Support programmes

The EENergy project, funded by the European Union, enables companies to receive a grant of 10,000 euros if they want to implement a measure that reduces their energy consumption and thereby reduces their_{carbon footprint}.

With a total budget of EUR 9 million, EENergy actively supports small and medium-sized enterprises against the backdrop of the effects of climate change and the European Union's Green Deal.

The deadline for submissions is 15 May 2024.

Further information can be found on the project page.

The "Operational Mobility Management" funding programme launched by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport pursues three objectives:

1. Broad-based funding is intended tosupport effective standard measures for corporate mobility management through, for example, measures to increase and improve cycling, to convert fleets to sustainable drive types and to digitally support the coordination and control of transport processes. The programme is aimed exclusively at SMEs.

2. the initial funding is intended to support the development of location-specific concepts in corporate mobility management on the basis of standardised consulting services accompanied by suitability-tested consultants. The initial funding is aimed exclusively at SMEs with little or no previous experience in the field of mobility management. Interested mobility consultants can apply for a listing in the consultancy pool via the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) by submitting an application for an aptitude test .

3. innovation funding is aimed at innovative concepts in corporate mobility management that have a demonstration character and serve as important impulses for application-orientated future solutions. The prerequisite for funding is an existing mobility concept or conceptual considerations with various fields of action. A two-stage application process begins with the publication of the call for funding for innovation promotion, with which companies and organisations can apply with individual or joint projects. Legal entities under private and public law, natural persons as long as they are economically active, universities and non-university research institutions are eligible to apply for innovation funding. The participation of SMEs is expressly encouraged.

The term of the funding guideline is limited until the date on which the de minimis Regulation expires, plus an adjustment period of six months, i.e. until 30 June 2024. If the period of application of the de minimis Regulation is extended without any relevant changes to the content of the aid scheme, the term of these funding guidelines will be extended accordingly, but not beyond 31 December 2025.

You can find more information here

Self-employed professionals and freelancers can find themselves in existentially jeopardising situations even in non-crisis times. In addition to time and human resources, it is not uncommon for those affected to lack the basic knowledge needed to position themselves in a crisis-proof manner in the long term.

KOMPASS is intended to support full-time solo self-employed persons with a maximum of 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) of employees in increasing the sustainability of their business model. To this end, an unbureaucratic and low-threshold procedure is intended to facilitate access to qualification services in order to create prospects for future-proof solo self-employment.

Through centralised further training measures, the participants are to acquire extended knowledge for company management and be put in a position to make their business model as crisis-proof and future-proof as possible.

Term: 15.10.2022 - 30.04.2026

All information on the programme can be found on the website of the European Social Fund for Germany

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Unit VIGru EF4 -
European Globalisation Fund
Managing Authority,
ESF Programme Implementation
10117 Berlin

E-mail: vigruef4@bmas.bund.de

With monthly support of 1,200 euros over 12 months, the NRW state government creates a secure financial foundation for founders during the start-up phase. This financial support can be extended by three months upon the birth of a child and suspended for up to 12 months while receiving parental allowance.

The change in the funding programme compared to the previous programme is intended to promote women and families in particular, in order to increase the current share of 24.5 percent of female start-ups.

With the Gründungsstipendium.NRW, a maximum of three founders of a start-up each receive the funding amount.

Interested parties from Beckum can contact Ms Marianne Koschany-Rohbeck (02521-850517, rohbeck@gfw-waf.de from the Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung im Kreis Warendorf(http://www.gfw-waf.de) for information on the NRW start-up grant.

The prepared procedure takes two months. During this time, information is collected that is necessary for the effective and needs-based design of the subsequent bidding procedure. Companies wishing to submit a bid in the first bidding procedure, still planned for 2023, must participate in the preparatory procedure.

Climate protection contracts are intended to initiate climate-friendly production processes in energy-intensive industries, for example in the steel, cement, paper or glass industries. They compensate for the additional costs compared to conventional processes where climate-friendly production processes cannot yet be operated competitively.

Making climate-friendly technologies marketable

The BMWK intends to conclude climate protection contracts in the mid double-digit billion range. The majority of the money is to be available to hedge against unexpected price fluctuations. Companies that want to be funded first enter into a bidding war in which the best and especially the cheapest bidder wins.

Climate protection contracts make a significant contribution to climate-friendly technologies becoming marketable and, in the long term, able to survive without state support. The funded plants will produce climate-friendly products, which can create green lead markets. The funded projects will also generate know-how in the financing, construction and operation of innovative plants, which holds additional potential for Germany as a business location and for climate protection worldwide. They also provide a strong impetus for the development of the hydrogen infrastructure in Germany and Europe. At the same time, the transformation projects are already saving large quantities of greenhouse gases and are thus making an important direct and indirect contribution to Germany achieving its climate targets by 2045.

The funding guideline is subject to the ongoing state aid and subsidy law audits as well as the budget negotiations.

 BMWK information paper on the funding instrument of climate protection contracts

The Federal Government promotes climate-friendly measures in companies through the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) within the framework of the funding guideline "Corporate Mobility Management" of 02 May 2023.

The aim of the programme is to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions in commuter, official and educational traffic as well as in the everyday mobility of employees by expanding and consolidating the promotion of sustainable mobility measures in companies, enterprises and municipal institutions.

Funding is provided through calls in three funding priorities :

1) With the broad-based funding, effective standard measures of corporate mobility management of SMEs are to be promoted, such as the increase and improvement of cycling, measures for the conversion of fleets to sustainable types of propulsion or for digitally supported coordination and control of traffic processes. The aim is to develop a broad impact of corporate mobility management measures in the SME landscape.

2) With the initial funding , the development of site-specific concepts in company mobility management is funded on the basis of standardised consulting services, accompanied by aptitude-tested consultants. The initial funding is aimed exclusively at SMEs with little or no previous experience in the field of mobility management. Interested mobility advisors can apply for a listing in the advisory pool via the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) by applying for a suitability assessment .

3) Innovation funding is aimed at innovative concepts in corporate mobility management that have a demonstration character and serve as important impulses for application-oriented future solutions. Prerequisites for funding are an existing mobility concept or conceptual considerations with various fields of action. The publication of the call for innovation funding marks the start of a two-stage application process in which companies and institutions can apply with individual or joint projects. Legal entities under private and public law, natural persons who are economically active, universities and non-university research institutions are eligible to apply for innovation funding. The participation of SMEs is expressly encouraged.

For more information, see the Mobile Wins page

The aim of the programme, which is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, is to successfully initiate business between SMEs from developing and emerging countries and Germany.

Every year, around 1,000 foreign managers are prepared to enter the German market and B2B contacts are established with German companies that want to tap into new markets. This partnership-based approach creates long-term business relationships and a global network of internationally active SMEs.

Further information can be found on the Manager Programme page