Federal · Employment AgencyQualifizierungschancengesetz (§ 82 SGB III)
Funds further training of employees — including AI qualification. The employment agency covers course costs scaled by company size: up to 100% below 50 employees, 50% from 50 to under 500 (55% with a collective or works agreement), 25% from 500 (30%). Wage subsidies of up to 75% are also possible.
Federal · Tax office / BSFZResearch allowance (FZulG)
Tax-based funding for research and development projects with a legal entitlement — including AI development with technical risk. Since 1 January 2026: 25% of the assessment base, 35% for SMEs; up to €12 million assessment base per year plus a 20% overhead allowance. For SMEs, up to €4.2 million per year is possible.
Federal · BAFAFunding for entrepreneurial know-how
Grant for business consulting for SMEs, explicitly including digitalisation and AI topics. Assessment base €3,500 per consultation, funding rate 50 to 80% depending on location — the highest rate applies in the new federal states, including Saxony.
Federal · BMWKMittelstand-Digital Centres
Around 30 centres offer SMEs free workshops, demonstrators and initial advice on digitalisation and AI — the federal government's official point of contact after the end of go-digital. Good as an entry point, but no substitute for implementation or certified training.
Federal · BMWKCentral Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM)
Grants for market-oriented research and development projects by SMEs — as individual or cooperation projects, also with an AI focus. Suitable if your project goes beyond introducing existing tools and involves real development work.
Federal · KfWERP Digitalisation Loan
Low-interest loans from €25,000 to €25 million for digitalisation and innovation projects. Not a grant, but plannable financing — can also be combined with grant programmes where the funding rules allow.
Discontinued programmes
Two well-known federal programmes have ended: go-digital expired on 31 December 2024, Digital Jetzt already at the end of 2023. New applications are no longer possible — if you still come across these programmes online, the information is outdated. For investment grants the federal government refers to the state programmes, in Saxony the SAB.
All information without guarantee, as of 22 August 2026. Funding programmes, rates and deadlines change; only the funders' guidelines are binding, current programmes can be found in the federal funding database (opens in a new tab). This overview is not legal, tax or funding advice. The most common mistake in practice: starting the measure too early — always submit the application before you sign contracts or start.
