Apply for Innobooster Programme (Denmark)

Aims

• The Innobooster grant aims to reduce the extraordinary risk the company assumes by starting the project.

Themes

• Green technology and innovation
  • Innovation from small and medium-sized enterprises and startups can and must contribute to solving the large and complex challenges that are crucial to achieving the government’s green objectives. At the same time, there will be many new business opportunities for projects related to the green transition
  • Innovation Fund Denmark invests in knowledge-based innovation projects that can develop the green technologies and solutions needed to transform Denmark towards a more sustainable future where they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect their environment and nature, while increasing growth and employment in Denmark.
  • The government’s green research strategy from 2020 and in accordance with the agreement “Fart på fremtidens grønne løsninger” (Accelerating future green solutions) from 2024 Innovation Fund Denmark invests in knowledgebased innovation projects that develop the green technologies and solutions needed to transform society towards a sustainable future. This is with a focus on climate, climate resilience, nature, biodiversity, environment, including aquatic environment, and growth and employment. Among other things, it is a priority to strengthen Denmark’s position within the field of renewable energy expansion and increase the opportunities for market access through new crossborder energy systems.
• Life science, health, and welfare technology
  • The theme aims to support strategic and challenge-driven technology development and innovation within life sciences, healthcare, and welfare technology.
  • The funding can help leverage Denmark’s strong knowledge- and research position in the field, transforming it into inventions, products, and technologies that will benefit Danish citizens, the healthcare system, corporate profitability, and Danish export.
• Critical and digital technologies
  • The theme supports innovation within critical and digital technologies essential for strengthening Denmark’s position in the international technological race benefitting national security, competitiveness, and the functional capacity and social cohesion of the welfare society.
  • The effort aims to, among other things, support Danish companies to engage internationally and actively participate in the development of tomorrow’s technologies. Where relevant, principles of data ethics should be considered in supported projects, including responsible use of data and transparency
• Non-thematised funding
  • These funds are primarily intended for projects that do not fall under the three themes described above. Such projects could e.g. be within the humanities or social studies. Grants awarded under non-thematised funding must meet the exact same requirements as projects that are applying within the thematic areas. When submitting the application, you must provide a justification for why the project does not fall within one of the three themes.

Funding Information

• The investment framework for “Innobooster – applications between DKK 1.0 million and DKK 5.0 million – under the General Block Exemption Regulations” is between DKK 1.0 million and DKK 5.0 million.
• The investment framework for “Innobooster – applications between DKK 200,000 and DKK 1.0 million – under the de minimis regulation” is between DKK 200,000 and DKK 1.0 million.
• An Innobooster project can last no more than 24 months but may be of shorter duration

What can you apply for investment?

• The purpose of an Innobooster project must be the development of an innovative solution with the potential for strengthening company growth and creating value for the Danish society. The solution can be a new product, a new service, or process innovation in the company as well as other forms of innovation.
• Innobooster does not fund projects where the solution is ready to be launched on the market, and where the remaining activities primarily involve sales, marketing, testing, documentation, and commercial production. If the solution is already available on the market, and the project primarily involves optimisation, further development, verification, and documentation, the project is likely too advanced in its development to be co-financed by Innobooster.
• Nor can Innobooster co-finance expenses related to regular operation, development, and to establishing the company.
• This means that expenses for e.g. continuous operational optimisation, rent, transportation, office expenses, strategy
• and business development, sales- and marketing initiatives, and for attracting investors fall outside the scope of Innobooster. Additional examples of activities that are generally regarded as regular operations, business development, and establishment of the company include communication and content production, market or customer analyses, compilation of manuals, development of training materials, and agreement negotiations with suppliers/other collaboration partners.
• Innobooster only co-finances expenses related to the clearly defined Innobooster project, as outlined in the application.
• Expenses and costs not specifically justified in the application cannot be included in the Innobooster budget or be part of the financial accounts.
• If a few activities included in the application’s activity plan are deemed to fall outside the scope of the programme, the application may still be approved for co-financing of the remaining activities, provided it otherwise meets the assessment criteria.

What can be funded by the investment?

• An investment from Innobooster can co-finance:
  • Hours spent by new employees, existing employees, and the company owners on specific activities within the project.
  • Expenses for collaboration with public and private knowledge providers, both Danish and international (e.g. universities, GTS institutes, contract research institutes, private knowledge companies, specialist companies, and freelancers).
  • Expenses for purchasing materials, experimental equipment, equipment rental/leasing, and deprecation costs onnewly purchased equipment.

Eligibility Criteria

• Companies with a Danish company registration number (CVR number) at the time of application can apply for the Innobooster programme. It may be a public-limited (A/S) or private limited company (ApS) or a privately owned company. The applicant company will be the sole legal entity responsible for the project and will retain the business-related benefits generated by the project. Any affiliated companies are not considered part of the applicant company in this context.
• It is a requirement for companies applying to the Innobooster programme that they fall within the scope of the European Commission’s definition of an SME. This means that the company must have a staff headcount of less than 250 and an annual turnover of no more than EUR 50 million, or a total annual balance of no more than EUR 43 million. If the applicant company is part of a company group/affiliated to a larger company, the SME criteria apply to the entire group of companies and not just the company applying for Innobooster funding.
• In addition, the applicant company must meet at least one of the two economic criteria listed below at the time of application:
  • Risk capital or development grants
    • Have attracted a total contribution of risk capital or development grants of no less than DKK 100,000 within the past three years.
  • Gross profit
    • Have a gross profit of at least DKK 250,000 in at least one of the last three publicly available annual financial accounts. For company structures where publication is not required, the financial accounts must be fully audited and signed by the company’s management

For more information, visit Innovation Fund Denmark.