Innovative Shipbuilding Secures Competitive Jobs
Funding of shipbuilding innovation measures for shipyards in Germany with grants up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications must be submitted to BAFA before the project starts.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for innovation measures in shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship conversion for self-propelled merchant ships as well as offshore structures, aimed at developing and applying new standard ship types, components, and processes.
Eligible expenses
- Costs for product innovations and process development
- Costs for the application of innovative procedures
- Personnel costs
- Material and external service costs
Non-eligible expenses
- Multiple funding of components or processes
- Costs incurred before the application submission (except feasibility studies)
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Permanent establishment or branch in the Federal Republic of Germany
- Shipyard or affiliated company holds more than 25% of the shares
- Implement innovation project for the first time in the European Union
- Submit application before the start of the project
Documents required for application
- Form A
- Form B/S, B/K, B/VE or B/VA
- Form A/G
- Form D
- Form E
- Expert Opinion
- Shipbuilding Contract/Contract Proof
- Financing Concept/Financing Plan
Evaluation criteria
- Degree of innovation of the shipbuilding measure
- Economic performance of the company
- Proof of incentive effect
- Binding period for procedural innovations
Description
The funding program “Innovative Shipbuilding Secures Competitive Jobs” supports nationally operating shipyards and their subsidiaries in the development and application of groundbreaking innovations in shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship conversion of self-propelled commercial vessels and offshore structures. Funding is provided for prototypes of new standard ship types and offshore structures, novel components and systems that can be used as separable ship parts, as well as research and implementation of innovative processes in planning, manufacturing, logistics, and material supply chains. Grants cover up to 50% of eligible costs – from personnel and material costs to external service costs and expenses for product and process innovations – and amount to a maximum of €15 million per project (up to €7.5 million for process applications). A prerequisite is a business establishment in Germany, a first proof of innovation within the EU, and the application submitted to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) before the project starts. Assessments by independent experts evaluate the degree of innovation, economic viability, and incentive effect, ensuring the correct allocation of expenditures.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy thus purposefully promotes the competitiveness of the maritime sector and sustainably strengthens the preservation and expansion of maritime jobs. Eligible companies must demonstrate a viable source of funds in the financing plan, prove the novelty compared to the state of the art in a qualified expert report, and document successful completion in the usage report. Cooperation between large companies with at least 30% cost participation by SMEs is mandatory for process applications. The program runs until June 30, 2027, enabling continuous innovation impulses in German shipbuilding – from prototype construction to series-ready process introduction. Interested companies submit their funding applications timely and completely to BAFA, thereby making a decisive contribution to forward-looking shipbuilding processes.
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