Digital Foundation
Make data, processes and knowledge usable
Which information is scattered? Which work steps repeat? Where will AI later lack context?
NRW.BANK.Impuls KI
50% Funding for Your AI Project in NRW
With NRW.BANK.Impuls KI, SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia can receive funding for preparing and testing concrete AI applications. AI-Paced helps turn an idea into a solid project with real business value.
Check Project Idea
No funding promise. A factual first check of whether the funding logic and project idea fit together.
Funding Opportunity
Do Not Start With the Tool. Start With the Use Case.
The funding is a good opportunity. The real lever, however, is the question where AI can truly create impact inside the company: less search time, better knowledge flow, clearer decisions or less repetitive knowledge work.
This is exactly where AI-Paced fits: we look not only at technology, but also at the digital foundation and knowledge flow, leaders and employees, and differentiated judgment. The result is not an AI experiment next to daily business, but a meaningful use case.
AI-Paced Approach
An AI Project Is More Than a New Tool.
The strongest idea is often found where technology, people and decision practices are considered together.
Leaders and employees
Think through adoption and use
Who is supposed to work differently? Which routines change? Where do uncertainty, friction or new responsibilities emerge?
Differentiated judgment
Separate hype from substance
Which decision is better prepared by AI? Where may AI support, and where must humans decide?
Funding Logic
What NRW.BANK.Impuls KI Can Help Prepare.
Modul A
Concept
Identify suitable AI use cases, evaluate them and develop a viable implementation concept.
Modul B
Test
Test a concrete AI use case in practice and improve the basis for later investment decisions.
Mini Check
Could This Generally Fit?
- KMUsmall or medium-sized enterprise
- Located in NRWCompany is based in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Concrete ValueBusiness problem or use case is identifiable
- Not started yetStart erst nach Bewilligung einplanen
Wichtig: The current NRW.BANK conditions always apply. AI-Paced does not guarantee approval and does not replace funding advice from NRW.BANK.
Typical Starting Points
Where AI Quickly Becomes Tangible in SMEs.
Knowledge Management
Find and structure internal information faster and make it usable for teams.
Process Knowledge
Reduce recurring research, documentation or preparation work.
Decision Preparation
Bring data, documents and feedback together faster and make them easier to assess.
Funding Check
Which AI Idea Is Worth Pursuing?
Briefly describe your company and the possible use case. I will assess whether the idea fits the funding logic and what the next useful step would be.
No Finished AI Idea Yet?
A business problem is enough: Where are you losing time, knowledge or speed?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions.
Is AI-Paced a funding advisor?+
No. AI-Paced helps identify, evaluate and prepare meaningful AI use cases as projects. NRW.BANK is the authoritative source for binding funding information.
What happens after submitting?+
You receive a short assessment of whether the idea generally fits the funding logic and which information is still needed for an initial conversation or further preparation.
Can I get in touch if the AI idea is still unclear?+
Yes. That is exactly when the conceptual phase can be useful. A clear business problem is often enough to start.