Potential Consulting in the Manufacturing Industry and in Production-Related Service Sectors
The state of Berlin grants small and medium-sized enterprises in Berlin a subsidy of 50% (up to €8,000) for external consulting services to optimize work organization, business processes, and innovation capacity. Applications can be submitted at any time before the start of the consulting.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of the use of external consulting services in SMEs of the manufacturing industry, production-related service sector, digital economy, and crafts based in Berlin, in order to optimize work organization and business processes, accelerate innovation processes, strengthen competitiveness, and secure jobs.
Eligible expenses
- Consulting fees (honorarium)
Non-eligible expenses
- Travel and incidental expenses
- Value-added tax
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- EU SME definition with registered office and place of business in Berlin
- Exception: Banks, insurance companies, and financial service providers are not eligible for funding
- Company has been in existence for more than 3 years
- Registration in the Transparency Database of the State of Berlin prior to application
- Application to be submitted jointly by management and employee representation; basic consultation must have already been conducted for development consulting
Documents required for application
- Application for potential consulting
- Potential Consulting Guideline (PDF)
- Offers from at least two consultants
- De-minimis declaration
- Consulting proof (Annex 3)
- Consulting report
- Original invoice(s)
- Proof of payment(s)
Description
With financial support of up to €8,000 per consulting module, the State of Berlin enables small and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry, production-related service companies, the digital economy, and crafts to engage external experts in order to sustainably optimize work organization and business processes. The funding covers 50% of the pure consulting costs and can be modularly divided into a basic and a subsequent advanced consulting phase. In doing so, the companies undergo a systematic analysis of internal corporate potentials, the development of tailored action proposals, as well as support during the initial implementation steps. The goal is to accelerate innovation processes, strengthen competitiveness, and secure jobs in the capital region in the long term.
Eligible to apply are the management together with employee representatives of SMEs based in Berlin that have existed for at least three years and meet the EU SME definition – banks, insurance companies, and financial service providers are excluded. Prior to the start of funding, registration in the transparency database of the State of Berlin is required. The application must include, among other documents, three consultant offers, a De-minimis declaration, as well as proof of the company’s legal form and history. Submission can be made at any time before the start of consulting via one of the authorized agencies (IG Metall Berlin, VME, or the Berlin Chamber of Crafts). After completion and submission of the consulting report along with original invoices and payment proofs, the grant is paid out by official notice. This funding instrument supports SMEs in preparing for future market demands and sustainably unlocking their development potential.