WIPANO funding program: Launched in 2016 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the WIPANO program is aimed at universities, non-university research institutes as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the protection and commercialization of their intellectual property rights (IPRs). Now in its second edition, the BMWi continues to rely on competent technology transfer partners - such as BayPAT.
BayPAT advises and supports SMEs within the framework of the BMWi’s WIPANO funding program (as of January 1st 2020)
BayPAT advises SMEs on all aspects of protecting and commercializing their innovations. These services are provided as a part of the BMWi's WIPANO funding program.
Who can apply? (Excerpt from eligibility conditions)
In addition to academic research institutions, access to the WIPANO funding program is open to all SMEs, commercial enterprises and self-employed persons in the liberal, scientific and technical professions. Prerequisites are that the commercial activity or profession is carried out as a main occupation and that the permanent establishment or a branch office is located in Germany. SMEs must also meet the criteria of the EU definition (Regulation (EU) 651/2014 with Annex 1 "SME definition") of an SME (i.e. fewer than 250 employees and annual sales of no more than EUR 50 million or an annual balance sheet total of no more than EUR 43 million).
Importantly, applicants must not have filed another patent application or utility model within three years prior to filing the application, must not have received any other funding, and must not have started the project at the time of filing the application.
What is supported?
The funding roadmap to a commercialized patent consists of the following service packages (SPs):
- SP 1: General advice and detailed assessment regarding novelty (funding up to EUR 800)
- SP 2: Detailed assessment regarding commercial application (funding up to EUR 800)
- SP 3: Advice (regarding the strategy) and coordination of the patent application procedure (funding up to EUR 1,000)
- SP 4: Patent application (funding up to EUR 10,000)
- SP 5: Commercialization activities (funding up to EUR 4,000)
The funding period is granted for a maximum of 24 months as partial financing in the form of a non-repayable grant. The grant amounts to 50% of eligible expenditure with a maximum possible funding of EUR 16,600.
Application
Applicants are advised to use the "easy-online" electronic application system.
BayPAT provides advice and support along the entire application process.