What AiF Projekt does

AiF Projekt GmbH is a Berlin-based, non-profit project management agency (Projektträger) founded in 1990 and operating as a GmbH since 2010, wholly owned by AiF e.V. (Association of Industrial Research Associations 'Otto von Guericke'). It serves as the authorized ('beliehener') intermediary for the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) under the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK/BMWE), advising innovative German SMEs, accepting applications, coordinating expert assessment, issuing funding decisions typically within three months, disbursing funds, and verifying proof of use. As of the latest data, the agency has supported more than 40,000 innovation projects and administered over €5.5 billion in cumulative ZIM funding over a ten-year history.

The product portfolio extends beyond ZIM to include the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ), operated jointly with VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and DLR Project Management Agency on behalf of BMBF to certify R&D tax allowance eligibility; international R&D cooperation coordination through the IraSME and EUREKA networks (with the 38th IraSME call round opened in June 2026); expert assessment services for state-level programs such as Berlin's Pro FIT administered by Investitionsbank Berlin; and the Innovationsprogramm Straße managed for the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). Supporting infrastructure consists of two secure document portals (ZIM-KOOP Upload-Portal and AiF-Austausch-Portal), Matomo for first-party web analytics, and CISCO Webex for online events. The agency also organizes the annual Innovationstag Mittelstand, an open-air SME innovation showcase that in 2026 attracted approximately 300 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors.

The business model is non-commercial: the company is funded through government mandates and public assignments and does not charge for its services to SMEs. Revenue is effectively a function of administrative fees on the multi-billion-euro funding flows it intermediates. Operations are carried out by approximately 150 employees plus a network of 85 expert assessors covering all modern technology areas and roughly 20 business management employees. Customer concentration is structurally high on the revenue side, with a small set of federal and state ministries (BMWK/BMWE, BMBF, BASt, IBB) commissioning the work, while the end-beneficiary base — German SMEs and research institutions — is highly distributed.

Name

AiF Projekt

Legal name

AiF Projekt GmbH

Website

https://aif-projekt-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AiF Projekt GmbH is a Berlin-based, non-profit project management agency that administers federal and state innovation funding programs, most notably ZIM for BMWK and the BSFZ R&D tax certificate for BMBF, on behalf of German SMEs and research institutions. Wholly owned by AiF e.V., it operates with roughly 150 employees and 85 expert assessors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Innovation Funding Administration

NAICS

Public Administration (92), International Affairs (92812), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), International Affairs (9721), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• SME innovation funding
• R&D cooperation projects
• Government project management
• Innovation funding advisory
• Research subsidy administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Project Management Services: AiF Projekt GmbH operates as a non-profit project management agency funded through government mandates and public assignments. They do not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense. Their work is commissioned by federal ministries (BMWK, BMBF) and state institutions (Investitionsbank Berlin) to manage innovation funding programs. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AiF e.V. (Association of Industrial Research Associations 'Otto von Guericke').

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AiF Projekt GmbH is a government-mandated project management agency that administers innovation funding programs for German SMEs on behalf of federal and state ministries. It manages the ZIM cooperation projects program, operates the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) for research tax relief certification, coordinates international R&D cooperation networks (IraSME, EUREKA), and provides expert assessment services for public innovation funding programs. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AiF e.V. and delivers services to SMEs, research institutions, and public sector clients across Germany.

