Who can apply for NRW.BANK.Impuls KI?

Small and medium enterprises under the EU definition — fewer than 250 employees and at most €50 million turnover or €43 million balance sheet total — with their registered office in North Rhine-Westphalia. Affiliated and partner companies count towards the limits.

How much money is there?

50% of eligible net expenses, at most €25,000 per company within 2 years — the quota resets 2 years after the first grant notice. The minimum grant is €5,000, so eligible expenses of at least €10,000 per application. Expenses above €50,000 are allowed but do not raise the grant.

Does the provider have to be based in NRW?

No. The provider must have its registered office in the European Union and the expertise the project requires; universities and research institutes are eligible as well. Subcontracting is allowed only in justified exceptions. decivo is based in Germany.

Does Impuls KI fund an AI product we want to sell?

No. Measures aimed at AI to be offered on the market rather than used by the company itself are explicitly excluded. For a marketable AI product, look at MID-Digitalisierung; for start-ups up to three years old, the Go-to-Market voucher.

What counts as a test version?

A working test version of an AI system — either a newly developed AI prototype or a market-available system implemented temporarily for the test. The application names the use case and the test criteria. The test is limited in time, users or features and ends in a recommendation on whether to introduce the system.

Do we need groundwork before module B?

Yes. Module B requires conceptual groundwork from which the project follows — from a funded module A, from your own work, or from public offers such as KI.NRW. Both modules can be applied for together in one application.

Only after the grant notice. Placing the order with the provider counts as the start; a contract with a free right of withdrawal in case the grant is refused is allowed. The project must start within 6 months of the notice. Starting early leads to refusal or revocation.

How and when is the grant paid?

After completion, by reimbursement against paid invoices — you pre-finance. The proof of use (figures and report) is due within 2 months after the end of the project, plus a short online monitoring questionnaire.

Can we claim licences or hardware?

In module B, yes: test infrastructure, software licences not present in the company and rented hardware needed for the test — capped at 25% of the eligible module B expenses. Net amounts only.

Can we combine Impuls KI with MID or other grants?

Not for the same expenses — cumulation with other public grants is excluded. The grant is de-minimis aid: at most €300,000 per corporate group in 3 years, to be declared on application.

How fast is a test version ready?

We do not promise dates. Prototypes take days rather than weeks with our process; the 6-month project period is generous. In the first call we assess your case concretely.

AI funding NRW

AI funding NRW: have an AI test version built with a 50% grant

Since 17 August 2026, NRW.BANK.Impuls KI supports small and medium enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia with up to €25,000: 50% of the expenses for external consulting (module A) and for building and testing an AI test version (module B). decivo builds that test version at a fixed price — for one concrete use case, with test criteria and a recommendation, the way NRW.BANK wants to see it. Young start-ups and marketable AI products have other routes: Go-to-Market voucher and MID-Digitalisierung — we lay those out here as well.

Assess your AI use case — 15 min.Calculate costs →

No funding consultancy, no promise: NRW.BANK decides. Figures as of 14 September 2026.

NRW.BANK.Impuls KI in numbers

Funding rate: 50%; of eligible net expenses
Maximum grant: €25,000; per company within 2 years, affiliated and partner companies included
Minimum grant: €5,000; that is eligible expenses from €10,000 per application
Project period: 6 months; the test itself at most 3 months
in 2 years: 2 applications; modules A and B, separately or together
Material cap in module B: 25%; licences, hardware rental, test infrastructure — share of eligible module B expenses
Applications open since: 17 August 2026; exclusively via the NRW.BANK customer portal
Budget, first year: €3,000,000; according to the NRW.BANK press release

Sources

Figures checked against the sources on 14 September 2026. Binding are the guideline and the grant notice.

Two modules — what Impuls KI actually pays for

The guideline funds external consulting, development and testing services by a qualified provider. Both modules can be applied for separately or together.

Module A

AI concept consulting

Identify company-specific AI application fields and goals, define and prioritise concrete use cases, set up structures for managing AI (data architecture, AI portfolio) and for responsible use (data protection, ethics, regulation). Ends in concrete recommendations.

Module B

Test of AI systems

Build a working test version of an AI system — a newly developed AI prototype or a market system implemented temporarily — and run the test: one described use case, named test criteria, a limited period, fewer users or features than production, and a recommendation on whether to introduce it. Requires conceptual groundwork (module A, your own, or public offers such as KI.NRW).

What Impuls KI does not pay for

Introduction and operation after the test — buying an AI solution, rolling it out, running it.
AI that is meant to be sold on the market rather than used by your company itself.
Processes in which AI is already in systematic use.
General digitalisation consulting, automation or robotics without AI, training on the EU AI Act.
Travel and accommodation of the provider.

Use cases we build as a test version

Internal, measurable, bounded — that is what module B wants. Each one comes with test criteria you can put in the project description.

Quote and document assistant

Drafts quotes, tender responses or reports from your templates and knowledge. Test criterion: share of drafts accepted by staff, time saved per document.

