Own funds usually refer to uncommitted financing provided by the applicant to finance the total eligible project expenditure using its own assets. In general, a reasonable contribution in the form of own funds and/or mobilising additional financing resources is a prerequisite for funding. What determines a reasonable amount of own funds to be contributed can only be decided on a case-by-case basis. What constitutes a reasonable amount particularly depends on the lead implementing organisation’s financial capacity. There is no fixed minimum contribution amount. Financing the objective of the project is primarily the responsibility of the implementing organisations, which must, therefore, take every reasonable effort to raise the necessary funds themselves. Only in exceptional cases, full financing of projects from IKI funds is only possible.
In addition to own funds, other external funding can also be included, e.g. in the form of external funds and third-party grants. External funds are funds from private donors (businesses, associations, etc.) with an interest in the project being implemented and who freely provide this funding to finance overall eligible expenditure. Confirmation from the donor regarding their provision of external funds must be provided in the second stage of the selection process.
Third-party grants are exclusively defined as funding provided for the project by other public bodies. Other public bodies may include German federal and state institutions organised under public law, federal corporations, institutions, foundations under public law and their associations, regardless of their legal form, and all EU institutions.