AI: Two new calls for funding launched for SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia ©ipopba – stock.adobe.com
The NRW Innovation Promotion Agency (Innovationsförderagentur NRW) is launching two competitions for companies that develop or utilise artificial intelligence
With the “NEXT.IN.NRW” innovation competition and the “Forschungsinfrastrukturen.NRW” initiative, two EFRE funding calls have been launched, which are aimed not only at research institutions and universities but also at small and medium-sized enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia that are researching, developing or implementing AI applications. Project outlines can be submitted with immediate effect.
For “NEXT.IN.NRW”, SMEs in particular, but also research and educational institutions, are invited to submit their innovative ideas, services and products for artificial intelligence and information and communication technologies, among other things. The innovation competition supports NRW’s business and science sectors in developing competitive innovations and finding solutions that help to drive forward the digital transformation and the competitive advantages of digitalisation. The innovations should serve as drivers for a modern, climate-, environment- and resource-friendly economy and society in North Rhine-Westphalia. Project outlines for the “NEXT.IN.NRW innovation competition” can be submitted until 26 April 2024, 16:00. Uhr eingereicht werden.
North Rhine-Westphalia has a dense university and research landscape as well as a strong industry characterised by SMEs. The “Forschungsinfrastrukturen.NRW” funding programme is therefore aimed in particular at SMEs as well as research and educational institutions with the aim of increasing implementation-oriented research potential and at the same time strengthening application-oriented research, technological development and innovation in NRW. This is to be achieved by supporting investments in research and innovation capacities that are highly relevant for the economy and the population in NRW. At the same time, international competitiveness is to be strengthened. Project outlines for “Forschungsinfrastrukturen.NRW” can be submitted until 28 June 2024, 16:00.
Under the umbrella of Projektträger Jülich, the NRW Innovationsförderagentur manages around 20 different funding measures of the EFRE/JTF programme NRW 2021-2027, funded by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and co-financed by the European Union. The two current calls for funding are being implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE).