Consulting for Forschungszulage
We secure the maximum funding for your development projects
- success-based
- 100%success-based paysuccess-based
- companies supported
- 60+companies supportedcompanies supported
- avg. funding per year
- €400kavg. funding per yearavg. funding per year
Trusted by leading companies
Who is it for?
From software to steel: funding reaches every industry
What matters isn't your industry, but whether you do technical development with new approaches. This is how applications break down nationwide:
And no matter your size:
86%of applications come from SMEs and startups
Tap an industry for matching examples
Your industry not listed? Get it checked for free in 15 minutes →
8 benefits
Why is the Forschungszulage a good funding option?
Compared to traditional funding programmes, the Forschungszulage is the better choice for most companies.
- 1
Legal entitlement
No competition for budgets: if the criteria are met, funding must be granted.
- 2
Up to 4 years retroactive
Even completed projects can still be funded.
- 3
Open to all industries
Software, mechanical engineering, MedTech, construction: R&D is R&D, whatever the industry.
- 4
Even without profit
No tax burden needed, the allowance is paid out as a credit.
- 5
Less bureaucracy
No upfront project plan, no interim reports, no proof of use.
- 6
Fully digital process
Application via BSFZ portal and ELSTER, no paper, no postal mail.
- 7
Thematically open
No rigid topic catalogue: product development, process innovation, everything counts.
- 8
Broad cost base
Personnel costs, contract research and capital assets are eligible.
Common doubts
Does one of these thoughts sound familiar?
“We don’t even do research.”
Most companies do research & development every day without calling it that. New products and improvements almost always involve technical innovation — so you very likely meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance.
“Why have I never heard of this?”
9 out of 10 companies leave money on the table — bad experiences with other grants, or simply never having heard of it. Yet the Forschungszulage has been a legal entitlement since 2020. We’re happy to send you the official documents first.
“It’s not worth it.”
Many had applied before and were disappointed by the amount. Once we scope the projects cleanly together, capture every cost and structure the process, that changes — on average 400k € paid out per year and company.
Successfully funded projects
280,000€ Forschungszulage
for MedTech
From AI to hardware to SaaS — these types of projects get funded through the Forschungszulage.
Mobile body scanners: a virtual copy of the body, posture analysis, and health-related parameters in a single measurement process. 280,000€ in Forschungszulage for developing the 3D body scanners.
Your partner for the Forschungszulage
100% success-based — 0% risk for you
We carry the risk with you. Payment only after funds have arrived — not two flat fees upfront like typical agencies.
Full support through payout
Consulting ends after BSFZ certificate
We write — you just provide input in calls
Questionnaires for self-completion
Under 5 hours of your time
Weeks of own effort
Digital timesheets, audit-proof
Excel lists without templates
100% success-based
Fixed upfront fees, costs even if rejected
Founder & developer — understands your project
Generalist without technical background
Scope of service
Full support through payout
Consulting ends after BSFZ certificate
Who writes the application?
We write — you just provide input in calls
Questionnaires for self-completion
Time required
Under 5 hours of your time
Weeks of own effort
Documentation
Digital timesheets, audit-proof
Excel lists without templates
Cost structure
100% success-based
Fixed upfront fees, costs even if rejected
Technical understanding
Founder & developer — understands your project
Generalist without technical background
Software that structures
Bulletproof applications, no Excel chaos, everything on German servers.
Zeitmaker's own software keeps the application process structured and well thought out.
More about our consulting →
How much funding are you entitled to?
Adjust the sliders to your case. The number is rough, but enough to decide whether the effort is worth it.
Maximum funding, minimal effort, because we understand your tech
We're technical ourselves and understand your projects.
In just 4 meetings we guide you to the Forschungszulage.
Learn more about usWhy now?
Start now and the money arrives this year
The Forschungszulage is offset against your next tax assessment and paid out. If you start now, the application is done in time for the funding to reach the tax office this year, not next year.
From kick-off to payout, still this year
Today
Intro call
Your funding amount is clarified in 15 minutes.
In 2-3 weeks
Application & BSFZ certificate
We draft the application, you just sign off.
After that
Assessment by the tax office
The allowance is offset against your taxes.
Still this year
Money in your account
Payout or refund gets underway.
Today
Intro call
Your funding amount is clarified in 15 minutes.
In 2-3 weeks
Application & BSFZ certificate
We draft the application, you just sign off.
After that
Assessment by the tax office
The allowance is offset against your taxes.
Still this year
Money in your account
Payout or refund gets underway.
And it pays more than ever, since 2026
€12M
Assessment base
raised from €10M
+20%
Overhead flat rate, new
overhead without itemized proof
up to €4.2M
Funding per year
SMEs, 35% funding rate
Every month you wait pushes the payout back, possibly into next year. And the funding applies up to 4 years retroactively, with the oldest year dropping off every year.
Clarify your funding amount in 15 minJust 4 meetings to the Forschungszulage
Under 5 hours of your time. We write, you just provide input. You talk to someone who understands the tech and knows exactly how applications pass at the certification body and tax office.
- 01
Finance checklist
We clarify which documents you need — as a company-specific checklist. You simply forward it to your tax advisor.
30 min - 02
Finance review
We structure your data ourselves (employees, salaries, contractors) and clear up any final questions. For you, it's just a review.
30 min - 03
Product & innovation
We identify your innovation projects, allocate employees by percentage, and discuss novelty and technical risk.
45 min - 04
Final review & submission
You get an asynchronous review in advance. If everything fits, we submit — otherwise we use call 4 as a deeper product call.
More funding. Less effort. No risk.
You secure more funding on average than you'd ever claim on your own — at a 92% success rate, while the industry sits at around 75%. And you barely lose your technical team along the way: the entire submission runs in just 4 calls. Plus, you only pay on successful funding.
Free intro callWhat our customers say about working with us
Founders and finance leads from YC companies and established mid-market businesses — on what working with us has meant for them.
“Erich secured €350k per year in funding, exceeding our expectations by +€75k per year.”
Kai Klasen
Head of Finance · Ona
“Erich supported us very well and we could focus on our product. Extremely efficient in just 4 calls.”
Sascha Lang
Founder · YC S23 · AiSupervision
“Super fast and efficient support with the Forschungszulage. The process was completed in just 4 calls.”
Fabio Schmidberger
Founder · YC W22 · voize
Frequently asked questions
Check your Forschungszulage — free and success-based
Send us a line about your work and we'll come back to you with an initial assessment.