HEFplus

HEFplus is a Federal Ministry of Education and Research pilot scheme financed by the Helmholtz Enterprise Fund (HEF). It connects start-ups with external management partners so that they can benefit from their expertise. In contrast to Helmholtz Enterprise, HEFplus comes in shortly before or after the spin-off company has been founded. More specifically, the programme takes on some of the costs of hiring external management partners, consultants and specialists. These provide a considerable boost to the new company’s management expertise, and therefore markedly improve its chances of success in the market.

Each project is eligible for a project grant of up to €60,000. HEFplus applications are evaluated on the strength of their business plans and are submitted via the transfer point of the relevant Helmholtz Centre. The hope is that management partners will continue to assist the new spin-off company even after the funding has been exhausted. Applications should therefore include details of how the company will continue to finance this support once the funding period is over. The HEFplus programme for management support started in 2007 and has since supported nine projects to completion. A tenth project is currently being financed and five more are about to receive funding. The HEFplus scheme is due to finish in August 2012.