Promotional Funds

The promotion database can be found at www.bmwi.de/Homepage/Förderdatenbank/Förderdatenbank.jsp.

An independent search is, however, only a first step in which only basic information can be obtained. The Agency for the Promotion of Economic Development, the chambers and credit institutes can help you further in the specifics of planning and implementation.

We have prepared information for you about the "classic" programmes. You can reach the individual programmes directly via the respective links.

• No plans may have begun to have been carried out before receipt of the application. The final approval for promotion must be waited for before the start of the investment in some programmes.
• The funds must be used only for the purpose agreed upon. Proof of their use must be furnished.
• Security must be provided for public loans as is customary in banking, possibly by guarantors of the Niedersächsischen Bürgschaftsbank (NBB) or the State of Lower Saxony.
• You can apply for most of the programmes at your bank. The application forms are also available there.
• The combination of individual promotion programmes is possible in exceptional cases.
• There is no legal right to claim the granting of public financial aid or guarantors.
• Further information on the individual promotion programmes can be obtained from not only the Agency for the Promotion of Economic Development of the City of Stade, but also credit institutes, the Handwerkskammer (chamber of craft trades) Lüneburg-Stade and the Industrie- und Handelskammer Stade (chambers of industry and commerce) für den Elbe-Weser-Raum.
  

2. The most important public promotional programmes for companies:

• General
• Innovation
• Personnel
• Environment
• General
  

General

DtA launching aid
The founding of an independent business with low investment and financial requirements can be promoted with this loan programme. Even a business originally planned as a part-time occupation with a maximum financing requirement of EUR 50,000 can be financed by DtA launching aid.
Info: www.dta.de

EKH equity capital programme
With EKH, investments, goods storage and costs for opening up or tapping new markets upon founding a new company (this applies also to freelancers) and the acquisition of or holdings in a companies and investments can be financed at low interest rates in the first two years after foundation.
Info: www.dta.de

ERP Business Founding Programme
The purchase of active holdings, the procurement of an initial material and goods storage facility, the aquisition and establishment of a company and investments can be promoted by the ERP Business Founding Programme within the first three years after the company has been founded.
Info: www.dta.de

DtA Business Founding Programme
This programme offers low-interest financing of founding a business as a self-employed person, including the acquisition of active holdings. The programme also promotes investments for business consolidation within the first eight years after foundation.
Info: www.dta.de

Business foundation and development consultation
Apart from the gratis consultation at the Agency for the Promotion of Economic Development and chambers, subsidies for business consultation may also be granted.
Info: www.dta.de

KfW Small to Medium-sized Company Programme
This programme offers small and medium-sized companies low-interest financing of investments related to founding a business, business consolidation or expansion of the company. The liquidity aid programme offers low-interest financing of temporary liquidity narrow passes, expansion of company activities and the improvement of the financing structure.
Info: www.kfw.de

State loan for the promotion of economic development

• Business founders
  This state programme offers low-interest financing of the purchase of active holdings, the procurement of an initial materials and goods storage facility and the acquisition and development of a company.
• Promotion of women
  This state loan offers women low-interest financing of the purchase of active holdings, the procurement of an initial materials and goods storage facility and the acquisition and development of a company.
  Info: www.lts-nds.de

Stand-by grants in accordance with § 57 Sozialgesetzbuch III
The labour office may give unemployed persons a grant for starting a freelance business.
Info: www.arbeitsamt.de

Foundation grant for the officially certified
Officially certified skilled workers may receive a grant for the first foundation or acquisition of company. Information can be obtained from: Landesgewerbeförderungsstelle des niedersächsischen Handwerks e.V., Sodenstr. 2, 30161 Hanover, Tel. 0511/38768
Info: www.lts-nds.de

NBB - Niedersächsische Bürgschaftsbank
Companies in Lower Saxony can obtain guarantees for investment, operational, and guarantee loans.
Info: www.nbb.de

BONUS!
The objective of this programme is to provide equity capital to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Info: www.mw.niedersachsen.de

State Fair Promotion Agency
Promotion of individual consulting services for companies with plans to initiate or expand foreign business activities (consultation costs support). The State Fair Promotion Agency promotes participation in fairs, exhibitions, and comparable events abroad. Further information can be obtained from IPA Niedersachsen, Hamburger Allee 4, 30161 Hannover.
Info: www.mw.niedersachsen.de