Inbox and ticket triage

Classifies incoming e-mails and tickets and routes them. Test criterion: hit rate against the manual decision, time to first response.

Knowledge search across your documents

Answers staff questions from manuals, contracts and wikis — with the source cited. Test criterion: answer quality rated by the team, unanswered rate.

Extraction from invoices and forms

Reads fields from invoices, delivery notes and forms into your systems. Test criterion: field accuracy, correction effort.

Checklist and quality assistant

Checks documents or orders against your rules and flags deviations. Test criterion: detected deviations versus a manual review.

Customer service assistant with hand-off

Answers standard requests and escalates to a person when unsure. Test criterion: resolution rate, escalation rate, customer feedback.

Every test version runs on EU hosting, handles personal data under the GDPR and labels AI interaction as the EU AI Act requires — we build that in, it is not a follow-up.

Our modules for modules A and B

Module A · Innovation Workshop · €7,500

Application fields, use cases, priorities

A structured workshop with your team: where AI can help in your processes, which case comes first, what the technical and organisational prerequisites are. Result: a written recommendation and the scope for module B.

Module B · Code Prototype · €12,500

The AI test version

A working test version for one use case — production-grade code that you own, EU hosting, test criteria defined up front. Built so that an introduction after the test is possible, not a rebuild.

Module B · Prototype Loop · €4,500

Test, evaluation, recommendation

Running the test with your staff, measuring against the criteria, adjusting in fixed steps, and the written recommendation the proof of use asks for.

The provider must have its registered office in the European Union and the expertise the project needs; universities and research institutes qualify too. decivo is based in Germany. NRW.BANK asks for an informal price survey — get comparable offers; a fixed package price makes that comparison easy.

Two worked examples

Net prices from our module list, 50% funding rate, capped at €25,000 within 2 years. Whether an expense is eligible is decided by NRW.BANK.

Module B, compact

Code Prototype (test version): €12,500
Prototype Loop (test and evaluation): €4,500
Eligible expenses: €17,000
Grant (50%): €8,500
Your share: €8,500

Modules A and B

Innovation Workshop (module A): €7,500
Code Prototype (test version): €12,500
2 × Prototype Loop: €9,000
Eligible expenses: €29,000
Grant (50%): €14,500
Your share: €14,500

From €50,000 of eligible expenses the grant reaches its cap of €25,000. Licences and test infrastructure can be added in module B up to 25% of its eligible expenses.

All prices net, plus VAT — NRW.BANK recognises net amounts only. The grant is reimbursed after completion against paid invoices; you pre-finance.

How it works

First call (15 min.)
Which process, which data, what groundwork exists. We tell you whether module B is realistic right away or whether module A comes first — and whether Impuls KI is the right programme at all.
Project description and fixed-price offer
The offer is a mandatory attachment. Ours itemises use case, test criteria, scope and price the way the application form expects — and works as one of the offers in your price survey.
Apply via the NRW.BANK customer portal
Application form, project description, offer, de-minimis declaration, SME declaration, proof of identity. Only complete applications are processed.
Grant notice — only then the order
The order to us may be placed only after the notice. A contract with a free right of withdrawal in case of refusal is allowed. Start within 6 months of the notice.
Build, test, recommend
Test version, test with your staff, evaluation and recommendation — within 6 months, the test itself within 3.
Proof of use and reimbursement
Figures, a report and paid invoices within 2 months after the end of the project; a short online monitoring questionnaire. Then NRW.BANK reimburses.

Why decivo for the AI test version

AI-native, human-reviewed

We build with AI-accelerated implementation and a person who checks every step — that is our process, not a buzzword. A test version is our home turf.

We know how AI systems fail

Our free decivo Scan checks AI-built apps against more than 150 rules — leaked keys, GDPR, accessibility, AI Act transparency. We build test versions so they would pass it.

A fixed price is an application-ready offer

NRW.BANK wants an offer with the application and a price survey. A package price with a written scope gives both — and no surprise at the proof of use.

Built for what comes after the test

Impuls KI stops at the test. Our test version is production-grade code you own — introducing it later is a decision, not a second project.

Which NRW programme for which AI project?

Impuls KI funds AI for your own operations. If you want to build an AI product for the market, MID-Digitalisierung (50%, up to €15,000, lottery) is the route for SMEs — and for start-ups up to three years old the Go-to-Market voucher.