Product overview

AiF Projekt GmbH is a project management organization that offers a portfolio of government-funded innovation support services rather than a commercial software product. The core offerings include ZIM-KOOP (project management for the Central Innovation Program for SMEs - Germany's largest federal SME innovation funding program), the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (tax subsidy certification service for R&D), and international R&D cooperation coordination through IraSME and EUREKA networks. Supporting services include expert assessments for innovation funding, project management for the Road Innovation Program (Innovationsprogramm Straße), and document exchange portals (ZIM-KOOP Upload-Portal and AiF-Austausch-Portal). The company also organizes the annual Innovationstag Mittelstand, an open-air innovation showcase event. All services are delivered in partnership with federal ministries (BMWK, BMBF), state agencies (BASt, IBB), and research organizations (VDI, DLR).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZIM-KOOP Project Management Management of R&D cooperation projects under Germany's largest federal SME innovation funding program. AiF Projekt GmbH advises SMEs on funding options, accepts applications, assesses projects, makes funding decisions (typically within three months), disburses funds, and verifies final proof of use.
• Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) Examination and certification of applications for tax relief on research expenditure (Forschungszulage) for companies. Issues certificates that companies can submit to tax offices to claim research allowances.
• Internationale FuE-Kooperationen (International R&D Cooperation) Advisory and support services for applicants and project partners in transnational R&D cooperation. Coordinates with ministries and agencies in various countries to open national funding programs for ZIM cooperation projects with foreign partners.
• Gutachter für Innovationsförderung (Expert Assessment Services) Technical review of R&D project applications, economic feasibility evaluation, market entry barrier analysis, and amortization calculations for public innovation funding programs. Services provided to Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and other public clients.
• Innovationsprogramm Straße (Road Innovation Program) Project management for the promotion of research and development of innovative concepts, materials, technologies, and procedures for road and bridge construction in Germany. Focuses on durability, availability of road infrastructure, traffic safety, and energy efficiency.
• Innovationstag Mittelstand (SME Innovation Day) Annual open-air festival showcasing SME innovations, featuring approximately 300 exhibitors presenting R&D project results, stage programs, thematic tours, and international cooperation presentations. The 2026 event attracted about 2,000 visitors.
• IraSME Network Coordination Coordination of the IraSME international funding network of ministries and agencies supporting transnational R&D projects by companies through national/regional funding programs. Two annual call rounds close in March and September, with participating countries having bilateral agreements for coordinated R&D project assessment and approval.
• EUREKA Cooperation Support for cross-border and market-oriented research collaborations through the EUREKA network. Currently cooperates with Israel, assisting companies and scientific institutions with innovative topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funding decisions made within 3 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VDI Technologiezentrum GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether with VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and DLR Project Management Agency, AiF Projekt GmbH operates the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The consortium examines applications for tax relief for research expenditure (Forschungszulage) in accordance with tax incentive laws.
• DLR Project Management AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether with VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and DLR Project Management Agency, AiF Projekt GmbH operates the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized project management agency for the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM), managing R&D cooperation projects. Also organizes the Innovationstag Mittelstand on behalf of BMWK. BMWK is the primary commissioning ministry.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAiF Projekt GmbH operates as consortium partner in the Bescheinigungsstelle Forschungszulage (BSFZ) commissioned by BMBF, examining applications for tax relief on research expenditure.
• Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAiF Projekt GmbH provides expert opinions and project-related mentoring for the Pro FIT program (Förderung von Forschung, Innovationen und Technologien) of the state of Berlin, commissioned by IBB which is assigned by Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Operations.
• Bundesanstalt für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen (BASt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAiF Projekt GmbH acts as project manager for the 'Innovationsprogramm Straße' commissioned by BASt, contributing to sustainable and intelligent road infrastructure in Germany. They manage the application process and provide project support.
• AiF e.V. (Association of Industrial Research Associations Otto von Guericke)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAiF Projekt GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of AiF e.V., an industry-supported umbrella organization of 85 industry-specific non-profit research associations. Nearly all sectors of German medium-sized businesses are members, with 1,200 research institutions and 135,000 companies affiliated.
• IraSME NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAiF Projekt GmbH coordinates the IraSME network, which is a network of ministries and funding agencies supporting transnational projects by companies in national/regional funding programs. Two annual call rounds with closing dates in March and September. Participating countries have bilateral agreements for coordinated R&D project assessment and approval.
• EUREKA NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUREKA supports cross-border and market-oriented research collaborations. AiF Projekt GmbH works with Israel in the EUREKA network. Additional partners are welcome.
• Bundesministerium für Verkehr (BMV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Innovationsprogramm Straße is funded by BMV through BASt, supporting research and development of innovative concepts, materials, technologies, and procedures for road and bridge construction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH: German project management and consulting firm for high-tech R&D programs on behalf of federal ministries. Highly comparable to AiF Projekt in operating model, though with a stronger focus on ICT and engineering technologies.
• VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH: German federal project management agency (Projektträger) operating government-mandated R&D and innovation funding programs; direct consortium partner with AiF Projekt in the BSFZ. Closest functional peer in terms of mandate, structure, and customer base.
• Projektträger Jülich (PtJ): Major German federal Projektträger (part of Forschungszentrum Jülich) managing R&D programs for multiple federal ministries. Directly comparable in scope, mandate type, and ministry customer base to AiF Projekt.
• DLR Project Management Agency (DLR Projektträger): Large German federal Projektträger, part of the DLR group, administering a wide range of federal ministry R&D programs. Joint BSFZ consortium partner with AiF Projekt and the most significant direct competitor for federal innovation mandates.

Emerging players

• Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen SPRIND: German federal agency funding radical/high-risk innovation. Adjacent to AiF Projekt's mandate as another publicly commissioned innovation funding vehicle, but with a distinct, more disruptive focus.

Regional players

• VINNOVA (Sweden's Innovation Agency): Swedish government agency funding research and innovation projects. Plays a similar national Projektträger role and is a potential peer through EUREKA/European innovation cooperation networks.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency funding business R&D. Comparable in role and operating model to AiF Projekt at a national level, though operating in a different regulatory and policy environment.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli national authority funding industrial R&D and innovation, partnered with AiF Projekt through the EUREKA network. Functions as a national innovation funding agency comparable in role.
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG): Austrian national funding agency for applied research, development, and innovation. Functions as a national Projektträger equivalent and is a partner in the IraSME network alongside AiF Projekt.

Broad incumbents

• Projektträger Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE): Federal Projektträger administering innovation and funding programs in the agriculture and food sector on behalf of BMEL. Operates in the same regulatory ecosystem as AiF Projekt but with a different sector mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aif_projektgmbh
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/aif-projekt-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AiF Projekt