Innovation vouchers in Europe in 2026: up to €45,000 for work done by a research partner
Short answer: an innovation voucher is a small public grant that pays a university, research institute or approved provider to do innovation work for your company. In Europe in 2026, the open schemes we track include Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers (€10,000), the Innosuisse Innovation Cheque in Switzerland (up to CHF 15,000 at 100%), Berlin's Transfer BONUS (up to €45,000 for digital projects), the Innovationsgutschein Start-up BW (up to €20,000) and LIAA Innovation Vouchers in Latvia (up to €25,000). Austria's FFG Innovationsscheck (up to €10,000) accepts applications until 2 November 2026. In almost every case the money goes to the provider, not to you, and the work must not have started before you apply.
The Grant Index tracks 6 open innovation and coaching voucher programs, each checked against its official page (the date is in the "Verified" column). This guide explains how vouchers work, compares the European schemes and lists the rules that most often cause rejections. Vouchers are grants: nothing here is a loan or takes equity.
1. How innovation vouchers work
- Find a partner first. Most schemes only pay approved providers: universities, universities of applied sciences, public research bodies or, in some schemes, registered service firms. You agree the scope and get a written offer or quote.
- Apply before the work starts. You submit the project and the partner's offer. Work that has already begun is usually not eligible.
- Receive the voucher, then commission the work. Decisions are fast compared with other grants: about four weeks in Ireland, four to six weeks for the Innosuisse cheque and about one month in Latvia.
- The partner is paid. The voucher covers all or part of the partner's invoice. Where it covers less than 100%, you pay the rest (the co-payment), and you may owe VAT on top.
Typical uses are feasibility studies, prototypes, testing, technology or patent research, design and early R&D you cannot do in-house. Vouchers are a good first step towards larger grants: they build a relationship with a research partner and a track record with the agency.
2. National voucher schemes
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Ireland Innovation VouchersEnterprise Ireland | €10,000 (~$11k) voucher for work by a publicly funded knowledge provider; Co-funded Voucher covers 50% of projects up to €20,000 | Irish SMEs registered as limited companies with the CRO (no sole traders). The €10,000 voucher pays a public knowledge provider; the Co-funded Voucher covers 50% of projects up to €20,000. Up to four vouchers per company, one active at a time, each valid 18 months. | 2026-10-30 |
| Innosuisse Innovation ChequeInnosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency) | Up to CHF 15,000 (~$18.5k) paid to a Swiss research partner for a preliminary study | Swiss organisations with a UID number and fewer than 250 FTEs, which have already found a Swiss research partner. Innosuisse pays the partner directly; the study must finish within six months. Not available if you had one in the past two years. | 2026-10-30 |
| LIAA Innovation Vouchers (Latvia)Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) | Vouchers: introductory up to €10,000 (100%), classic up to €25,000 (85%), design up to €5,000 (85%), HQP hiring up to €25,000 (45%) — max ~$27k each | Latvian-registered SMEs with no tax debt over €150. Introductory voucher up to €10,000 at 100%, classic up to €25,000 at 85%, design up to €5,000 at 85%. Get three quotes and choose the lowest-priced qualified provider; work must end by 29 Feb 2028. | 2026-10-23 |
Austria: FFG Innovationsscheck. The Innovationsscheck mit Selbstbehalt pays research institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences and non-university research organisations) for services worth up to €10,000, for SMEs, startups and economically active associations in Austria. It is open to all technologies and topics; as the name says, you pay a share of the cost yourself, and it counts as de minimis aid. The 2026 submission window runs from 1 January to 2 November 2026, so check the FFG page for the 2027 window if you miss it. FFG's own researcher database helps you find a partner.
3. Regional voucher schemes in Germany
Germany has no single national voucher, but several federal states run one. You must be based in that state.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer BONUSIBB Business Team (Berlin) | €7,500 at 100% (entry); up to €15,000 at 70% (standard); up to €45,000 (~$48.6k) at 70% for digital or gamification/XR projects | Technology-oriented SMEs and social-economy companies in Berlin. Entry variant €7,500 at 100%; standard up to €15,000 at 70%; digital or XR projects up to €45,000 at 70%. Max three projects in three years; apply via IBB with the partner's offer by 31 Dec 2026. | 2026-10-30 |
| Innovationsgutschein Start-up BWL-Bank / Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs | Up to €20,000 (~$21.6k), covering 50% of R&D services invoiced by a research institution | Companies up to five years old headquartered in Baden-Württemberg. Covers 50% of R&D services invoiced by a research institution (technology or patent research, feasibility studies, prototyping, testing). Apply via the L-Bank portal. | 2026-10-30 |
Companies in Germany can also claim the Forschungszulage R&D tax allowance; our Germany startup grants guide covers it and the other state programs.
4. Other "vouchers" that work differently
Not every program called a voucher pays a research partner. These are worth knowing, but check what you actually receive.
