For innovative companies, the tax relief for research and development „Forschungszulage“​ is a major advantage in Germany’s funding landscape: it supports both ongoing and completed projects. Numerous SMEs within the DInO network in Eastern Bavaria have already recognised this potential — including Schindler & Schill GmbH. When the DInO project launched in mid-2023, partner Cluster Mobility & Logistics identified a significant opportunity: many innovative SMEs could benefit from the tax relief for research and development. Since then, eleven applications from network partners have been approved — with the number rising rapidly. A prime example is the approval of the application by Schindler & Schill GmbH, known as EasyLogix. Based in Regensburg’s industrial park, the software company develops a mix of proprietary products and custom solutions in software and hardware. A key milestone is the PCB Investigator — a CAD tool for designing and manufacturing printed circuit boards. The company continuously develops new products and remains highly innovative — making it a perfect candidate for the research allowance. An initial consultation with managing directors Günther Schindler and Jürgen Schill took place in February 2025. The funding opportunity was presented, and potential projects were discussed. After evaluating their priorities, the company engaged in several feedback loops in July, followed by joint drafting of the application. The final submission was made in August, and after successfully addressing a few follow-up requests, approval was granted in late November 2025.

“The support from Cluster Mobility & Logistics and DInO was decisive for us. Thanks to the precise guidance from Ms. Bechtold and our strong collaboration, we successfully submitted the application and secured the research allowance,” said Jürgen Schill and Günther Schindler, managing directors of EasyLogix.

A win for DInO — and a welcome financial boost for EasyLogix.

ATHEGUS is a healthtech start-up specialising in robotics and automation. The team develops intelligent robotic solutions that can be used, for example, in hospital service operations.

Supported by DIT StartUp Campus, ATHEGUS received initial support with pitch training, followed by ongoing guidance.

DInO’s advisory services played a key role in streamlining the funding application process. After securing the grant, the ATHEGUS team officially launched in May 2025 and used the EXIST Founder’s Grant to finance personnel and equipment costs.

DIT StartUp Campus, within DInO, is responsible for supporting founders with funding applications. In addition, DInO provides expert advice on funding opportunities in research and development, digitalisation, and other financial topics.

“The pitch training helped us clarify and communicate our idea more effectively. Through the exercises, we refined our pitch and strengthened our focus on core messages. The feedback on structure, delivery, and team coordination was especially valuable — now we present ourselves more cohesively and confidently,” said Eva Pletl.

Bayern International

Serbia, Slovenia, Algeria – three countries brought to DInO’s ecosystem by its close cooperation with Bayern International. Among several other networking opportunities which have been offered to Eastern Bavarian SMEs, these three highlight the importance of powerful regional networks enabling DInO to provide a holistic set of services to its customers.

The first delegation welcomed by the DInO partner TechBase in Regensburg was a group of Serbian companies. Their visit to Bavaria in November 2023 served to establish contacts with regional stakeholders in the fields of smart city initiatives and digitalisation. The visit was rounded off by the Regensburg-based company FEINE RÄDER, which provided its electric cargo bikes for test rides – many of the guests tried a cargo bike for the very first time.

In April 2024, Slovenian logistics and transport companies networked with Bavarian firms; among those present were the Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Munich and the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. As the Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) are important partners of Bayern International in organising delegation trips, the third business delegation stopping in Regensburg and at DInO in June 2025, was also accompanied by the AHK Algeria. Focusing on the topics of green hydrogen and energy technology, DInO invited stakeholders from its own network to connect with the Algerian guests. The day’s programme was further complemented by the participation of the Research Centre for Energy Networks and Energy Storage at OTH Regensburg. The relevance of the topic and of Bavarian cooperation with North African countries in the energy sector was strongly emphasized by the personal welcome given by Bavarian State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt.

Stakeholders are indispensable components for DInO in order to provide valuable services to small and medium-sized enterprises and municipalities in Eastern Bavaria. In DInO’s innovation ecosystem, cooperation with Bayern International is a prime example of excellent collaboration with partners.

© Fabian Stürtz

With support from DInO, WEINHUT demonstrates how medium-sized logistics companies can further develop their existing systems. Through workshops, prototypes and pilot trials conducted together with DInO partners at Deggendorf University of Technology, telematics data was made usable, laying the foundation for more efficient planning and sustainable optimisation.

The owner-managed logistics company from Neutraubling is a practical partner within DInO. It provides real use cases from “last-mile” logistics, supplies telematics and route data, and serves as a test environment for new ways of working, offering hands-on feedback from the perspective of a medium-sized logistics provider without a large IT department. WEINHUT was supported by DInO and the Institute for Future Technologies at Deggendorf University of Technology in areas such as analysing high-performance computing (HPC) and AI applications for logistics operations, evaluating existing telematics data, developing a first Python script for automated data processing, identifying suitable integration points, and through workshops and consultancy on use cases, feasibility, and potential benefits, as well as guidance on dynamic route planning and optimisation.The Test-Before-Invest service benefited WEINHUT’s company, management, drivers and customers through better data utilisation, more efficient route planning, and more reliable deliveries, while at the same time creating a technical foundation for future optimisations and providing the sector with a transferable practical example of how HPC and AI technologies can be applied. Despite the project being designed as an iterative learning process, important milestones have already been achieved, including the joint definition of use cases for optimised delivery tours, technical preparation of the data infrastructure with an initial Python prototype, a pilot trial on a real delivery route with additional scan points, and the establishment of a technical infrastructure to support future analyses of routes, tour variants, and service levels.Key takeaways from the project include risk reduction through better understanding of routes and maintenance needs, the development of internal skills in handling telematics data and APIs, time savings through automated analyses, and strengthened cooperation with partners and clients based on data-driven optimisations.

“What was particularly valuable for us was that Deggendorf Institute of Technology didn’t just provide theory, but worked with us directly on our data and processes.”

— Thomas Rothmann, Executive Management Officer, WEINHUT GmbH