates to new skills requirements in connection with innovation processes of the economy, technological change (in particular related to the use of modern information and communication technologies or the advancing digitisation) as well as ecological objectives (e.g. climate protection, energy efficiency and use of renewable energies).
Current language: English
The Berlin Startup Scholarship
Program basics
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1. What is the context of the programme?
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2. What is the programme about?
The aim of the programme is to promote innovative, technology-related startups through coaching, training and scholarships, especially in the context of ICT, digitisation and internationalisation. For this purpose, the founding teams (usually two to five people) are being provided the necessary technical infrastructure such as workplaces or laboratories. Prerequisite for the founders are at least initially developed business plans and prototypes or prototype-like procedures. The participants are being selected through competitive procedures of the project providers (incubators) and supported over a period of six to twelve months. The aim of the projects is to improve the skills of the founders, and to develop the marketability of the relevant products and services.
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3. How does it work?
The selection of coaching and training staff is carried out by the project partners (incubators) according to the needs of the projects and startups. Funding is being provided to startup centres namely incubators at universities, research institutions and companies with research and development focus. The volume of the scholarships amounts up to 2.200 € per person and month for a certain amount of time depending on the project partner.
Project partners are specialised organisations with the tasks of overall coordination, application, implementation, accounting, public relations and networking as well as evaluation if necessary. In the context of European State Aid Law, the de minimis Regulation is applied to every single startup supported. The implementation of the programme is managed by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises of the State of Berlin in cooperation with the Investitionbank Berlin (IBB), which is a trustee of the Land of Berlin and the approval authority.
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Project partner
Avant Now GmbH
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Project name
Avant Now Accelerator
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Industry focus
Startups with social and ecological impact
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Application periods
Batch 1: until 31. Jul 2023 – Start 1. Sep 2023
Batch 2: until 15. Oct 2023 – Start 1. Dec 2023
Batch 3: until 15. Jan 2024 – Start 1. Mar 2024
Batch 4: until 15. Apr 2024 – Start 1. Jun 2024
Batch 5: until 15. Jul 2024 – Start 1. Sep 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Berlin Innovation Agency (berlinplusone GmbH)
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Project name
ClimateX Startup Accelerator
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Industry focus
Climate tech, Urban innovation, Smart city: energy, mobility, logistics, trade, construction, overlapping climate related products with other industry sectors (health, work, care, etc.)
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Application periods
Cohort 1: Jul – Sep 2023
Cohort 2: Jun – Aug 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Berliner Hochschule für Technik – BHT
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Project name
Berliner Startup Stipendium
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Industry focus
Technology oriented innovation & SMART CITY: sustainable solutions for social, economic and ecological problems in the areas of energy, mobility, logistics, trade, construction and housing
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Application periods
- Call: applications from 01.- 15. Jul 2023 – Start: August 2023
- Call: applications from 01. Aug – 31. Dec 2023 – Start: 01.Feb 2024
- Call: Bewerbungen 01. Feb – 10. Apr 2024 – Start: 01. Jul 2024
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Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft
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Project name
Berliner Startup Stipendium an der HTW Berlin
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Industry focus
Tech, Design & Sustainability
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Application periods
- Call: Jul until 04. Sep – Start: October 2023
- Call: Apr until Jun 2024 – Start: July 2024
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Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Startup Incubator Berlin
Das Gründungszentrum der HWR Berlin -
Project name
BSS V
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Industry focus
open for all
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Application periods
Batch 1: 01. Jul 2023 – 27. Aug 2023 – Start 01. Oct 2023
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Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
ignore gravity GmbH
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Project name
BSS am Grace Berlin Accelerator
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Industry focus
open for all
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Application periods
01. Aug – 22. Sep 2023
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Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
MotionLab ML GmbH
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Project name
Hardtech Innovation Accelerator
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Industry focus
Hardtech: core technologies AI, robotics, new materials and IoT ,
Climate Tech, Smart City and urban innovation: energy,
mobility, construction, logistics, food systems, sustainability -
Application periods
Batch 1: 14. Aug 2023 – 30. Sep 2023 – Start: Nov 2023
Batch 2: 14. Sep 2024 – 30. Sep 2024 – Start: Nov 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Reaktor.Berlin BR 22 GmbH
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Project name
Reaktor Berlin
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Industry focus
Projects with impact which provide solutions for societal challenges e.g. mobility, environmental technologies, environmental sustainability, health industry and digital solutions
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Application periods
Batch 1: 17. Jul 2023 until 03. Sep 2023 – Start: Oktober 2023
Batch 2: Mar 2024 until May 2024 – Start: June 2024
Batsch 3: Nov 2024 until Jan 2025 – Start: Feb 2025 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
SIBB e.V.
Verband der Digitalwirtschaft Berlin-Brandenburg -
Project name
SIBB Digital Transition Incubator
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Industry focus
Digitale innovations
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Application periods
1. Batch: Jun – Jul 2023 – Start: Sep 2023
2. Batch: Apr – Jun 2024 – Start: Sep 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Startup Colors UG
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Project name
Vision Health Pioneers Incubator
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Industry focus
Health solutions, MedTech, Digital Health
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Application periods
Cohort 1: until 31. Jul 2023 – Start: 1. Sep 2023
Cohort 2: 1. – 31. May 2024 – Start: 1. July 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Science & Startups (Konsortium der Universitäten Berlin und der Charité Berlin)
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Project name
Science & Startups for Future
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Cooperation partner
Technische Universität Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Universitätsmedizin der Charité Berlin -
Industry focus
Sustainability x Society
Technology x Resources
Healthcare x Prevention -
Application periods
Batch 1: 1. Aug 2023
Batch 2: 1. Feb 2024
Batch 3: 1. Aug 2024 -
Contact
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Website / further information
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Project partner
Universität der Künste Berlin
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Project name
Creative Prototyping x Sustainability
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Industry focus
creative industries & sustainability
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Application periods
Batch 1: July 2023
Batch 2: January 2024
Batch 3: July 2024
Batch 4: January 2025 -
Contact
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Website / further information
Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises
Special Departement for the Berlin Startup Scholarship (ESF+ -Fi 3)