The WIPANO funding program aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, and founders in their own patent projects. It provides them with financial resources for professional support from objective experts and specialist lawyers, as well as for commercial implementation. The goals of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) are the efficient safeguarding and implementation of innovative technologies – especially inventions. Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector and in the liberal scientific/technical professions that have not filed a patent or utility model application within the three years prior to the application. The funding rate is 50% of eligible expenditures, with a maximum of €16,600 in funding available.