The Amt für Wirtschaftsförderung will help you with all questions relating to Leipzig as a business location. We support you with our funding opportunities (Mittelstandsförderprogramm) but also with all topics relating to the search for a location. We are also your contact for networking with existing companies, associations and clubs.
Expand financing opportunities for young, small innovative companies in the early stages (start-ups)
24 months
With the Business Angel Bonus, we as SAB support you if you have been able to attract a private investor and mirror the invested capital again. You can submit an application to us within two months of signing the investment agreement with the business angel. Unlike many other grants, the Business-Angel-Bonus is a grant with a repayment obligation in the event of success. The maximum funding rate is 50%.
Prototype development and production
Project-dependent (between one and three years)
The federal government's Computerspieleförderung supports you in the development of large-scale games projects with eligible expenditure of EUR 300,000 or more. The individual funding rate is up to 50%.
Read moreDevelopment of narrative games and immersive interactive projects and prototypes
Depending on the project, between 1 and 3 years
Applications can be submitted until February 12, 2025 - Creative Europe supports you in the development of narrative games and immersive interactive projects and prototypes. Funding is available from the initial idea to the "First Playable Prototype" or "First Trial Version". The funding rate is a maximum of 60%.
Read moreStrengthen small and medium-sized enterprises along the life cycle and support networking
12 months
The EXIST-Gründungsstipendium supports you in setting up a business from universities and research institutions. You can receive support in the phase before and at the beginning of your innovative start-up. In particular in the creation of a viable business plan, the development of marketable products and innovative services. The funding rate is up to 40%.
Read moreSupporting companies with the market launch of innovative products
Up to 15 months
In the “Förderrichtlinie Markteinführung innovativer Produkte, Verfahren oder Dienstleistungen Zuschuss EFRE 2021 bis 2027” funding program, you receive financial support for the market launch of new or further developed innovative products, processes or services. The projects can be financed with a grant of up to 60%, a low-interest loan or a combination of both. We support you, for example, with the costs of patent registration, the creation of a marketing concept or the costs of a trade fair appearance.
Development and production of digital games and interactive media content
9 months
You will be supported in the production of digital games and interactive media content that is of high quality and culturally and/or commercially promising. We provide support from storyboard development to production. Young companies receive special support. The funding rate is up to 95%. The funding rate is between 30% and 50%.
The association „Games & XR Mitteldeutschland e.V.“ is an independent association of players from the games and XR industry (VR/AR) from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Our aim is to play an active role in shaping structural change in Central Germany. With a high density of universities and a founder-friendly economy, the region offers great potential to position itself as an attractive home for future-oriented companies in the competition for skilled workers. The association promotes exchange and cooperation across national borders and strengthens the visibility of the Central German games and XR industry. Our goals also include the promotion of networking and training opportunities, the transfer of knowledge to other industries not yet associated with games and the strengthening of the economic and cultural significance of games and virtual technologies. In this way, we want to promote their social understanding and economic potential in the interests of the common good.
Friedrich Lüder
Games & XR Mitteldeutschland e.V.Seed investment for innovative technologies and business models
3 to 5 years
The High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor (pre-seed & seed) for innovative technologies and business models. It prefers to invest from 800,000 euros onwards. However, HTGF will support you until the exit or IPO.
Read moreSupport small and medium-sized enterprises in research and development
6 months
The program supports you in your innovation-oriented collaboration with research institutions. Funding is provided for the use of external R&D service providers in connection with the development of new or the improvement of existing products, processes and services. This also includes the external programming of an application. R&D service providers can be universities, non-university research institutions and private sector providers. Funding is available for expenses such as feasibility studies, construction and design services, laboratory services and preparatory measures for certification.
Innovative, sustainable start-ups in the Free State of Saxony
12 months
The InnoStartBonus supports you if you want to set up an innovative, sustainable company in the Free State of Saxony. As a founder, you will be supported with a living allowance. The InnoStartBonus is intended to support you in the phase before or at the beginning of your innovative business start-up. Setting up a business as a sideline is not excluded from the funding.
