Funding of projects for the optimization of operational resource efficiency and the promotion of the circular economy (Guidelines "Operational Resource Efficiency")
Grants for Lower Saxony SMEs to increase resource efficiency and promote the circular economy: investments in machinery and equipment as well as studies and idea competitions. ERDF share up to 60%, total funding up to 80%.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as research institutions in Lower Saxony in investments aimed at the efficient use of materials and resources, redesign of products and production chains, as well as the conception and implementation of studies and idea competitions focusing on SMEs to promote the circular economy and increase operational resource efficiency.
Eligible expenses
- Investments in machinery and equipment
- Redesign of products and production chains
- Costs for studies and idea competitions
- Consulting costs
Non-eligible expenses
- Interest on debt
- Land acquisition
- Value-added tax, if deductible as input tax
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Operating site in Lower Saxony
- EU SME definition
- For studies: proof of cooperation with Lower Saxony SMEs and professional expertise
- For investment projects: expert opinion from a consulting firm on resource and material efficiency
- Overall financing of the project demonstrated
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Documents required for application
- Application via NBank customer portal
- Expert report on technical feasibility
- Proof of cooperation with SMEs (for studies)
- Letters of intent from Lower Saxony SMEs (for studies)
- Overall financing plan
Evaluation criteria
- Quality of the overall concept
- Company size
- Material savings in CO₂ equivalents
- Degree of innovation
- Cooperation approach
- Sustainability aspects
- Equality and good work
Description
The Investment and Development Bank of Lower Saxony (NBank) supports micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as university and non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony in projects aimed at increasing operational resource efficiency and promoting the circular economy. Funding is provided for investments in equipment and machinery for efficient material and resource use, as well as for the redesign of products and production chains. Research institutions receive grants for the conception and implementation of studies and idea competitions with a focus on SMEs. The funding is provided as a non-repayable grant; the ERDF share amounts to up to 60% of eligible expenses in the “transition region” program area and 40% in the “more developed region” program area. With supplementary state funds, funding rates of up to 80% can be achieved. Grants amount to a maximum of €1 million for investment projects and €100,000 for studies and competitions.
A prerequisite for application is the existence of a business location in Lower Saxony as well as compliance with the EU SME definition. Investment projects must be accompanied by an expert report on technical feasibility; study and competition projects require proof of cooperation with Lower Saxony SMEs. Furthermore, overall financing must be secured, and for infrastructure investments, a binding period of five years must be observed. Applications are to be submitted twice a year via the NBank customer portal. The evaluation criteria include the quality of the overall concept, degree of innovation, material savings in CO₂ equivalents, cooperation approach, as well as sustainability aspects and equal opportunities. The guideline is published in the Official Gazette of the State of Lower Saxony and provides companies in Lower Saxony with transparent funding conditions for the sustainable increase of resource efficiency.
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