EXIST is a funding programme run by the German Federal Government that supports start-up projects originating in the academic sector and at universities. Its aim is to transform innovative ideas arising from research and study into marketable products, services or business models, thereby strengthening the transfer of knowledge to the business sector.
The programme is aimed in particular at students, graduates and researchers who wish to set up a start-up.
EXIST supports start-up projects through, amongst other things:
- financial assistance to cover living expenses
- Materials for prototype development
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Support with validating the business idea
- Access to networks in academia and industry
Typical objectives of EXIST are:
- Support for technology- and knowledge-based start-ups
- Support for the early validation phase of business ideas
- Speeding up the transfer of research into practice
- Building sustainable and innovative start-ups
- Strengthening the German start-up ecosystem
For many teams, EXIST is an important first step towards developing an idea in a structured way, testing the market and laying the foundations for a future start-up or securing funding.
innoWerft supports start-up founders in making targeted use of funding programmes such as EXIST, professionally structuring their start-up projects, and developing scalable business models from scientific ideas that successfully make the transition to the market.