Funding within the framework of the Market Development Program for SMEs

The Market Development Program (MEP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action supports small and medium-sized enterprises, self-employed individuals, and members of the liberal professions in the commercial sector as well as business-related service providers based in Germany in systematically exploring new foreign markets nationwide. The program aims to strengthen the international competitiveness of German SMEs and establish sustainable sales channels. To this end, thematic information events, market exploration trips, trade fairs, business initiation activities, information trips for foreign buyers, webinars, and sourcing tours are offered. Additionally, the "Joint Project" module enables a collaborative market expansion, where several companies cooperate and travel multiple times to the target market over the course of a year, participating in the BMWK’s foreign trade fair program.

Funding is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant and depends on the respective measure; travel costs, accommodation, and meals are borne by the participants themselves. A prerequisite is that the de minimis threshold of EUR 300,000 within three years is not exceeded and that the company is classified as an SME according to the EU definition. Selection is based on the marketability of the products or services and the demand in the target country. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis directly through the responsible project sponsors. The MEP offers efficient and practical support to establish business contacts, analyze market structures, and thus enable sustainable market entry into diverse target regions.