Sustainability pays off - Thuringian companies can benefit from large amounts of funding for their sustainability projects. But which funds are available and how can the best funding be secured? This article provides an overview of key programmes that can be used to systematically support sustainable initiatives.
Sustainability is the key to long-term business success. It does not only entail economic stability, but also ecological and social responsibility and is therefore in no way a passing trend. Thuringian companies, like all companies in Germany, are faced with the challenge of making their operations sustainable and being economically successful at the same time. Switching to sustainable processes and products not only offers ecological advantages, but also economic opportunities, for example through cost reductions in energy consumption or the access to new markets.
But the path to sustainability requires expertise, planning and persistence. How do you take the first step? Companies face key challenges: developing a transparent, forward-looking sustainability strategy and implementing sustainable investment projects - in both cases, funding is available to help companies get started and make investing in a competitive and sustainable future an even easier task. However, funding alone is not enough. The effect of a financial subsidy can only be fully exploited with a suitable corporate strategy.
The "Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie" supports SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) with their registered office, permanent establishment or branch in Thuringia in the areas of corporate growth, corporate succession, innovation management, internationalisation, technology management and corporate strategy. Funding is provided in the form of partial financing for intensive counselling or process support. Funding is available for consultations of up to 25 days (one day comprises 8 hours). The funding rate generally amounts to 50%. Companies can submit several applications for consultancy funding.
Applications are submitted via the Thüringer Aufbaubank online portal. Consultancy funding can be applied to a wide range of business issues. Companies have the opportunity to draw on the support of accredited consultants - such as the EurA AG. These provide support in defining and implementing various measures tailored to their needs in the context of sustainability. This can include the following servicesConserving resources within our planetary boundaries - this preserves our livelihoods and pays off for companies: Resource efficiency makes us more competitive, saves valuable raw materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Good advice on how this can be achieved in your own company is the first step in any process. With GreenInvest Ress, the Thuringian Ministry of the Environment promotes greater resource conservation, from consulting to investment and demonstration projects.
Bernhard Stengele, Thuringian Minister for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation 2023-2024
The Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation is supporting SMEs in Thuringia with a total of 28 million euros through GreenInvest Ress until 2029. The funds will go towards the introduction of resource-conserving and resource-efficient production processes and the realisation of innovative demonstration projects. Against the backdrop of increasing scarcity of raw materials and rising costs, this funding enables companies to position themselves in a more resilient, future-proof and competitive way.
The Thüringer Aufbaubank implements the funding programme. The bank supports companies both in consultancy on resource conservation and in production-related investment and demonstration projects derived from this. The aim of the consultancy support is to improve resource conservation and efficiency and to promote the use of raw materials and materials that meet sustainability criteria, such as the substitution of pollutant-containing resources, the use of recycled and recyclable materials to strengthen the circular economy, the prioritisation of renewable raw materials and the reduction of negative environmental impacts. Depending on the task at hand, the scope of the consultation can comprise up to 15 consultant days and is subsidised by 60%.
At federal level, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) is responsible for implementing the The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action's (BMWK) funding programme for business consultancy for SMEs. Funding is provided for conceptual and individual consultations on all economic, financial, personnel and organisational issues relating to corporate governance. The funding rate and maximum subsidy for Thuringian companies is 80 % or 2,800 euros.
The BMWK also supports the creation of a transformation plan with a maximum grant of 90,000 euros (funding rate of up to 70%) for companies with a permanent establishment or branch in Germany. In particular, this is subsidised by BAFA with Module 5 of the Federal Subsidy for Energy and Resource Efficiency in the Economy (EEW). A transformation plan is the presentation of the longer-term decarbonisation strategy of a company or a company location. It contains a qualitative and quantitative description of the initial situation in relation to a CO2 reduction target as well as possible measures to achieve the CO2 target. You can read more about this here: How to Get the Your CO2 Balance Calculation Funded.
In addition to decarbonisation, the BMWK supports market launch measures, in particular services for the introduction of new products, as part of the "Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand" (ZIM) programme. Subject to the approval of a ZIM R&D project, applications can be submitted flexibly - including during the project - and be submitted up to 18 months after the successful completion of the project. The services include innovation consulting and support, which may also comprise services in the area of sustainability consulting. Up to three applications can be submitted in relation to an R&D project. The funding rate is 50% of the eligible costs amounting to a total of up to 100,000 euros. Read more about this here: New ZIM guideline from 2025: better funding for SMEs.
As part of GreenInvest Ress, Thuringian companies are granted subsidies for investments based on consulting and model projects for the sustainable reduction of resource use through new technologies with a multiplier effect (demonstration projects). A funding rate of up to 60 % and a maximum grant of 300,000 euros or 500,000 euros can be granted for investment and demonstration projects.
Furthermore, the Thuringian InnoInvest programme supports small and medium-sized enterprises with investments in tangible and intangible assets that lead to innovation in the company. The following are eligible for funding:The subsidy amounts to up to 50,000 euros and is possible from an investment sum of at least 20,000 euros.
With the "Federal Funding for Industry and Climate Protection" (BIK) guideline, the BMWK supports climate-friendly industrial investment projects, among other things. The funding programme is intended to help support the implementation of climate protection measures, drive forward the transformation and achieve national and European climate protection targets in the industrial sector. SMEs and large companies are eligible to apply. The maximum funding amounts to up to 200 million euros per company, depending on the module. You can read more about this here: Federal funding for industry and climate protection (BIK).
At European level, the Innovation Fund programme is intended to help drive forward the implementation of European climate policy. The focus is on investing in innovative technologies that significantly advance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. With a budget of at least €40 billion between 2020 and 2030, the funding instrument is one of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The funding rate for demonstration projects with durations between 3 and 15 years is 60 % of the relevant costs. Project sizes (CAPEX) may amount to between 2.5 and 100 million euros, depending on the selected call. You can read more about this here: Innovation Fund - everything you need to know about the funding programme.
LIFE (L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environnement), the European Union's environmental financing instrument, has a budget of 5.4 billion euros available for the implementation of various measures in biodiversity, environmental and climate protection with funding rates of 60% (for standard action projects, SAP) in the 2021 to 2027 programme period. LIFE is divided into two areas and four sub-programmes:
Start-ups, SMEs, large companies, NGOs and public institutions that want to test innovative and environmentally friendly processes, services or products as part of a pilot project or demonstrate them as a best practice project in Europe are eligible to apply. Read more about this here: Bringing green innovations to LIFE
Other programmes can be analysed individually depending on the subject area (energy, climate protection, biodiversity, mobility, etc.).
For companies in the region, the combination of technology, funding and sustainability consulting provided by EurA AG Thüringen offers an ideal opportunity to develop and successfully implement sustainable strategies. Our consulting services start at an early stage in order to develop viable concepts from ideas and derive the appropriate funding measures. Thanks to our established strategic processes, we can significantly reduce the bureaucratic and time-consuming process.
With the proper support, companies can not only achieve their ecological goals efficiently, but also secure their market position and competitiveness. In view of rising costs and tax burdens, it is worth making targeted use of available subsidies in order to realise sustainable investments economically. Innovative and sustainable companies benefit from these measures in the long term.
Let our sustainability experts advise you. We will navigate you safely and purposefully through the regional funding landscape so that you can shape your path to greater sustainability efficiently and cost-effectively.
The EurA AG branch in Thuringia, with offices in Erfurt and Suhl, is there for you.
Text: Dr. Denise Ott
EurA AG
T- 079619256-0Max-Eyth-Straße 2
73479 Ellwangen
info@eura-ag.com