Awards & Grants
Grants
MID – Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital-Innovation (Germany), Years: 2025-26
Short version:
One of the most competitive innovation grants in Germany, awarded to APIRA for outstanding technological development.
Full version:
APIRA was awarded funding under the MID – Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital-Innovation program by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This grant supports breakthrough product development and is the most substantial funding line in the MID family. APIRA was selected based on its innovative wildfire protection solution and its potential to improve safety and resilience across fire-prone regions.
Forschungszulage (Germany), Years: 2020-24
Short version:
German government support for APIRA’s continuous research and innovation work over five consecutive years.
Full version:
APIRA’s wildfire protection technology has been continuously supported by the Forschungszulage (Research Grant) program of the German Federal Government for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. This initiative supports companies engaged in long-term research and experimental development. APIRA’s work qualified under internationally recognized Frascati Criteria, which define genuine R&D as activities involving the creation of new knowledge, experimental solutions, and applied innovation.
The Frascati Criteria are the global standard (set by the OECD) for defining R&D — covering basic, applied, and experimental research.
WIPANO – Patent Application Support (Germany), Years: 2022-24
Short version:
National funding from Germany to support the protection and commercialization of our innovation through a European and Global patent.
Full version:
APIRA received WIPANO support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to fund the development and filing of a international patent. The WIPANO program assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in protecting innovative solutions and promoting their commercial use through structured intellectual property management.
Gründungsstipendium.NRW (Germany), Years: 2021-22
Short version:
Funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) to support APIRA during its early-stage development and market entry.
Full version:
The Gründungsstipendium.NRW is a competitive start-up grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. APIRA received this funding to support its early business formation, product development, and market entry. The program provides both financial support and access to a dynamic start-up ecosystem.
Awards
InsureNXT 2025 – Innovators Award Finalist
Short version:
APIRA was selected among the Top 3 finalists for the Innovators Award 2025 in the category “Cross-Industry Bridgebuilder.”
Full version:
At InsureNXT 2025, APIRA was named one of the Top 3 finalists for the Innovators Award in the prestigious category “Cross-Industry Bridgebuilder.” We pitched our solution live at the event and received wide recognition for bridging wildfire protection, climate risk prevention, and insurance innovation.
Tech Tour NRW Green 2022 – Top 30 Start-ups
Short version:
Selected as one of 30 green-tech start-ups to pitch at Tech Tour NRW Green, hosted by KölnBusiness and BioCampus Cologne.
Full version:
APIRA was selected as one of only 30 promising green-tech start-ups to present (pitch) at the Tech Tour NRW Green 2022, held at BioCampus Cologne.
This event, co-organized by KölnBusiness and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia, showcased start-ups developing innovative solutions in the fields of environment, sustainability, and digital transformation and it brought together innovation and climate tech experts, capital providers, regional accelerators and investors.
The Tech Tour NRW program supports companies working on technical solutions in the fields of environment, climate, and sustainability. APIRA’s wildfire protection system was presented live as an example of applied innovation for climate resilience and public safety.
InsureNXT 2022 – Top 10 Start-ups
Short version:
APIRA was selected as one of the Top 10 Start-ups at the InsureNXT international trade fair in 2022.
Full version:
APIRA was honored as one of the Top 10 Start-ups at InsureNXT 2022, Germany’s most prominent insurance innovation trade fair. We were invited to exhibit with our own booth and showcase how our wildfire protection technology connects with future insurance, risk management, and smart building solutions.