Frequently asked questions

The funding is allocated to the university. The university is therefore responsible for the administration of the funding and must adhere to the requirements of budgetary law. The Bavarian Supreme Audit Office is authorized to audit the university in accordance with Art. 88 ff. BayHO is entitled to audit the university. Every material expenditure must be justified accordingly. In particular, the strict separation of the funding project and the company to be founded must be observed. This means that the budget funds can only be used to specifically support the project; any - even indirect - benefit to the company must be ruled out.

The university should therefore check the following before each acquisition:

• What existing resources (laboratories, workshops, rooms, computer centers and other infrastructure) at the university can be used to implement the project?
• Are the material expenses project-related and actually necessary for the implementation of the project?
• Are the services provided during the implementation period?
• Are the requirements of efficiency and economy in accordance with budgetary law and public procurement law complied with?
• Is the purchase of an asset or the rental or awarding of an external contract more economical and economical?
• Are the budget funds used to specifically support the project or is there an indirect benefit or promotion of the company?

Examples of material expenditure:

All tangible and intangible assets acquired belong to the university and must continue to be used there beyond the implementation period (e.g. for further funding projects). Therefore, only in individual cases and after successful completion of the project can these assets be handed over by the university to the persons willing to found the company or to the founded company without consideration or transferred for further use free of charge (de minimis aid).

The gross amounts must be stated for material expenses.

Support for the start-up project through start-up-specific support is an essential component of the funding measure and should generally amount to at least 30% of the material expenses.

The material resources are allocated according to the application and are limited to a maximum of 50%.

The plan for the use of funds submitted with the application is generally binding and intended for calculation during the funding phase. If an expenditure-neutral adjustment to the plan for the use of funds is necessary during the funding phase - i.e. after allocation - the university is obliged to review this and approve the adjustment. In addition to compliance with budgetary law, it must be ensured that the material expenditure is project-related, actually necessary for the implementation of the project and generally eligible for funding. The updated plan for the use of funds (including justification), which has been approved by the university, must be submitted to the project management organization via the e-mail address contact@projekttraeger-bayern.

Financial planning must be planned from the time of the planned business activity.

Up to 6 months in accordance with section 1.1.1.1 of the guideline: "Support for those wishing to set up a business in securing an innovative, including digital, business model that could lead to a sustainable business start-up." Explanation:

• Promotion of new innovative business models
• Technological innovation, i.e. technically innovative products or processes, are not required here, but may be present in addition to the innovative business model.
• An Exist reference is not necessary (neither a previous funding through an Exist program nor a previous rejection in the "Exist-Gründerstipendium" program).

Up to 12 months in accordance with Section 1.1.1.2 of the guidelines: "Support for start-ups that have not been able to complete their start-up project within the framework of Exist funding due to particular technological challenges and have not yet been able to establish a company." Explanation:

• Funding for technological innovation projects, i.e. technically innovative products or processes
• Previous funding from Exist necessary. The start-up project could not be completed due to particular technological challenges within the framework of EXIST funding (Exist start-up grant or Exist research transfer) and no company has yet been founded.

Up to 12 months in accordance with Section 1.1.1.3 of the guidelines: "Support for start-ups whose technologically innovative, challenging and high-risk project was denied funding in the "Exist-Gründerstipendium" program." Explanation:

• Funding for technological innovation projects, i.e. technically innovative products or processes
• Rejection of funding in the Exist-Gründerstipendium program is necessary. There are no basic requirements regarding the reason for rejection. The outline is formally and technically reviewed and must compete with other outlines. The expert opinion and the rejection notice from Exist must be attached to the sketch. The reasons for rejection must be commented on.

The start-up and market participation may only take place after the start of the project funding. However, it should be noted that an early start-up during the funding phase makes the strict separation of project and company (in accordance with sections 1.3.3.4 and 1.3.3.6 of the guidelines) much more difficult. The company-related costs must then be separated - also for accounting purposes - from the material expenses for project funding. The generation of turnover during the funding phase with the funded end product or the funded end version of the service is generally not permitted under state aid law. It is therefore only possible to generate sales during the funding phase with beta versions/preliminary versions, i.e. as long as not all development steps planned in the project have been completed.

