The STEP technology funding program supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saxony, as well as large companies and research institutions in Saxony that collaborate with them. The projects must contribute to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies for the European Union—or demonstrate significant economic potential for the single market or the completion of European value chains.

Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Dirk Panter: “Access to critical technologies and the reduction of technological dependencies are key factors for prosperity and growth in Saxony, Germany, and the entire European Union. Therefore, we can use funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for STEP technology funding; we do not have to contribute Saxony’s own state funds. Thanks to the EU’s support, we can thus continue to provide a high level of technology funding even in times of tight budgets and adequately mitigate the significant business risks that arise for Saxon SMEs when carrying out ambitious R&D projects. In this way, we promote the innovative strength and competitiveness of Saxony’s fragmented economy while simultaneously contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty.”

• Case Study “SuperComp”: Transforming semiconductor manufacturing through artificial intelligence and supercomputing in Saxony

With funding from the STEP technology support program, a high-caliber consortium led by Infineon Technologies Dresden has begun work on the “SuperComp” collaborative R&D project. As the demands on the design, development, and manufacturing of semiconductors continue to rise, traditional methods are increasingly reaching their limits when it comes to processing large amounts of data and solving complex optimization problems. This is where SuperComp comes in: By researching innovative supercomputing solutions, the project aims to make processes faster, more efficient, and more reliable. To this end, the project partners are pooling their expertise as leading institutions from industry and research in Saxony. In addition to Infineon, the project involves TU Dresden, the Dresden University of Applied Sciences, the Zittau University of Applied Sciences/Görlitz, the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nanosystems, SpiNNcloud Systems GmbH, Saxony Media Solutions, PVA Vision GmbH, Wandelbots GmbH, and Systema Systementwicklung GmbH are partners in the project. The funding amount for the “SuperComp” project is 12.7 million euros.

• Digital application submission via the SAB funding portal

In addition to the newly introduced STEP technology funding, the following funding categories—open to all industries and technologies—remain available: R&D project funding, technology transfer funding, and the InnoPrämie under the 2021–2027 ERDF/JTF technology funding program.

Interested parties can find all information on the funding opportunities offered by Saxony’s technology funding program and the option to submit applications digitally on the website of the SAB – Sächsische Aufbaubank.

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Related Links

👉 Saxony Economic Development Agency