Support is provided to teams at universities and research institutions interested in founding (Funding Phase 1) as well as non-listed small technology-oriented companies, whose registration in the commercial register dates back no more than five years (Funding Phase 2).

Teams that have participated in the StartUpSecure program are not eligible to join StartUpConnect.

Who can apply to the xG-Incubator?

The xG-Incubator, as part of the StartUpConnect initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), supports founders, research teams, and early-stage start-ups working on next-generation telecommunication technologies.

Are applicants from outside the EU/EEA eligible?

Applicants must have a registered office, place of business, or research facility in Germany by the time the grant is paid out.

Where can project results be used or commercialised?

The results of funded projects may only be used or commercialised within Germany, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland.

Individual research projects and, in exceptional cases, joint projects that aim to quickly transfer research results in communication technologies into application are supported.

The focus is on research, development, and evaluation of demonstrators involving specific application scenarios.

The application process consists of six key steps:

1. Proposal Submission
   - We encourage you to contact us well in advance of the application deadline for guidance and support.
   - For details on what to include in your proposal, email info@xg-incubator.com to request the application template (maximum 10 pages), which is available in German. In your message, please include (a) a brief summary of who you are, (b) what you aim to achieve, and (c) how your project advances the development of telecommunications technologies.
   - You can also book a 30-minute call with our Incubator Manager Felix Willems to go over any open questions.
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2. Review
   - Your proposal will be evaluated by the xG-Incubator as well as an external jury of experts.
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3. Pitching
   - If your proposal is promising, you will be invited to pitch your idea to the expert panel.
   
   

4. BMFTR Application
   - If successful, you will need to submit an application to the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) via the "easy-Online" electronic application system. This application includes a 10-page project outline and a review by the xG-Incubator team. We will provide support throughout this process.
   
   

5. BMFTR Evaluation
   - The project management organization and BMFTR team will assess your submission.
   
   

6. Funding Process
   - After a positive evaluation you will be invited to complete the formal funding application process.

For more details, visit: StartUpConnect.

We are hosting a quarterly webinar on How to Successfully Apply to StartUpConnectwhich offers helpful guidance on your application journey.

Please write the 10-page proposal in German, as the application to the BMFTR (Step 4 of the application process) must be submitted in German. The pitch (Step 3), however, may be conducted in English.

We use the KTH Innovation Readiness Level™ as a visual tool to evaluate a startup’s current status and track its development over time. The model evaluates six key dimensions: Customer, Technology, Business Model, Intellectual Property Rights, Team, and Funding.

When considering an application, we encourage you to use the tool to get a better sense of where you are on your journey.

Learn more about KTH Innovation Readiness Level™ »