BAB · Digitaler Mittelstand KI · State of Bremen

AI funding in Bremen: a grant of up to 40% for your digitalisation project

The AI funding programme “Digitaler Mittelstand KI” of the Bremer Aufbau-Bank (BAB), the development bank of the State of Bremen, supports AI and automation projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a registered office or place of business in the State of Bremen with a non-repayable grant of up to 40%. synetra supports you from the funding analysis through the application to the implementation with PULSE.

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Programme: “Digitaler Mittelstand KI” of the Bremer Aufbau-Bank (BAB)
Grant: 40% for micro and small enterprises and the solo self-employed, 30% for medium-sized enterprises; at most EUR 17,000, non-repayable
Who: SMEs and solo self-employed people working full-time in their business, with a registered office or place of business in the State of Bremen
Application: Before the project starts, via the “Förderbar” portal; according to the BAB, no funds are left for 2026
PULSE: Introducing PULSE falls within the funding purpose; ongoing subscription and operating costs do not; the approving body has the final say

What is the BAB programme “Digitaler Mittelstand KI”?

With the programme “Digitaler Mittelstand KI”, the Bremer Aufbau-Bank (BAB) funds digitalisation projects of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the State of Bremen. Funding covers AI-supported work and production processes, automation systems and cyber security measures, as a non-repayable grant of up to EUR 17,000. According to the BAB, no funds are left for 2026, so applications are currently not possible; the BAB intends to publish information on applying for 2027 in due course.

The funding at a glance

Item	Value
Funding rate	40% (micro/small enterprises + solo self-employed) · 30% (medium-sized enterprises)
Max. grant	EUR 17,000 (founded less than 12 months ago: EUR 5,000)
Minimum expenditure	from EUR 1,000
Form	non-repayable grant (pro-rata funding)
Region	registered office or place of business in the State of Bremen
Application	before the project starts, the BAB’s “Förderbar” portal (Bremerhaven: with the BIS) · no funds left for 2026
Term	12-month approval period · de minimis aid, i.e. small-scale aid under EU Regulation 2023/2831

Is PULSE eligible for funding?

Introducing and implementing PULSE, for example email automation for freight forwarders, as an AI automation project falls within the funding purpose of the programme. Ongoing subscription and operating costs are expressly noteligible, and neither are personnel, operating and financing costs. What exactly counts is something we clarify in the funding check; the final decision rests with the approving body alone.

Who can use the funding?

Eligible to apply are commercial SMEs and solo self-employed people working full-time in their business, with a registered office or place of business in the State of Bremen. The project has to be carried out in the State of Bremen, and there must be no ongoing insolvency proceedings. The approving body is the BAB; for businesses with a registered office or place of business in Bremerhaven, it is the BIS (Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung).

How synetra supports you

Funding check: we check whether and how your project fits the funding purpose.
Application support: we help with the documents and the application via the Förderbar portal, before the project starts.
Implementation with PULSE: introduction and operation of the AI back office for freight forwarders from a single source, from Bremen.

As at October 2026; information without guarantee; the official conditions of the BAB are authoritative. synetra supports the funding analysis and the application; the funding decision rests with the approving body alone, and approval cannot be guaranteed. Official programme page: BAB: Digitaler Mittelstand KI (in German).

FAQ

Common questions

How much is the AI funding in Bremen?

40% (micro and small enterprises plus the solo self-employed) or 30% (medium-sized enterprises) of the eligible expenditure, a grant of at most EUR 17,000, from EUR 1,000 of eligible expenditure.

Is introducing PULSE eligible for funding?

Introducing it as an AI or automation project falls within the funding purpose; ongoing operating and subscription costs do not. The approving body has the final say; we check it in the funding check.

Does the funding also apply outside Bremen?

No. The registered office or place of business and the project itself have to be in the State of Bremen.

Must the application be made before the project starts?

Yes, the application has to be submitted before the project starts, via the “Förderbar” portal. According to the BAB, however, no funds are left for 2026; the BAB will publish information on applying for 2027 in due course.

Does synetra handle the funding application?

synetra supports the funding analysis and the application. The funding decision rests with the approving body alone (the BAB, or the BIS in Bremerhaven); we cannot guarantee approval.

PULSE for your business

See in a short demo how PULSE takes email work off your back-office staff: first results after four weeks, fully in production after 8 to 12 weeks.

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