The documents should be sent - summarized in a pdf document (preferably with bookmarks and text recognition) - to the following e-mail address: Contact by e-mail
Subject: Sketch submission FLÜGGE funding call, project title

To ensure data protection and confidentiality of the documents, the electronic transmission can also be encrypted. This is possible via the file upload via FTAPI: https://datentransfer.bayern-innovativ.de/submit/kontakt_projekttraeger_bayern_de
The following must be stated in the accompanying text message: FLÜGGE funding call, project title

A resubmission for the next funding call is generally possible.

The application must be signed in a legally binding manner by a person authorized to represent the university. As a rule, this is the university management, the deputy or an authorized person with a corresponding mandate.

The application must be submitted at www.fips.bayern.de (please navigate to the application form under the "Login" tab). All documents required for the application can be found in our download area.

After receipt of the complete/verifiable application documents, a processing time of 2-3 months can be expected. After a final review, the StMWi will make a decision on the application and arrange for the allocation letter to be sent.

#According to the allocation letter, a distinction is made between the implementation period and the approval period. The implementation period corresponds to the requested project duration. The approval period is generally 6 months longer than the implementation period in order to allow a certain flexibility with regard to the start of the project. Example: Project duration: 6 months; implementation period: 6 months; approval period: 12 months (01.09.2021 - 31.08.2022). In this case, the earliest project start is possible on 01.09.2021, the latest project start on 01.03.2022.

The assignee, i.e. the university, must notify the start of implementation (project start) informally no later than 2 weeks after the start to the following e-mail address: Contact by e-mail

A mentor is usually an experienced university lecturer from the applicant university and accompanies and supports the project from the scientific and technical side.

The mentor has the task of advising the applicant on technical issues relating to the realization of the start-up idea, so that the start-up idea can be realized by the end of the scholarship.

The mentor is also responsible for compliance with the content/technical reporting obligations, provides information on the development and support of the start-up project at the request of the project sponsor and thus acts as project management in the sense of the application.

In principle, only one mentor is required. Other university lecturers providing specialist support for the project must be named in the "Mentor declaration of support" form; no further letters of support are required.

At best, coaches are people who can demonstrate their own entrepreneurial success or have held a management position in a company. They should help to compensate for the lack of knowledge, experience and contacts of those wishing to set up a business. They should have sufficient qualifications and experience for the coaching task in question.

Type of coaching:

a) Process coaching: Continuous support during the start-up process through regular feedback meetings on all aspects of the start-up project and the start-up team

b) Industry coaching: Support with industry-specific issues through market knowledge, market experience and industry contacts

c) Entrepreneurial mentoring: passing on personal experience from the areas of business start-ups and business management

d) In addition, topic-related coaching can also be useful, e.g. on the subject of financing or sales. The boundaries to consulting services are fluid here.

These four tasks can also be shared by several coaches.

The following organizations and associations can serve as contacts for the search for coaches in addition to the start-up advisory services of the universities (if available), the chambers and business start-up advisory services of the municipalities (selection):

The standard period of study must have been completed at the time of application. The ECTS points count for the determination.

There is basically no restriction. The composition and scope of the team must make sense and be reflected in the project plan. The balance between project and budget is checked on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants may be employed by the applicant university up to a maximum of 50% of the time. Employment with a company is not permitted.

This is only possible in exceptional cases . The prerequisite is that the change is justified by the founding team in terms of subject matter and content (Why is one of the persons willing to found the company leaving? What impact does this have on the project? Why exactly was this new team member selected?) The university submitting the application and the mentor must approve the application. The application must be submitted in good time. Retroactive approval is not possible. Each decision is a case-by-case decision. In principle, changes of team members can only be made without incurring expenses.

An application for a team change can be made informally and must be submitted by the university - summarized in a pdf document - by e-mail to kontakt(at)projekttraeger-bayern.de .

The project management organization also requires the following documents for the informal application:

• Form from the outline phase "Anlage_C_Angaben_und_Erklärungen_Pgründungswillige_Personen_FLÜGGE"
• Proof of highest educational qualification of the new team member
• Form from the application phase "Anlage_C_Erklärung_gründungswillige_Personen_FLÜGGE"

This is only possible in exceptional cases . The prerequisite is that the extension is conclusively justified by the founding team in terms of subject matter and content. Each decision is a case-by-case decision. In principle, extensions can only be granted without affecting expenditure. An application for an extension must be submitted within the implementation period. It can be submitted informally and must be sent by the university by e-mail to kontakt(at)projekttraeger-bayern.de.

At least 30% of material expenditure is to be used for consultancy services (including start-up-specific support for the project by start-up support networks). This ensures that the start-up networks of the Bavarian universities can secure and expand their consulting and support services on site in the long term.

It is not directly applicable, as students with scholarships are not employees of the university.

Those wishing to found a company must state whether there are already owners of property rights and whether the invention or research results can be used by the company to be founded.

Affiliation to the university is a given with the scholarship.

There is no template for the scholarship holder contract. The contract template of the "EXIST" funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy provides guidance. In any case, the obligations of the scholarship holders should be regulated in the scholarship holder contract. This includes, among other things, the reports in accordance with the project management organization's deadline templates.

The scholarship is gross. Students with a scholarship are not in an employment relationship with the university, which is why income tax, social security contributions etc. must be paid by the students themselves. Professional tax advice is recommended.

All students with a scholarship are responsible for the proper payment of social security contributions. It is essential that you take out health insurance and pay your own contributions. It is advisable to contact the relevant employment agency in good time in order to pay unemployment insurance contributions (approx. 60-70 € / month). These are a prerequisite for claiming benefits from the employment agency, e.g. the start-up subsidy.

Combination with other scholarships or funding programs or other publicly financed funding is excluded. However, applicants may be employed by the applicant university for a maximum of 50% of the time.

The award recipient, i.e. the university, is responsible for fulfilling the reporting obligations in accordance with the deadline sheet. A regulation in the scholarship holder contract is recommended to ensure that students with a scholarship fulfill their obligations.

All documents (reports, voucher list,...) must be summarized in a pdf document and sent by e-mail to the following e-mail address by the deadlines specified in the deadline sheet: Contact by e-mail.

If the project is publicly introduced/presented as part of public relations work (whether by the university or by the prospective founders), reference should be made to the FLÜGGE funding. The logo (word/figurative mark of the StMWi as sponsor) and further information on the use of the Bavarian coat of arms can be obtained from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

ATTENTION:

• There is no FLÜGGE logo.
• Please do not use any Bayern Innovativ logos.

It is not possible to apply to FLÜGGE all year round, but only during a current funding call. A direct connection can therefore not be guaranteed.

A parallel application for public project funding for the same project or parts thereof must be excluded. However, it is possible to submit an outline to FLÜGGE and an application for the EXIST start-up grant at the same time. However, there are a few points to bear in mind.

Scenario 1: An application for the EXIST start-up grant has already been rejected. In this case, it is possible to submit an outline in accordance with section 1.1.1.3 of the guidelines, provided the project contains a technological innovation. The funding period is up to 12 months. The expert opinion from EXIST must be submitted with the outline. Comments must be made on the reasons for rejection. In the case of purely innovative business models without a technological innovation, it is possible to submit an outline in accordance with Section 1.1.1.1 of the guidelines. The funding period is up to 6 months.

Scenario 2: A decision on the application for the EXIST start-up grant could no longer be made within the FLÜGGE application period. In this case, FLÜGGE funding is excluded.

Scenario 3: The applicants were unable to complete their start-up project within the framework of EXIST funding due to particular technological challenges and have not yet founded a company. In this case, it is possible to submit an outline in accordance with Section 1.1.1.2 of the guidelines while EXIST funding is still ongoing, provided the project contains a technological innovation. The funding period is up to 12 months.

In the Start?Zuschuss! program, expenditure is funded in particular for rent and personnel, the market launch of the product and research & development. If these expenses can be clearly separated from the project being funded in FLÜGGE, parallel funding is possible. Double funding is excluded.

The WIPANO program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy provides funding for small and medium-sized companies that want to protect their research and development results through industrial property rights for the first time. Funding in the WIPANO program is possible in parallel with funding in the FLÜGGE program, as the company is funded here and not the private individuals. Double funding is excluded.

A combination with other scholarships or funding programs or other publicly financed funding is excluded.