Startup grants in Europe, country by country: Germany, France, Netherlands, Nordics and more

Europe has no single startup grant market. Each country runs its own mix of grants, loans, tax credits and investor incentives, and the best fit depends on where your company is registered. This guide walks through the main national schemes tracked on CreditBase. Where a detail could be confirmed from an official or well-sourced page it is stated plainly, and elsewhere the text says to check. Amounts are as listed on CreditBase and are always "up to".

For EU-wide funding see the EIC Accelerator guide, and for the UK see SEIS and EIS and R&D tax relief.

Germany

EXIST Business Start-up Grant supports teams that want to turn research into a company. The Federal Ministry's 2025 one-pager gives monthly living-cost stipends of EUR 3,000 for doctorate holders, EUR 2,500 for other higher-education graduates and EUR 2,000 for vocational graduates, for 12 months. University summaries list EUR 1,000 a month for students. Material costs are up to EUR 10,000 for an individual founder and EUR 30,000 for a team, plus EUR 5,000 for coaching. A team can have up to three founders, the company must not yet be founded, and the application goes through a university or research institution.

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is the government-backed seed investor. Secondary sources describe seed tickets of up to EUR 1 million for German tech companies at most three years old with limited earlier outside funding. HTGF's own site is the place to confirm current ticket size and terms.

INVEST grant for venture capital pays angel investors a grant on their investment. Check the BAFA site for current rates and conditions.

• EXIST Business Start-up Grant€1,000–€3,000/month stipend per founder for 12 months, up to €30k material costs per team, €5k coachingGrant · German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs · Germany
• High-Tech GründerfondsSeed investment up to €1M+Accelerator · HTGF · Germany
• INVEST Grant for Venture CapitalTax-free 15% grant for angel investorsGov. scheme · BAFA · Germany

France

France stacks several instruments:

• Bourse French Tech is a subsidy for early costs of an innovative project, up to EUR 30,000 for a company under a year old.
• French Tech Tremplin gives under-represented founders a grant of up to EUR 30,000 and a free program.
• JEI (Jeune Entreprise Innovante) exempts eligible young innovative SMEs from some employer social charges on R&D staff, with tax benefits.
• CIR (Credit d'Impot Recherche) is a 30% R&D tax credit, refundable for young SMEs.

• Bourse French TechUp to €30,000 (up to €90,000 with Bourse French Tech Emergence)Grant · Bpifrance · France
• French Tech TremplinUp to €30,000 grant + free programAccelerator · La French Tech · France
• Jeune Entreprise Innovante (JEI)Social charge and tax exemptionsGov. scheme · French Government · France
• Crédit d'Impôt Recherche (CIR)30% R&D tax creditGov. scheme · French Government · France

Netherlands

The Innovation Credit is a risk-bearing loan covering up to 45% of the costs of a technically risky project, repaid only if it succeeds. WBSO reduces payroll tax on R&D wages and gives startups an extra-high rate.

• Innovation Credit (Innovatiekrediet)Loan covering up to 45% of project costsGov. scheme · RVO Netherlands · Netherlands
• WBSO R&D Tax CreditPayroll tax reduction on R&D wagesGov. scheme · RVO Netherlands · Netherlands

Ireland

Competitive Start Fund from Enterprise Ireland invests in early-stage Irish startups with export potential, and New Frontiers is the national entrepreneur program with a stipend, run through technological universities.

• Competitive Start Fund€50,000 equity (up to €100k for some calls)Gov. scheme · Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
• New Frontiers€15,000 stipend + free programAccelerator · Enterprise Ireland · Ireland

Spain and Italy

Spain's ENISA provides participative loans without collateral, with a Young Entrepreneurs line. Italy's Smart&Start Italia offers zero-interest loans to innovative startups registered in Italy and under five years old.

• ENISA Young EntrepreneursParticipative loans €25k–€300k, no collateralGov. scheme · ENISA (Spain) · Spain
• Smart&Start ItaliaZero-interest loans up to €1.5MGov. scheme · Invitalia · Italy

Nordics and Switzerland

Sweden's Vinnova funds innovation projects, Finland's Business Finland Tempo gives startups a grant to test international potential, and Innosuisse offers science-based Swiss startups coaching worth up to CHF 100,000.

• Vinnova Innovation GrantsGrants up to SEK 900k+Grant · Vinnova (Sweden) · Sweden
• Business Finland TempoUp to €50,000 grantGrant · Business Finland · Finland
• Innosuisse Start-up CoachingFree coaching worth up to CHF 100kAccelerator · Innosuisse · Switzerland

How to choose

1. Start where the company is registered. National schemes ask for a local entity.
2. Match the instrument to your stage. Stipends and small grants suit pre-company teams. Loans and R&D credits suit companies with spend. Investor incentives help when you raise.
3. Mind the age and funding caps. Most schemes limit company age and prior outside funding.
4. Read the official call. Budgets, deadlines and amounts change with each call.
5. Combine with credits. Cloud and tools credits sit alongside any of these: see startup credits in Europe.

Sources

• EXIST: Business Start-up Grant one-pager (2025)
• Business Finland funding
• RVO: Innovation Credit
• Bpifrance: Bourse French Tech

Values are “up to” amounts and terms change: confirm on the provider’s page before you rely on them. CreditBase is independent and not affiliated with the providers named here. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.