What funding is available in Germany for a website, software and digi­tal­iza­tion?

Digi­tal­iza­tion funding: the types available

Funding for digitalization can be roughly divided into four groups. Grants cover part of the eligible costs and do not have to be repaid. Subsidized loans, for example from the federal and state development banks, offer better terms than a conventional loan. Consulting subsidies cover part of the cost of external consulting, for example on a digitalization strategy. Innovation funding is aimed at projects with a genuine research or development component.

There are also tax instruments such as the research allowance (Forschungszulage), which may be an option for research and development projects – including software, if it genuinely breaks new technical ground. Developing a standard company website or customizing standard software generally does not meet these requirements. Digitalization and investment programs are the more suitable route here.

• Grants for part of the eligible costs
• Subsidized loans with better terms
• Subsidized consulting, e.g. on a digitalization strategy
• Innovation funding for projects with a development component
• Tax-based research allowance for genuine research and development

Funding for websites, software and software development

If you are searching for “funding for website creation,” keep your expectations realistic. Many programs restrict or exclude pure website or marketing projects. Projects in which the website is part of a larger digitalization step often have better prospects – for example, an online store connected to inventory management, a booking system that replaces phone calls, or a customer portal.

When it comes to funding for software and software development, programs often distinguish between buying standard software, introducing new digital processes and genuine new development. Typically, funding goes to investments that change how the company operates – for example, digitalizing order processing, warehouse management or customer communication – as well as measures to improve IT security. How these categories are delimited is set out by each program in its own guidelines.

The project description is almost always decisive: what problem is being solved, which processes change, what benefit does the company gain? The more clearly these points are formulated, the easier it is to check whether a program fits – and the more convincing an application is to the funding body. You need this description anyway – including for the internal decision within your company.

Digi­tal­iza­tion funding in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse & more

In addition to federal programs, the German states set up their own funding, which runs through their development banks or economic ministries. For searches like “digitalization funding Baden-Württemberg” or “software funding Baden-Württemberg,” the L-Bank is a central point of contact. In Bavaria, these are the state ministry of economic affairs and LfA Förderbank Bayern; in North Rhine-Westphalia, NRW.BANK. In addition, the chambers advise on regional programs in all states.

In Hesse, WIBank provides information; in Lower Saxony, NBank; and in Saxony, the Sächsische Aufbaubank. For companies in Rhineland-Palatinate – like Nano Concepts in Dudenhofen – the Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB) is responsible. Programs, terms and conditions there change regularly. So always check the current status directly with the relevant body.

• Baden-Württemberg: L-Bank
• Bavaria: state ministry of economic affairs and LfA Förderbank Bayern
• North Rhine-Westphalia: NRW.BANK
• Hesse: WIBank
• Lower Saxony: NBank · Saxony: Sächsische Aufbaubank
• Rhineland-Palatinate: ISB

Where to find current funding programs

The federal government's funding database (Förderdatenbank des Bundes) offers a nationwide overview, in which programs from the federal government, the states and the EU can be filtered by funding area, type of funding and region. In addition, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Chambers of Skilled Crafts (Handwerkskammern) provide information on regional offerings and help with an initial assessment of whether a project fits a program in principle. Use these sources before you request quotes.

For more complex projects, specialized funding consulting can make sense – comparing programs and supporting applications. Make sure the terms are transparent. We ourselves are not funding consultants and do not give funding commitments – but we provide you with the technical content and a clear service description that you need for an application. If needed, we also coordinate directly with your funding consultant.

Typical funding conditions: apply before you commission

The most common pitfall: with many grant programs, the project may only start once the application has been submitted or approved. Often even signing a contract counts as the start of the project. If you commission the work first and apply for funding afterward, you end up empty-handed. Clarify this point before signing any contract – even for smaller projects.

Other common conditions include classification as a small or medium-sized enterprise under the EU definition, a share of the costs that you bear yourself, limits under EU state aid law such as the de minimis rule, and proof of how the funds were used. Some programs also require specific qualifications or registration of the commissioned service provider. So read the funding guideline in full before investing time in an application, and clarify open questions directly with the funding body.

How to prepare your digi­tal­iza­tion project to qualify for funding

Before you compare programs, the project should be clearly described: starting situation, goal, affected processes, planned solution and rough timeline. A structured quote with traceable line items helps with that – both for the funding body and for your own decision on whether the project pays off even without a grant. This turns an idea into a verifiable project with clear milestones.

At Nano Concepts, after the free initial consultation you receive a transparent quote, preferably at a fixed price for a clearly defined scope. For orientation: Starter from €2,500, Professional from €8,000, Enterprise priced individually. Plan your project so that it makes economic sense even without funding – then funding is an advantage rather than a risk.

Note: This guide gives a general overview as of October 2026. It does not replace funding, tax or legal advice. Funding programs can change at short notice, be exhausted or be relaunched; binding information is available only from the funding body concerned. We cannot influence funding decisions, but we are happy to provide all the technical documents you need for your application and to align the project timeline with the program's requirements.