The institution universe.
Funders who take no equity — förderbanks, development banks, government agencies, EU programmes and grant bodies. A founder's grant path, not a round.
164 institutions förderbanks · development banks · government · EU programmes · grants
Region
Stage
Type
Institutions 164
Up2B Accelerator (Next Mannheim) mafinex.next-mannheim.de Up2B Accelerator is a joint initiative by NEXT Mannheim, Technologiepark Heidelberg, and innoWerft providing intensive support, mentorship, and office space to early-stage B2B and deep-tech startups. Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH) ib-sh.de Schleswig-Holstein's state-owned promotional bank providing loans, subsidies and guarantees to SMEs, startups, municipalities and housing developers. L-Bank – Staatsbank für Baden-Württemberg l-bank.de L-Bank is the public development bank for Baden-Württemberg, providing financing, grants, and advisory services to support the regional economy, municipalities, and residents. SAP.iO Foundry sapio.com.au SAP.iO Foundry is an accelerator and venture arm of SAP that incubates employee ventures and invests in early-stage software startups to expand the SAP ecosystem. WIBank – Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen wibank.de WIBank is the statutory development bank of Hesse, providing grants, loans, and equity support to SMEs, municipalities, and infrastructure projects. PALATINA Business Angels Rhein-Neckar e.V. palatina-angels.de A volunteer association providing active mentoring and early-stage to scale-up financing for innovative startups in the Rhein-Neckar region. Technologiepark Heidelberg technologiepark-heidelberg.de Innovation center and network provider for high-tech companies, offering infrastructure, startup support, and technology transfer in Heidelberg. Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe technologiefabrik-ka.de A historic tech incubator and innovation hub in Karlsruhe providing subsidized space, consulting, and networking for high-tech startups. SPRIND – Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen sprind.org German federal agency funding disruptive deep tech and societal innovations through rapid, flexible instruments to secure national economic and technological sovereignty. Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB) sab.sachsen.de Saxony's state development bank providing grants, loans, and guarantees to SMEs, startups, and municipalities for regional economic and infrastructure development. PionierGarage e.V. pioniergarage.de Student entrepreneurship group at KIT providing mentorship, a co-working incubator, and the GROW competition to help students validate ideas and launch startups. NRW.BANK nrwbank.de NRW.BANK is the promotional bank of North Rhine-Westphalia, providing equity, loans, and grants to SMEs, start-ups, and scale-ups to drive regional economic development. Next Mannheim / MAFINEX-Technologiezentrum next-mannheim.de Next Mannheim is a startup ecosystem and technology centre in Germany, supporting urban innovation entrepreneurs with infrastructure, mentorship, and funding navigation. NBank – Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen nbank.de Lower Saxony’s public development bank providing grants, loans, and matchmaking for digital, climate, and innovation projects. MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg mbg.de State-backed equity investor in Baden-Württemberg providing venture capital and silent partnerships to SMEs, startups, and succession cases. KIT-Gründerschmiede kit-gruenderschmiede.de The university's central accelerator and advisory body for student and staff founders, providing free consulting, networking, and lab space from idea to exit. KfW Capital kfw-capital.de Investment subsidiary of KfW Bankengruppe, one of Europe's largest VC fund investors, strengthening venture and growth capital supply for German tech companies. KfW Bankengruppe kfw-capital.de 100% subsidiary of KfW Bankengruppe investing in German and European VC and venture debt funds to strengthen their capital base and support technology-oriented growth companies. ISB – Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz isb.rlp.de State-owned development bank financing economic development, SME innovation, and residential construction in Rhineland-Palatinate. INVEST – Zuschuss für Wagniskapital (BAFA) bafa.de German government grant programme subsidising private investors (Business Angels) who acquire equity stakes in young, innovative German start-ups. ILB – Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg ilb.de Brandenburg's state development bank providing grants, loans, and equity for economic, infrastructure, housing, and labour projects. IBB Ventures ibbventures.de Berlin-based investor providing capital, expertise, and execution power from Pre-Seed to Series A, focusing on Tech, Creative, and Impact sectors. Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) ibb.de State-owned development bank of Berlin providing loans, equity, and grants to SMEs, startups, and real estate projects. HubWerk01 – Digital Hub Region Bruchsal hubwerk01.de HubWerk01 is a digital transformation hub and community center in Bruchsal, Germany, providing infrastructure, networking, and co-innovation matchmaking for startups and SMEs. High-Tech Gründerfonds htgf.de HTGF is a German public-private VC firm investing in early-stage and growth-stage high-tech startups across deep tech, life sciences, and digital sectors. Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V. heidelberg-startup-partners.de An association building Heidelberg's innovation ecosystem by providing acceleration, mentoring, venture capital access, and lab space to science and tech startups. hei_INNOVATION (Heidelberg University Startup Hub) uni-heidelberg.de Heidelberg University's startup hub supporting the commercialization of research and encouraging students to become entrepreneurs through education and workspace support. Gründermotor gruendermotor.io Baden-Württemberg's official 'Startup Factory' and deep-tech innovation platform connecting research, startups, and the industrial Mittelstand. EXIST – Existenzgründungen aus der Wissenschaft exist.de Federal German programme supporting scientists and research teams in transforming DeepTech and research results into successful startups through grants and mentoring. CyberForum e.V. cyberforum.de A Karlsruhe-based network organization connecting the IT region, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting startups via the CyberLab incubator. coparion coparion.vc German VC fund investing up to €15M in young tech startups, co-investing pari passu with private investors. bwcon – Baden-Württemberg: Connected bwcon.de A leading business initiative and cluster platform in Baden-Württemberg connecting startups, companies, and research institutions to drive high-tech innovation and digital transformation. Bürgschaftsbank Baden-Württemberg bw.ermoeglicher.de State-backed guarantee provider for Baden-Württemberg SMEs, startups, and successors, replacing missing collateral to enable bank financing. Bayern Kapital bayernkapital.de The state-owned venture capital company of Bavaria, investing €250k-€50m in high-tech, deep tech, and life sciences start-ups and scale-ups. Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG) ffg.at Austria's national agency for applied R&D and innovation funding, supporting enterprises and research institutions in digital and green transitions. aws Gründungsfonds gruenderfonds.at Austrian venture capital investor managing funds to support high-growth technology start-ups from Seed to Series A with equity capital and active partnership. Venture Kick venturekick.ch Swiss private-philanthropic initiative providing stage-gated pre-seed funding (up to CHF 150k) and a startup network for university spin-offs. Innosuisse – Swiss Innovation Agency innosuisse.ch Swiss federal agency promoting science-based innovation, R&D, and technology transfer for SMEs, startups, and research institutions. Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) aws.at Austria's federal promotional bank providing grants, guarantees, and equity to startups and SMEs for innovation and growth. Österreichische Datenschutzbehörde (DSB) dsb.gv.at Austrian Data Protection Authority U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sec.gov U.S. federal regulator enforcing securities laws, not a funding body. Österreichische Finanzmarktaufsicht (FMA) fma.gv.at Austrian Financial Market Authority — prudential supervisor and enforcer, not a grant or funding body. Umweltbundesamt (UBA) umweltbundesamt.de Germany's central federal environment agency, providing scientific research, regulatory support, and public environmental data. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fda.gov U.S. regulatory agency overseeing food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) ico.org.uk UK regulator enforcing data protection, AI governance, and freedom of information. Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) rki.de Germany's central federal agency for disease prevention and control, focusing on epidemiological surveillance and public health research. Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) g-ba.de Germany’s supreme regulatory body for statutory health insurance, determining the benefit catalogue and reimbursement eligibility for drugs and medical interventions. European Commission, DG COMP — Competition competition-policy.ec.europa.eu EU competition authority enforcing antitrust, merger control, and state aid rules to ensure fair markets. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fca.org.uk UK financial regulator responsible for conduct oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity in the financial services sector. European Medicines Agency (EMA) ema.europa.eu EU agency responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines. European Central Bank (ECB) ecb.europa.eu Supranational central bank managing the euro and EU monetary policy. Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI) bsi.bund.de Germany's federal cybersecurity authority, regulator and certifier. European Banking Authority (EBA) eba.europa.eu EU decentralised agency regulating and supervising the banking sector to ensure financial stability and a single market. University of Neuchâtel A French-speaking public research university in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, with four faculties and a CHF 140.97 million annual budget. University of Klagenfurt A federal research university in Klagenfurt, Austria, with a focus on technical sciences, social ecology, and humanities. University of Duisburg-Essen Public research university in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with top-ranked natural sciences and strong interdisciplinary research clusters. University of Bremen A public research university in Bremen, Germany, known for interdisciplinary research in AI, robotics, and marine sciences, with a strong focus on technology transfer and spin-off support. University of Bonn A leading German public research university and Excellence University, funding academic research, doctoral training, and technology transfer across natural sciences, humanities, and medicine. TU Wien Public technical university in Vienna, ranked 301-350th globally, focused on engineering, computer science, and quantum technologies. Paracelsus Medical University A private Austrian university in Salzburg and Nuremberg focused on medical education, nursing, and regenerative medicine research. Leibniz University Hannover Public research university in Hanover, Germany, and member of the TU9 alliance, funding interdisciplinary research in engineering and sciences. Johannes Kepler University of Linz A public research university in Linz, Austria, focused on interdisciplinary research, education, and technology transfer. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Public research university in Mainz, Germany, leading in particle physics, quantum sciences, and translational medicine as part of the Rhein-Main Universities alliance. Innsbruck Medical University Austria's leading medical university integrating education, high-level clinical care, and biomedical research to advance public health and patient outcomes. Heidelberg University Germany's oldest university and a leading European research institution, renowned for interdisciplinary science, medicine, and humanities, with 'University of Excellence' status. Freie Universität Berlin Public research university in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1948, part of the Berlin University Alliance and U15 research network. Bern University of Applied Sciences Public vocational university in Switzerland focused on applied research and practice-oriented education in engineering, health, business, and design. ESMA esma.com EU’s independent financial markets regulator and supervisor, established in 2011 to protect investors and ensure market stability. EDÖB edoeb.admin.ch Swiss federal regulator for data protection and freedom of information, not a funding body. BfDI bfdi.com German federal authority for data protection and freedom of information, not a funding body. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) Germany's federal research centre for aeronautics, space, energy, transportation, security and defence, funding applied research and technology transfer. MHRA mhra.ch UK executive agency regulating medicines, medical devices, and blood components to ensure safety, efficacy, and market access. FINMA finma.de Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, an independent regulator overseeing banks, insurers, and financial market infrastructures. ENISA enisa.com The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, an EU decentralised agency based in Athens that drives cybersecurity policy, certification, and resilience across the Union. EIOPA eiopa.com EU regulatory agency for insurance and occupational pensions, ensuring sector stability and consumer protection. EFSA efsa.com EU agency providing independent scientific risk assessment for food and feed safety. EDPB edpb.de EU regulatory body ensuring consistent GDPR application across member states. CFTC cftc.com U.S. independent agency regulating commodity futures, options, and swaps markets. BNetzA bundesnetzagentur.de German federal regulator for energy, telecoms, railways, and postal services; sets rules and tariffs but does not provide funding. University of Stuttgart A leading German TU9 research university in Stuttgart, renowned for engineering, natural sciences, and applied research with a strong focus on technology transfer and start-up support. University of Lausanne A public Swiss university in Lausanne focused on interdisciplinary research, higher education, and knowledge transfer across life sciences, medicine, and social sciences. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg Public research university in Magdeburg, Germany, focused on engineering, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary innovation with a lean, agile governance structure. Technische Universität Braunschweig Öffentliche Forschungsuniversität in Braunschweig mit Fokus auf Ingenieurwissenschaften, Digitalisierung und Exzellenzforschung. University of Lübeck A German public research university in Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, specialising in medicine, life sciences, and engineering with a strong translational focus. BOKU University Austrian university specializing in natural resources, life sciences, and sustainability research with a strong focus on applied innovation and global development. Leipzig University Leipzig University is a historic public research university in Leipzig, Germany, renowned for its interdisciplinary scholarship, elite research output, and role as a key talent hub for the Saxon innovation ecosystem. Saarland University A public research university in Saarbrücken, Germany, founded in 1948 with a focus on computer science, nanotechnology, law, and European studies. Ruhr University Bochum A major German public research university in Bochum, driving regional innovation through its WORLDFACTORY spin-off unit and interdisciplinary research clusters. RWTH Aachen University Germany's leading technical university and an elite 'University of Excellence' recognized for engineering research, third-party funding, and industry collaboration. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München LMU Munich is a leading German public research university and Excellence University, renowned for its broad academic profile, strong international focus, and status as a research powerhouse in Europe. University of Tübingen A leading German public research university and U15 member, renowned for interdisciplinary research, over 300 million euros in annual research funding, and a focus on solving future societal challenges. Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures German national culture collection and research infrastructure supplying authenticated microbes, cell lines, and bioinformatic tools to academia and industry. Technische Universität Dresden A German University of Excellence and TU9 member with a EUR 852 million budget, driving applied research and start-up creation in engineering and life sciences. Friedrich Schiller University Jena A public research university in Jena, Germany, known for its 'Light. Life. Liberty.' profile and dense research ecosystem. Medical University of Vienna Austria's leading public university for medicine, research, and patient care, operating the Vienna General Hospital. University of Göttingen A leading German public research university and Excellence University member, offering start-up support and research collaboration across 13 faculties. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Switzerland’s federal research institute for application-oriented materials science, technology development, and innovation support within the ETH Domain. Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg A historic public research university in Halle, Germany, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary science and education. European Organization for Nuclear Research Intergovernmental research organisation operating the world’s largest particle physics laboratory and the Large Hadron Collider. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Switzerland’s national water research institute, part of the ETH Domain, focusing on sustainable water management, treatment, and ecology. Technical University of Munich Germany's leading technical university and 'University of Excellence' that funds research, incubates spin-offs, and drives industry collaboration in engineering, AI, and life sciences. University of Regensburg A public research university in Regensburg, Bavaria, with a broad research portfolio across natural sciences, medicine, and humanities, serving as a key academic and innovation hub for Eastern Bavaria. Università della Svizzera italiana Public research university in Lugano, Switzerland, focusing on interdisciplinary research in informatics, economics, and biomedical sciences with strong industry ties. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Swiss federal research university in Lausanne, part of the ETH Domain, funding advanced STEM and life sciences research. University of Rostock Germany’s oldest Baltic Sea university, founded 1419, with a EUR 214.4 million budget and four interdisciplinary research profiles. Technische Universität Berlin A leading German public research university and a founding hub for deep-tech spin-offs in engineering and natural sciences. Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf A German public university in Düsseldorf founded in 1965, known for interdisciplinary research across medicine, sciences, and humanities, with a structured focus on research transfer and entrepreneurship. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine A University of Bern institute advancing public health through epidemiology, biostatistics, and the translation of research into practice. Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) A Leibniz research institute in Gatersleben preserving 151,000 crop accessions and decoding plant genomes for sustainable agriculture. Graz University of Technology Austrian public research university and institute of technology with a focus on engineering, science and technology transfer. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Germany's oldest public university, a major research institution in Berlin with a broad academic portfolio and strong international ties. ETH Zurich Switzerland’s leading technical university and a global hub for engineering, natural sciences and technology research. Medizinische Hochschule Hannover Germany's first independent medical university and a maximum-care hospital in Hanover, specialising in translational research, transplantation, and regenerative medicine. Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel CAU Kiel is a public research university in northern Germany focusing on science, medicine, humanities and law. Technische Universität Darmstadt Public research university in Darmstadt, Germany, and member of the TU9 alliance, focused on engineering, digital tech and deep-tech spin-outs. Paul Scherrer Institute Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary research institute, operating major large-scale facilities and driving innovation in physics, materials, energy, and health through applied research and spin-off support. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Swiss federal research institute providing scientific basis for environmental policy, forest management, and natural hazard prevention. University of Würzburg A historic public research university in Bavaria, Germany, with a €795m budget, 25,000+ students, and U15 research-intensive status. University of Münster A leading German public research university in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, with a €803.6 million budget and over 43,000 students. University of St.Gallen A public Swiss research university specializing in business, economics, law, and international affairs, operating a dedicated entrepreneurship transfer unit. University of Zurich Switzerland's largest public research university, founded in 1833, with a budget of CHF 1.578 billion and over 25,000 students. Medical University of Graz A public medical university in Graz, Austria, focused on innovative research, education, and patient care in clinical and biomedical sciences. Bielefeld University A public research university in Bielefeld, Germany, established in 1969, focusing on interdisciplinary research and teaching. Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen A historic public research university in Giessen, Germany, with a €551.2M budget and 25,000 students, focusing on life sciences, medicine, and humanities. TU Dortmund University A public German university in Dortmund focusing on engineering, natural sciences and digital technologies. Central European University CEU is a private, research-intensive university in Vienna focused on social sciences, humanities, and public policy to advance open societies and democratic governance. Universität Ulm A young, research-intensive public university in Germany, renowned for its focus on medicine, MINT subjects, and applied research in energy, quantum, and health. Universität Innsbruck A historic public research university in Innsbruck, Tyrol, serving as the primary academic and R&D hub for Western Austria with a €387M annual budget. University of Basel Switzerland's oldest public research university, a leading hub for interdisciplinary research and education with a CHF 768 million budget. Montanuniversität Leoben Austria’s specialized university for mining, metallurgy and materials engineering, driving Circular Engineering and sustainable resource research. University of Salzburg A public Austrian university in Salzburg offering multidisciplinary research and education across humanities, sciences, law, theology, business, and digital/analytical fields. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg A leading German public research university in Bavaria, FAU combines academic excellence with strong industry collaboration and a dedicated innovation ecosystem for translational research. University of Cologne Germany's largest university by enrollment, focusing on comprehensive research and education across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and medicine. German Cancer Research Center Germany’s national cancer research center and Helmholtz Association member, driving translational oncology through the NCT and DKTK consortia. University of Potsdam Brandenburg's largest public research university, integrating natural sciences, humanities, and digital technologies across three campuses in Potsdam. Forschungszentrum Jülich Germany’s largest interdisciplinary research centre focusing on energy, health, environment and digitalisation. Philipps University of Marburg A public German university in Marburg, Hesse, excelling in interdisciplinary research and education across sciences, humanities, and medicine. University of Freiburg A historic public research university in Germany, ranked among the top in Europe, focusing on interdisciplinary research, teaching, and knowledge transfer to society and industry. Universität Hamburg A public research university in Hamburg, Germany, designated as an Excellence University, hosting major research clusters and startup infrastructure like the Körber Start Hub. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute A leading global health research institute associated with the University of Basel, focusing on infectious diseases and health systems in low-resource settings. University of Graz Austrian public research university founded in 1585, driving innovation in life sciences, engineering, and digital technologies through research transfer and international collaboration. Institute of Science and Technology Austria A leading Austrian PhD-granting research institute for interdisciplinary basic research in natural and formal sciences, modeled on the Weizmann Institute. University of Fribourg A bilingual Swiss public university funding interdisciplinary research across humanities, sciences, and law, with strong regional innovation and open science engagement. University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria's leading public university for veterinary science, driving research in animal health, One Health, and comparative genomics while fostering commercial spin-offs. Universität für Weiterbildung Krems A public Austrian university specializing in postgraduate education and applied research for working professionals, located in Krems an der Donau. Austrian Institute of Technology Austria's largest non-university research institute, bridging science and industry to develop technology solutions for energy, mobility, digital transformation, and security. Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research Interdisciplinary climate research centre at the University of Bern, focusing on climate science, impacts, and societal adaptation. University of Vienna Austria's largest university, a top 100 global research institution driving fundamental and applied research across a broad spectrum of disciplines. University of Bern Swiss public research university funding interdisciplinary work in health, climate, and digital tech with CHF 367m in third-party funds. University of Geneva A historic Swiss public research university and technology transfer hub, driving innovation in global health, data science, and advanced semiconductor physics through academic excellence and international partnerships. Goethe University Frankfurt A leading German public research university and U15 member focused on interdisciplinary research and education across sciences, humanities, and medicine. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology A German Excellence University and Helmholtz research centre with a EUR 1.163 billion budget, merging academic teaching with large-scale applied research. Vienna University of Economics and Business Austrian public research university with triple accreditation, focused on economics, business, and social sciences with strong sustainability and policy research. Campus Founders campusfounders.de Campus Founders is an entrepreneurship and innovation center in Heilbronn-Franken that supports creators through their entrepreneurial journey. Start-up BW Pre-Seed startupbw.de State-backed pre-seed financing for innovative Baden-Württemberg startups, providing up to €200k (€400k exceptional) via interest-free convertible debt with mandatory private co-investment. Startup Mannheim – KREASOCTECH grant startup.com Startup Mannheim is the urban innovation startup ecosystem for Mannheim, backed by the KREASOCTECH grant. CyberLab IT-Accelerator cyberlab-karlsruhe.de CyberLab IT-Accelerator is a startup partner providing acceleration, mentoring, coaching, and investment services to support founders through various stages of their venture. BioRN – Life Science Cluster Rhine-Neckar biorn.org BioRN is a non-profit innovation cluster and network in the Rhine-Neckar region that fosters health innovations and connects life science stakeholders. BioLabs Heidelberg biolabs.io BioLabs Heidelberg is a life sciences incubator and support ecosystem that has backed over 500 companies, focusing on operational support and community building rather than direct equity investment. Bundeskartellamt bundeskartellamt.com German Federal Cartel Office, the national competition authority enforcing antitrust and merger control laws. European Parliament europeanparliament.com The European Parliament is the EU's directly elected legislative body, responsible for passing laws, approving the budget, and exercising democratic oversight over EU institutions. BaFin bafin.com Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, a regulatory body overseeing banks, financial services, and insurance. University of Bayreuth A public research university in Bavaria, Germany, ranked among the top young universities globally, specializing in sustainable engineering, materials science, and interdisciplinary innovation. European Innovation Council eic.ec.europa.eu EU's flagship programme for breakthrough deep-tech innovation, combining grants and equity to scale game-changing startups from lab to global market.