On 17 August 2026, the funding programme NRW.BANK.Impuls KI was launched for small and medium-sized enterprises based in North Rhine-Westphalia – with a grant of up to 25,000 euros to get started with artificial intelligence. In our webcast we summarise what is funded, who is eligible and what to watch out for when applying. The content remains relevant should the programme reopen. (The recording is in German.)
Who is eligible?
Applications are open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as defined by the EU, with registered offices in North Rhine-Westphalia. The grant covers 50 percent of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum of 25,000 euros within two years. The minimum threshold is 5,000 euros – smaller projects are not funded.
Applications are submitted through the NRW.BANK customer portal. Each company can receive a maximum of two grants within two years.
What is funded?
The programme consists of two modules that can be combined:
- Module A – Consulting: conceptual work to prepare for the use of AI. This includes AI strategy workshops, identifying suitable use cases and establishing structures for responsible AI use.
- Module B – Testing: building and testing an AI system for a specific use case, including external services and – to a limited extent – software licences, hardware rental and access to test infrastructure.
In other words, the funding covers exactly the phase in which AI projects in mid-sized companies are actually decided: from the first idea to a solid proof of concept.
What applicants should watch out for
- The project must not have started yet. Companies that have already begun lose their eligibility – so the consulting has to happen before the project starts.
- Maximum project duration of six months. The scope has to be cut accordingly.
- ESG funding requirements of NRW.BANK apply.
- Registered office in NRW is mandatory – companies located elsewhere in Germany need to look at other programmes.
How we support you
The services this programme funds are exactly what we have been delivering for years: the AI strategy workshop, the selection of the right use cases and the proof of concept with the Avantgarde Co-Pilot – the AI layer for existing systems such as ERP, DMS and CRM.
The advantage: at the end of the funded phase you do not hold a concept paper, but a working use case inside your own system landscape.
Feel free to contact us – we will keep you informed about a reopening of the programme and then align the approach and schedule with the funding.
Can you still apply for NRW.BANK.Impuls KI?
No, not at the moment. NRW.BANK has closed the application portal due to the high number of applications received. Above all, this shows one thing: mid-sized companies have a strong need to get started with AI in concrete terms.
What can companies do now?
- Be prepared: collect and prioritise use cases internally so that an application can be submitted quickly if the programme reopens. Important: the actual project must not start before funding is approved.
- Use funding advice: NRW.BANK offers individual advice on other public funding programmes (phone +49 211 91741-4800, beratung@nrwbank.de).
- Start small: read-only access to the Avantgarde Co-Pilot is free of charge. This lets you check, without funding and without risk, which use case brings the greatest benefit in your own business.
- Stay informed: as soon as the programme reopens or a new funding programme is launched, we will announce it on this page and in our newsletter.
Video, details and contact
The full briefing is in the video above. For an informal conversation about your project, reach us at office@avantgar.de. To get a first impression of the Avantgarde Co-Pilot, read-only access is available free of charge at app.ava-co-pilot.de.
Source and binding conditions: NRW.BANK.Impuls KI – funding product. Information provided without guarantee – please check the current funding conditions directly with NRW.BANK.
