The application procedure has 2 stages.

Stage 1: Project outline (short project description)

• You submit your outline in digital form on the Prototype Fund internet portal.
• Your project outline will be assessed according to the following criteria
  • technical reference to the funding guideline,
  • Approach and novelty of the idea,
  • social benefit,
  • qualification of the applicant, own preliminary work,
  • prospects of successful exploitation, publication as open source.
• External experts may be consulted for the evaluation.
• All entries are in competition with each other.
• If your project idea is selected, you will receive a positive written invitation to submit your application (stage 2)

Stage 2: Submission of the application

You submit your application as follows:

• The application is submitted electronically via the easy-Online portal.
• Call up the easy-Online Internet portal. There you will be guided step by step through the application process.
• Fill in all the fields required for the application and send it off.
• If you have a qualified electronic signature (the necessary technical requirements are, for example, appropriate software or a reader), you can submit the application completely electronically.
• If you do not have a qualified electronic signature, you must print out the application in addition to submitting it electronically, sign it and send it to the project management organization together with the other application documents in the next step.
• Once the project management organization has received the application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt.
• The responsible administrative department at the project management organization and the Prototype Fund will help you with any questions regarding the application.
• Applications are also evaluated and checked according to the following criteria:
  • Implementation of any conditions from the first stage and compliance with the financial framework recommended there for funding
  • Eligibility of the requested funds;
  • Necessity and appropriateness of the requested funds;
• You will receive a decision on your application. If the decision is positive, you will receive a grant notification by post.