Are there any grants or subsidies for drone technology?

Yes – but rarely as drone funding. Funding is almost never tied to the equipment itself, but to its purpose: digitalisation, investment, energy efficiency, agriculture or research. The drone is then an eligible component of a larger project.

Where it is worth looking

• Digitalisation and investment programmes run by the federal states – the conditions vary considerably from one state to another.
• Federal programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises, often focusing on consulting or digitalisation.
• Agricultural funding if the drone is used for precision agriculture.
• Research and innovation funding if you are developing a process rather than merely applying one.
• Low-interest loans from promotional banks – often overlooked, but for larger purchases they are the more realistic option than a grant.

Two points where applications usually fail

The application must be submitted before placing the order. Almost all programmes have the following rule: anyone who purchases beforehand loses their entitlement – there is no retroactive funding either. This is the most common avoidable mistake.

The funding must fit the project, not the other way around. A project designed solely to fit a programme takes more time than the grant is worth.

How to proceed

The German government's funding database and the funding advisory service in your federal state are the right places to start; chambers of industry and commerce provide free advice on this. Clarify the funding options before accepting a quotation – we will be happy to provide you with the technical description and a suitable quotation for your application.

As programmes and conditions are constantly changing, we deliberately do not list specific names or amounts here. If in doubt, ask us about the current status.

Not sure what applies to your project? We can help you assess this in a consultation – Book an appointment.