Digitalization funding programs in northern Germany: what is still open in 2026

As of July 2026, five paths are open among the digitalization funding programs in northern Germany: WTSH digitalization funding in Schleswig-Holstein, the Hamburg Digital Check, in Bremen the new Digital SME AI grant, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the AI Funding MV together with the FuEuI guideline, plus nationwide the BAFA consulting grant, INQA coaching, KfW loans and the research allowance. At least as important is the counter list: go-digital, Digital Jetzt, go-inno and the Digitalbonus Niedersachsen have expired but are still advertised online as active.

What does Schleswig-Holstein fund?

The Landesprogramm Wirtschaft funds, via WTSH, low-threshold digitalization projects in small companies with fewer than 50 employees, with a 40 percent grant. The consulting module covers external digitalization consulting between 2,500 and 20,000 euros; the implementation module covers up to 200,000 euros in eligible expenses, including hardware and software. Applications are submitted digitally via the WTSH portal, before the project starts.

What does Hamburg fund?

The Hamburg Digital Check from IFB subsidizes qualified consulting on digitalization, AI and information security with 50 percent, up to 7,500 euros. As things currently stand, applications are possible until November 16, 2026, exclusively online and before the contract is signed. For implementation, the Hamburg-Kredit Digital has been available since August 2025: 25,000 to 2.5 million euros via your house bank, with a municipal grant share of up to 12 percent of the loan amount, capped at 20,000 euros.

What does Bremen fund?

Bremen launched the Digital SME AI program on April 1, 2026: up to 17,000 euros in grants per project for digitalizing business processes, AI, automation and cybersecurity, explicitly also for micro-enterprises and solo self-employed people. Alongside this, the Consulting Grant for Digitalization and Work 4.0 from BAB continues, with a 50 percent grant on external consulting, up to 5,000 euros.

And Lower Saxony?

Lower Saxony currently has no dedicated grant program for digitalization: the Digitalbonus Niedersachsen expired on December 31, 2025, and no successor has been announced. Companies in Lower Saxony therefore rely on federal-level programs, with one special case: in the Lüneburg region, the BAFA funding rate is 60 percent instead of 50 percent.

What applies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?

MV is the only northern German state to have launched a new state program in 2026: the AI Funding MV, with a 50 percent grant of up to 50,000 euros for companies with up to 100 employees, in effect since June 30, 2026. Larger innovation and consulting projects run through the FuEuI guideline of TBI GmbH, and for the BAFA consulting grant, MV applies the increased eastern rate of 80 percent. Details on this in the article AI Funding MV 2026.

The federal level: four programs that apply everywhere

• BAFA consulting grant: 50 to 80 percent on conceptual consulting, up to 3,500 euros assessment basis per consultation. The current guideline expires on December 31, 2026.
• INQA coaching: 80 percent on up to twelve days of consulting for digital transformation in work organization, until the end of 2027.
• KfW ERP Digitalization Loan: low-interest loan with no minimum amount via your house bank, AI integration explicitly eligible for funding.
• Research allowance: 35 percent tax credit for SMEs for genuine research and development, from 2026 with a 12 million euro assessment basis and a 20 percent overhead flat rate.

Which funding programs have expired?

Anyone counting on one of these names in 2026 is planning with money that no longer exists: go-digital ended on December 31, 2024, Digital Jetzt has ended, go-inno expired on December 31, 2025, as did the Digitalbonus Niedersachsen. The MV program DigiTrans has been closed for years. ZIM has had a temporary application freeze since July 7, 2026, with resumption targeted for early 2027. Many overview articles online still list these programs as active; if in doubt, rely on the awarding bodies themselves or the Federal Funding Database.

Which of the open funding pots fits your company is something we clarify in the free funding check from AI Consulting: location, company size, project, deadline, in 60 minutes.

Frequently asked questions about funding programs in the north

Which federal state funds digitalization best?

That depends on the project. For consulting, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is strongest with the 80 percent BAFA rate; for AI implementations, MV offers the largest state grant in the north with a maximum of 50,000 euros. Hamburg scores with the Digital Check for consulting, Bremen with its broad AI grant that also covers micro-enterprises, and Schleswig-Holstein with the implementation module for small companies.

Do go-digital or the Digitalbonus Niedersachsen still exist?

No. go-digital expired on December 31, 2024, the Digitalbonus Niedersachsen on December 31, 2025, and Digital Jetzt and go-inno have also ended. Current alternatives are the BAFA consulting grant, INQA coaching, KfW funding loans and the respective state programs.

Must the application always be submitted before the project starts?

Yes, this applies without exception to all the programs mentioned. A signed contract already counts as the start of the project and makes it ineligible for funding. Obtaining quotes and planning, however, is allowed everywhere.