Innovation

ERP Innovation Programme
This progamme has a loan and a capital investment variant. The Deutsche Ausgleichsbank provides support for personnel and material costs which arise from the development of new products, processes and services, market-related research, and market launch. It can also be used for the provision of equity capital.
Info: www.dta.de

ProInno (Small to Medium-sized Company Innovation Competence Programme)
Companies which want to improve their powers of innovation and competitivity with the help of new, high-risk technologies can apply for grants for co-operation with technical colleges, the resumption of research or development activities, or the provision of research and development personnel via the work group of industrial research institutions. Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen, Geschäftsstelle Berlin, Tschaikowskistr. 49, 13156 Berlin, Tel. 030/48163451
Info: www.forschungskoop.de

KfW/BMWi technology participation programme
The provision of equity capital for technology-oriented enterprises can be promoted with this programme.
Info: www.kfw.de

Specialist programmes of the BMBF
The Federal Government provides promotional funds for research and development activities in selected technical fields. The online database of the funding catalogue (FÖKAT) provides current information about the individual project promotion measures of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry of Business and Technology (BMWi) in the field of energy reserach, air travel research, multimedia, and Innonet.
Info: Funding catalogue of the BMBF and the BMWi

Promotion of innovation for Lower Saxony's skilled labour
Small and medium-sized skilled labour companies can apply for grants for the development or further development of innovative products, processes or services, adaptative development after the integration of new technologies in one own's company, marketing and qualification. The innovations advisors at the chamber of skilled labour provide consultation services.
Info: www.lts-nds.de

Technology programme of the State of Lower Saxony
Small to medium-sized companies in Lower Saxony can apply for support in the so-called "research and development directive" for research and development plans. Applications are to be sent to Bezirksregierung Lüneburg, Dezernat 203, 21332 Lüneburg
Info: www.mw.niedersachsen.de

Personnel

ERP Training Position Programme
A low-interest loan can be requested for the creation of new / additional training positions.
Info: www.kfw.de

Labour office promotion of employing of the unemployed
The labour office offers financial support for employing certain groups of persons. Further information can be obtained from the Stade labour office, Wiesenstraße 10, 21680 Stade, Tel.: 04141/926-0.
Info: www.arbeitsamt.de

Personnel transfer directive (Lower Saxony)
The State of Lower Saxony provides grants for the employment of college graduates from the fields of engineering, the natural sciences, and economics for selected fields of activites. Applications are to be sent to Bezirksregierung Lüneburg, Dezernat 203, 21332 Lüneburg
Info: www.lts-nds.de

Environment

DtA Environment Programme
This programme finances the conversion of production to environmentally sustainable processes, equipment investments for the manufacture of new environment-friendly products or production systems, investments for avoiding, recycling and disposing waste or investments for saving energy, rational energy use and use of renewable energy resources.
Info: www.dta.de

KfW Environment Programme
Low-interest loans are available for investments for decreasing or avoiding air pollution including odor, noise, vibrations, the disposal of earth and water pollution in connection with other operational investments, for improving drainage, for decreasing and avoiding drainage, for avoiding and treating waste, for saving energy and using regenerative energy sources, for earth and water protection or for the manufacture of innovative environmentally-friendly products.
Info: www.kfw.de

ERP Environment and Energy Programme
Investments in the fields of wastewater purification, avoiding, recycling and disposing of waste, air protection (including measures for reducing noise, odors, and vibrations), energy saving and rational energy use as well as use of renewable energy resources can be financially supported.
Info: www.dta.de

100000 Roofs Solar Energy Programme
The setup and expansion of a photovoltaic system as of an installed peak capacity of ca. 1 kwp (rated power according to manufacturer specifications) can be promoted.
Info: www.kfw.de

You can receive information on the current conditions from the following institutions:

Deutsche Ausgleichsbank (DtA), Info-Line Bonn,
Tel. 0228/831-2400, www.dta.de
http://www.dta.de/dtaportal/Finanzierung/d040DarleK/d040DarleK.jsp

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Beratungszentrum Berlin,
Tel. 030/20264-5050, www.kfw.de
http://www.kfw.de/DE/Unsere%20Kreditprogramme/Inhalt.jsp

Niedersächsische Landestreuhandanstalt für Wirtschaftsförderung,
Tel. 0511/361-5780, www.lts-nds.de
http://www.lts-nds.de/cgi-bin/foerderlotse.pl?agu=2