Comparison of three NRW funding programmes
Comparison of three NRW funding programmes	Go-to-Market Gutschein	MID-Digitalisierung	NRW.BANK.Impuls KI
Who	Non-listed micro-enterprises founded at most 3 years ago, registered office in NRW	Micro, small and medium enterprises with registered office in NRW	SMEs (EU definition) with registered office in NRW
What	External services for a prototype of a digital product — software, design, UI/UX, market analysis, coaching	Development of a marketable digital product based on AI, machine learning, data mining, real-time processing or AR/VR	Consulting on AI use (module A) and a test version of an AI system for the company's own use (module B)
Rate	70%	50%	50%
Maximum grant	€35,000	€15,000	€25,000 within 2 years
Minimum grant	€15,000	€4,000	€5,000 (eligible costs from €10,000)
Duration	12 months	up to 12 months	up to 6 months, the test itself up to 3
Procedure	EFRE.NRW.online-Portal, processed in order of receipt, one application per start-up	Monthly lottery at NRW.BANK, then 28 days to file the application	NRW.BANK customer portal, at most 2 applications in 2 years
Deadline	31 October 2026, 16:00	Programme runs until 31 December 2029	Open since 17 August 2026

Go-to-Market Gutschein

Who: Non-listed micro-enterprises founded at most 3 years ago, registered office in NRW
What: External services for a prototype of a digital product — software, design, UI/UX, market analysis, coaching
Rate: 70%
Maximum grant: €35,000
Minimum grant: €15,000
Duration: 12 months
Procedure: EFRE.NRW.online-Portal, processed in order of receipt, one application per start-up
Deadline: 31 October 2026, 16:00

MID-Digitalisierung

Who: Micro, small and medium enterprises with registered office in NRW
What: Development of a marketable digital product based on AI, machine learning, data mining, real-time processing or AR/VR
Rate: 50%
Maximum grant: €15,000
Minimum grant: €4,000
Duration: up to 12 months
Procedure: Monthly lottery at NRW.BANK, then 28 days to file the application
Deadline: Programme runs until 31 December 2029

NRW.BANK.Impuls KI

Who: SMEs (EU definition) with registered office in NRW
What: Consulting on AI use (module A) and a test version of an AI system for the company's own use (module B)
Rate: 50%
Maximum grant: €25,000 within 2 years
Minimum grant: €5,000 (eligible costs from €10,000)
Duration: up to 6 months, the test itself up to 3
Procedure: NRW.BANK customer portal, at most 2 applications in 2 years
Deadline: Open since 17 August 2026

Go-to-Market voucher NRW in detail →

Frequently asked

Who can apply for NRW.BANK.Impuls KI?: Small and medium enterprises under the EU definition — fewer than 250 employees and at most €50 million turnover or €43 million balance sheet total — with their registered office in North Rhine-Westphalia. Affiliated and partner companies count towards the limits.
How much money is there?: 50% of eligible net expenses, at most €25,000 per company within 2 years — the quota resets 2 years after the first grant notice. The minimum grant is €5,000, so eligible expenses of at least €10,000 per application. Expenses above €50,000 are allowed but do not raise the grant.
Does the provider have to be based in NRW?: No. The provider must have its registered office in the European Union and the expertise the project requires; universities and research institutes are eligible as well. Subcontracting is allowed only in justified exceptions. decivo is based in Germany.
Does Impuls KI fund an AI product we want to sell?: No. Measures aimed at AI to be offered on the market rather than used by the company itself are explicitly excluded. For a marketable AI product, look at MID-Digitalisierung; for start-ups up to three years old, the Go-to-Market voucher.
What counts as a test version?: A working test version of an AI system — either a newly developed AI prototype or a market-available system implemented temporarily for the test. The application names the use case and the test criteria. The test is limited in time, users or features and ends in a recommendation on whether to introduce the system.
Do we need groundwork before module B?: Yes. Module B requires conceptual groundwork from which the project follows — from a funded module A, from your own work, or from public offers such as KI.NRW. Both modules can be applied for together in one application.
When may we start?: Only after the grant notice. Placing the order with the provider counts as the start; a contract with a free right of withdrawal in case the grant is refused is allowed. The project must start within 6 months of the notice. Starting early leads to refusal or revocation.
How and when is the grant paid?: After completion, by reimbursement against paid invoices — you pre-finance. The proof of use (figures and report) is due within 2 months after the end of the project, plus a short online monitoring questionnaire.
Can we claim licences or hardware?: In module B, yes: test infrastructure, software licences not present in the company and rented hardware needed for the test — capped at 25% of the eligible module B expenses. Net amounts only.
Can we combine Impuls KI with MID or other grants?: Not for the same expenses — cumulation with other public grants is excluded. The grant is de-minimis aid: at most €300,000 per corporate group in 3 years, to be declared on application.
How fast is a test version ready?: We do not promise dates. Prototypes take days rather than weeks with our process; the 6-month project period is generous. In the first call we assess your case concretely.

Real projects

Elite Pura Vida Rides

Luxury transfer booking platform · Costa Rica

Booking platform completed and accepted with a five-star review — clickable prototype delivered in a matter of days.

Endelevu Ltd

ESG / land development platform · UK

Platform for ESG-compliant land development projects in ongoing iterative development — from workshop through prototype to code.

Assess your AI use case?

Bring the process you want to test to a first call. We tell you honestly whether Impuls KI fits, whether module A comes first — and what a test version would cost.

Assess your project — free, 15 min.

115-min call2Clear assessment3Start in days

No funding consultancy in the legal sense. NRW.BANK decides.