We are the experts for subsidies for

Tech

SaaS

Start Up

Software

E-Commerce

companies

Banhoek Consulting helps you get (non-repayable) government grants of up to €1 million per year. We work strictly on success-based compensation.
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Research Allowance

The research allowance (”Forschungszulage”) is a new funding program for all companies with R&D activities

Open-Topic

Any company is eligible for funding if it meets the R&D criteria. Innovative tech companies are predestined for the research allowance.
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Flexibility

R&D costs already incurred are reimbursed in retrospect. The maximum amount of funding is €1 million per year, retroactive to 2020. No repayment obligation or taxation of the funding.
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Predictability

Projects that receive a positive evaluation have a legal claim to future funding. Secure funding now for R&D expenses in future years!
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Due to the subject-wide orientation of the research allowance, numerous companies are in a position to receive the funding

1.000.000€
is the maximum subsidy per year
25%
of the R&D costs already incurred are eligible for funding
Retrospective
Retroactive funding of already completed projects possible up to and including 2020

The 5 criteria for eligible research and development projects

01
Novelty
Must serve the acquisition of new knowledge
02
Uncertainty
Uncertainties/risks with regard to the final result or costs/time expenditure must exist
03
Creative Height
Original findings that are not based on obvious concepts and hypotheses
04
Reproducibility
Documentation of the results for other researchers in the company
05
Systematic Work
Scheduled and budgetable sequence of work
About us

We understand how unique and innovative your business model is

A prerequisite for successfully applying for funding is a deep understanding of what you do as an innovative company. Our years of experience working in and with tech companies allows us to quickly gain an overview of your individual starting point, and then work together to identify funding potential.
In-depth domain expertise in the tech sector
Extensive network of grant experts
Years of experience in grant consulting
Outstanding success rate of submitted applications

Together we maximize the funding for you!

Minimal Effort

We’ll do the heavy lifting - your involvement is kept to a minimum.

The German tax system is complex. Applying for a research grant is fraught with countless formal and substantive hurdles that can lead to the rejection of eligible projects. We minimize this risk with our years of experience and take over the entire process for you. After an initial workshop, our experts draft the application documentation completely on their own.
Success-based Payment

You only pay us if the research grant application is successful.

Working with us, you do not incur any risk. We work success-based, so our interests are aligned with yours: to achieve the maximum grant amount! Only if we are successful together and you receive a legally binding commitment for the research grant, our success-based commission will be due. We offer this model because we are convinced of the quality of our work.
Maximum Allowance

We secure the maximum possible allowance amount for your R&D project.

With our years of experience in subsidy consulting, we precisely identify projects in your company that meet the subsidy criteria of the research allowance. The wrong dimensioning of the project carries a considerable risk of rejection of the application or of insufficient funding. We maximize the result for you.
Project Blueprint

Let's discuss the potential of the research allowance for your company

Step 1

Free consultation

Book a free 30-minute appointment for the initial consultation now. Our experts will answer your questions about the research allowance and discuss with you the potential of this program for your company.

1
Step 2

Kick-Off Workshop

If you decide to work with us, the project will begin with an approximately 3-hour workshop in which our experts will review your research project and the entire company and evaluate eligibility in detail.

2
Step 3

Application

The findings of the workshop, from in-depth expert interviews, document research and analysis of your project are distilled and translated into the specific form and content requirements of the application forms.

3
Step 4

Project Support

We completely take over the communication with the certification body including the answering of in-depth follow-up questions for you. This also includes the review of the positive decision and the assertion of your claims at the tax office.

3
Project Blueprint

Let's discuss the potential of the research allowance for your company

1

Free consultation

Book a free 30-minute appointment for the initial consultation now. Our experts will answer your questions about the research allowance and discuss with you the potential of this program for your company.
2

Kick-off Workshop

If you decide to work with us, the project will begin with an approximately 3-hour workshop in which our experts will review your research project and the entire company and evaluate eligibility in detail.
3

Application

The findings of the workshop, from in-depth expert interviews, document research and analysis of your project are distilled and translated into the specific form and content requirements of the application forms.
4

Project Support

We completely take over the communication with the certification body including the answering of in-depth follow-up questions for you. This also includes the review of the positive decision and the assertion of your claims at the tax office.
FAQ

Open questions?

We have (almost) all the answers here.

General

What is the research allowance (”Forschungszulage”)?
It is a tax subsidy for companies that invest in innovations. The research allowance is a subsidy subject to the Research Allowance Act (FZulG), which came into force on January 1, 2020.
What is the amount of the subsidy?
The legislation allows R&D expenditures to be subsidized by 25 percent (based on personnel costs plus non-wage labor costs) with a maximum amount per group of companies of € 1,000,000 per year.
How can the research allowance be applied for?
First, the submitted project must be reviewed and assessed by the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) in a technical review process. If the decision is positive, the research allowance can be applied for once per business year at the responsible tax office.
How is the research allowance paid out?
The research allowance is offset against income or corporation tax. This can also apply to previous fiscal years. If the determined research allowance exceeds the income or corporation tax, then this is paid out as a tax refund.

Application

Is my company eligible?
The term "eligible projects" is defined very broadly in the Research Allowance Act, so that practical industrial research and experimental development are also included. Therefore, all companies that create innovative products, processes, procedures and services are eligible across all industries.
For what period can the research allowance be applied for?
A major advantage of the research allowance is that it can be applied for retrospectively for (personnel) costs already incurred. This means that companies can have projects funded that began on or after Jan. 1, 2020, regardless of whether they have already been completed or are still ongoing. Even costs for projects planned for the future can be funded.
How does the application process work?
The application is a two-step process: first, the company must submit the R&D project to a certification process with a detailed technical analysis. The second step is the allocation of the corresponding funds by the responsible tax office.
Which costs can be claimed?
Personnel costs for product and process development, plus ancillary wage costs can be subsidized at 25%. Costs for external service providers (third-party R&D contracts) are subsidized at 15%. The upper limit of the total funding is € 1 million per year.

Markus Pöhlmann

CEO
Your expert for successful research grant application. 20 years of experience as a consultant, tech company CEO, entrepreneur and investor.

Contact us to discuss your research project!

We will respond to your request within 24 hours