BMWK Innovation Funding for SMEs
Up to 50% of Your Product Development — Funded
What Is go-inno?
go-inno is a funding programme by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It provides innovation vouchers to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to develop new products or processes.
The idea is simple. You work with an authorised consulting company like Entwurfreich. The BMWK covers up to 50% of the consulting costs. The grant does not have to be paid back.
The programme is managed by EURONORM on behalf of the BMWK. It has been running since 2011 and was last updated in 2021. The programme is currently active — funding is available (source: BMWK/go-inno). You can verify Entwurfreich's authorisation in the official BMWK consultant database.
Who Is Eligible?
Your company qualifies if it meets these criteria:
- Based in Germany (headquarters or branch)
- Fewer than 100 employees
- Annual turnover or balance sheet total under EUR 20 million
- Independent enterprise (EU definition)
- Operating in a commercial sector (excluding agriculture and fishing)
Startups are eligible too — as long as they meet the size criteria. There is no minimum company age.
How Much Funding Can You Get?
go-inno covers 50% of eligible consulting costs. The maximum consultant day rate is EUR 1,100 net (one day = 8 hours including preparation and travel).
The programme has two levels:
Level 1: Potential Analysis
A short assessment of your innovation potential. It covers strengths and weaknesses, market feasibility, cost estimation and a financing plan.
- Up to 8 consultant days (+ 2 days for external experts = 10 total)
- Maximum duration: 3 months
- Maximum funding: EUR 5,500 (50% of 10 days × EUR 1,100)
Level 2: Implementation Concept
A detailed concept for turning your innovation idea into reality. It covers technology evaluation, cooperation planning, cost and timeline planning, and innovation management.
- Up to 20 consultant days (+ 5 days for external experts = 25 total)
- Maximum duration: 1 year
- Maximum funding: EUR 13,750 (50% of 25 days × EUR 1,100)
Annual Cap
A company can use up to 5 innovation vouchers per calendar year. The total funding is capped at EUR 20,000 per year. Combined across both levels, the maximum possible funding is EUR 15,400 per project cycle (Level 1 + Level 2 at 50%).
How Does the Process Work?
Official go-inno flyer: Download the full programme overview from the BMWK as a PDF (2 MB).
The process is straightforward. No formal application is needed.
Step 1: Contact an authorised consulting company (like Entwurfreich).
Step 2: Sign a consulting contract with a clear scope and timeline.
Step 3: The consulting company registers the contract with EURONORM.
Step 4: After the project is completed, we submit the documentation (invoices, proof of payment, performance report). The grant is paid out.
The key advantage: you do not need to apply for approval before starting.
Why ENTWURFREICH as Your go-inno Partner?
Entwurfreich is authorised by the BMWK as a go-inno consulting company. That means our consulting services for product and process innovation are eligible for 50% funding.
What makes us different from other go-inno consultants:
- We are an industrial design agency, not a generic business consultancy. Our work results in tangible products — not just strategy papers.
- We cover the full process: from research and analysis through concept development to building partnerships.
- We have completed 350+ projects for 125+ clients including ABB, Vodafone, Henkel and Covestro.
- Recent awards: iF Design Award Gold 2024, Red Dot Best of the Best 2024, German Design Award Gold 2026.
- We support you through the entire funding process — from eligibility check to final documentation.
Get in touch — we check your funding options:
Pia Will
Funding Consultant
pw@entwurfreich.com
+49 (0)158 886 510 34
Selected Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is go-inno?
go-inno is a funding programme by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It provides innovation vouchers that cover up to 50% of external consulting costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The programme targets companies that want to develop innovative products, improve processes or strengthen their innovation management. It is managed by EURONORM and has been active since 2011. No formal application is needed — you simply engage an authorised consulting company and the funding flows through the contract. The consultant day rate is capped at EUR 1,100 net. A company can use up to 5 vouchers per calendar year, with a total annual cap of EUR 20,000. The grant does not have to be repaid.
How much funding can I get through go-inno?
The maximum consultant day rate is EUR 1,100 net. go-inno covers 50% of that — so your cost per day is EUR 550. Level 1 (Potential Analysis) funds up to 10 consultant days over a maximum of 3 months. The maximum grant for Level 1 is EUR 5,500. Level 2 (Implementation Concept) funds up to 25 consultant days over a maximum of 1 year. The maximum grant for Level 2 is EUR 13,750. A company can use up to 5 vouchers per calendar year, with a total annual cap of EUR 20,000. The combined maximum for a full Level 1 + Level 2 cycle is approximately EUR 15,400. The grant does not have to be repaid. There is no formal application — the process starts with a consulting contract.
Is ENTWURFREICH an authorised go-inno consultant?
Yes. Entwurfreich has been authorised by the BMWK as a consulting company for the go-inno programme (go-innovativ). You can verify this in the official BMWK consultant database. This means our consulting services for innovative product development and process optimisation are eligible for 50% public funding. We cover the full spectrum — from user research and concept design to building partnerships. We support clients through the entire process, from the initial eligibility check to the final funding documentation. Contact us to check your options.
Written by Simon Gorski · September 30, 2020