Read moreSupport business start-ups and the consolidation of small full-time or part-time businesses
Individual terms
The KfW StartGeld start-up loan is a promotional loan from KfW that can benefit you when setting up a business and as a young company (up to 5 years after founding). It offers conditions for financing investments and working capital. This loan may be an option for you if you need financial support for your start-up or expansion in the first few years of your business.
Read moreNetworking, exhibiting, opening up new markets and sales channels
01. august 2025 - 31. december 2025
The Programm Kreativ-Transfer supports you with international networking and improving your visibility. You can receive funding for trade fair trips but also for strategic projects like international marketing or networking and professionalization projects. The grants are capped at fixed amounts per event or person.
Read moreSupporting young companies and start-ups with financing
Term of up to 6 years
To finance business-related investments and working capital, we at SAB can offer you a microloan of up to 30,000 euros within a five-year start-up phase. You will receive a low-interest loan of 2%, which is repayment-free in the first year and requires no collateral. One of the conditions is that a company must be founded with the intention of making a profit (it is possible to start as a sideline) and a 20% share of own funds must be provided.
The Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) supports you with funding for promising film and media projects that are being realized in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. All phases are eligible for funding, from idea development to production to distribution. MDM supports projects from all genres, such as feature films, documentaries, animated films, interactive projects, games, and innovative XR content. Funding for international co-productions is also available. At markets, trade fairs, and festivals, it promotes Central Germany as a media location and represents the interests of the Central German media industry. In 2024, over €19.4 million in funding was invested in the development, production, and distribution of a total of 174 film and media projects, and more than €13.8 million in the production of 51 cinema and television films. The shareholders of MDM are the Free State of Saxony, the State of Saxony-Anhalt, the Free State of Thuringia, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen. Sarah is your contact for games. Christina is your contact for XR.
Strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises along their life cycle
6 - 12 months
The so called "Mittelstandsförderprogramm" supports you throughout the entire life cycle of your company. You can receive financial support during the start-up and growth phases, but also in the event of difficulties or when a successor needs to be found. You can also receive funding to strengthen your local network (clusters) through events and creative formats. We support you in acquiring state, federal and EU funding and connect you with important partners in the region. The funding rate is between 30% and 80%.
Creating the basis for the establishment of new development studios and new jobs in the games industry
18 months
Current call runs until November 17, 2024 - The PressStart Gründerstipendium is aimed at you if you want to open a new games developer studio. You can receive the scholarship if you have just started up, are planning to start soon or are about to graduate. The grant is a monthly allowance for your living costs over a period of 18 months.
Read moreThe R42 Games Accelerator supports founders from the games industry. In the nine-month program, the most important building blocks for a sustainable and successful future are laid through workshops, coaching and mentoring. R42 is the contact point for young and established companies to promote inspiration, innovation and technology transfer. The founders are also in contact with the program's graduates and R42 partners via the R42 alumni network.
Level up your ideas! The Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB) supports gaming studios, start-ups, and creative minds with funding for development, growth, and innovation. Whether you need grants, loans, or guarantees, we can help you find the right financing. Do you have a gaming project or want to start a business? We advise, connect, and bring you together with the right partners. Together, we are pushing the gaming industry in Saxony forward!
Promotion of start-ups from science
12 months
The Technologiegründungsstipendium supports you if you want to found an innovative company based on science. Up to 3 members of your team (2 or more people possible) can be funded. The aim of the funding is to support the foundation of young innovative companies by granting scholarships to finance your living expenses.
The Unternehmensgründungsbüro supports you with all questions relating to setting up a business. You can always get one-to-one advice. Seminars are also offered on topics such as how to draw up a business plan. You can find the current program under the link.
Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (WFS) brings you together with helpful contacts and relevant partners, funding providers, service providers and the Saxon economy. We organize national and international trade fair appearances, e.g. at gamescom in Cologne or CES in Las Vegas, and participate in events such as CAGGTUS in Leipzig, where you can present yourself and your innovative ideas and productions. We are also the right contact when it comes to setting up a company or branch in Saxony. Just give us a call!
R & D of innovative games, hardware and software
36 months
The Zentrale Innovationsprogramm Mitteldeutschland (ZIM) supports you if you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Germany and want to drive forward an innovative project. It is particularly aimed at you if you are developing new products, services or processes. Up to 50% of the eligible costs can be covered.
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