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innosuisse Initial CoachingInnosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency) | Voucher worth up to CHF 10,000 for sessions with accredited Innosuisse coaches over up to 12 months. | Swiss startups founded in the last five years (ten in justified cases) or about to incorporate. A coaching voucher worth up to CHF 10,000 for sessions with accredited coaches over up to 12 months; no cash. Evaluation usually takes three to four weeks. | 2026-10-23 |
| Resto al Sud 2.0 (Italy)Invitalia (Italian National Agency for Inward Investment) | Non-repayable voucher up to €40,000 (up to €50,000); plus 75% grant on investment programmes up to €120,000 or 70% up to €200,000 (max ~€140k ≈ $151k) | Founders aged 18 to under 35 who are inactive, unemployed or working poor, starting a business in Southern Italy (eight regions). A non-repayable voucher of up to €40,000 (€50,000 in some cases), plus a grant on investment programs. | 2026-10-23 |
| StartUP Voucher (Portugal) pausedIAPMEI / Startup Portugal (Compete 2030) | €900/month for up to 9 months (up to 2 stipends per project), two €1,500 interim prizes and a €2,000 self-employment prize. | Despite the name, a monthly stipend (€900 for up to nine months) for founders aged up to 29 in eligible regions. The last call closed in January 2026; the next has not been announced. | 2026-10-23 |
| Scaleway Startup Program — FoundersScaleway | One-time €1,000 voucher (~$1,100) valid 12 months | A one-time €1,000 cloud voucher from the cloud provider Scaleway, valid 12 months, for companies under five years old with fewer than 50 employees that are new to Scaleway. | 2026-10-22 |
5. EU-wide: European Digital Innovation Hubs
There is no single EU innovation voucher, but the EU co-funds a network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) with member states. They offer startups and SMEs access to technical expertise and testing ("test before invest"), training and financing advice, with a growing focus on AI. Each hub is regional and sets its own terms, so ask your local hub what is free and what you pay. For larger EU grants, see the EIC Accelerator in our Germany guide (open to startups across the EU).
6. Rules that sink voucher applications
- Starting too early. Transfer BONUS requires that the project has not started when you apply, and most other schemes work the same way. Do not sign or pay the partner's invoice first.
- The wrong partner. Enterprise Ireland pays only registered public knowledge providers; Innosuisse only Swiss research partners; the BW voucher only research institutions. A private consultancy usually does not qualify unless the scheme says so (Transfer BONUS accepts tech and XR service providers).
- The wrong entity. Enterprise Ireland excludes sole traders and requires a CRO-registered limited company; Innosuisse requires a Swiss UID number; Latvia requires a Latvian-registered SME with no tax debt over €150.
- Repeat limits. Innosuisse refuses a cheque if you had one in the past two years; Enterprise Ireland allows only one active voucher at a time; Transfer BONUS allows three standard projects in three years.
- Hidden costs. Co-payments (30% for most Transfer BONUS variants, 50% in Baden-Württemberg, 15% for Latvia's classic voucher) and VAT, which Enterprise Ireland says the company pays.
- Procurement. Latvia requires three quotes and the lowest-priced qualified provider.
Want to know which programs you qualify for? The eligibility checker asks for your country, stage, company age and funding once and gives every program a verdict. You can also browse all government programs.
FAQ
What is an innovation voucher?
A small public grant that pays a university, research institute or approved provider to do innovation work for your company, such as a feasibility study, prototype or tests. The money usually goes to the provider, not to you, and you may pay a share of the cost.
How much is an innovation voucher worth in Europe?
Usually €5,000 to €25,000. Enterprise Ireland gives €10,000 (or 50% of up to €20,000), Innosuisse up to CHF 15,000, Austria's FFG up to €10,000, Latvia up to €25,000 for a classic voucher and Berlin's Transfer BONUS up to €45,000 for digital projects.
Do I have to pay anything myself?
Sometimes. The Innosuisse cheque, the Irish €10,000 voucher and Latvia's introductory voucher cover 100% of the partner's cost (VAT may still be due). Others require a co-payment: 30% for most Transfer BONUS variants, 50% in Baden-Württemberg and 15% for Latvia's classic voucher.
Can a startup without revenue get an innovation voucher?
Usually yes, as long as it is a registered company in the right country or region. Baden-Württemberg's voucher is only for companies up to five years old, and Innosuisse Initial Coaching is for startups founded in the last five years.
Is there an EU-wide innovation voucher?
No. Vouchers are national or regional. The EU co-funds European Digital Innovation Hubs, which offer test-before-invest services, training and financing advice to startups and SMEs in every member state.
Can I use an innovation voucher with a private company?
Mostly not: Ireland, Switzerland, Austria and Baden-Württemberg pay research institutions. Berlin's Transfer BONUS also accepts technology and XR service providers, and Latvia accepts qualified external providers chosen from three quotes.
Program terms change often. Every program page linked above shows its official source and the date we last verified it; confirm on the provider's page before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Related guides
Browse the full lists: Government grants for startups