progres.nrw – Program for Rational Energy Use, Renewable Energies, and Energy Saving – Innovation Program Area
State funding program for application-oriented energy efficiency, climate protection, and research projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant covering 15% to 80% of eligible expenses. Currently, no applications can be submitted.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The objective of the Innovation program area within progres.nrw is to support industrial research and experimental development as well as demonstration and pilot projects aimed at efficient energy use, the expansion of renewable energies, sector coupling (electricity, heat, mobility), digitalization in the energy sector, and the reduction of climate-damaging and environmentally harmful emissions. This is complemented by feasibility studies, infrastructure projects, network and cluster formations, as well as process innovations and sprint projects.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Equipment and devices
- Contract research, consulting, and services
- Travel expenses
- General and operating expenses
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Non-eligible expenses
- Repair or spare parts procurement
- Legally mandated or officially ordered measures
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Public Institutions
- Educational Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
Funding requirements
- Permanent establishment or branch in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Preferably cooperative projects
- Innovative character of the project
- More than 50% of expenses in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Companies in difficulty are excluded
Documents required for application
- progres.nrw Guideline – Innovation (PDF)
- Application Documents and Attachments (ZIP)
- Project Outline Template
- Project Outline Structure
Evaluation criteria
- Degree of innovation of the project
- Relevance to the state's energy and climate policy objectives
- Technical and economic feasibility
- Cooperative nature and consortium structure
Description
progres.nrw – Innovation Program Area supports application-oriented energy efficiency, climate protection, and research projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. The state funding program is aimed at legal entities under public and private law with a place of business or branch in NRW, including companies (SMEs and large enterprises), universities, research institutions, municipalities, associations, and clubs. The objective is industrial research and experimental development as well as demonstration and pilot projects for rational energy use, expansion of renewable energies, sector coupling of electricity, heat, and mobility, digitalization in the energy sector, and the reduction of climate- and environmentally harmful emissions. Feasibility studies, infrastructure projects, network and cluster formations, process innovations, and so-called sprint projects are also funded.
As a non-repayable grant, the program covers 15% to 80% of eligible expenses, whereby universities and research institutions can receive up to 100% for non-economic projects. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, equipment and apparatus, contract research, consulting and services, travel, as well as general and operating expenses and investments; excluded are repair or spare parts procurement and legally mandated measures. Requirements include, among others, a clear innovation character, project implementation with more than 50% of expenditures in NRW, and preferably collaborative partnerships, including cross-border cooperation. Evaluation criteria include the degree of innovation, relevance to energy and climate policy state goals, technical and economic feasibility, as well as consortium structure. Submission of applications is currently not possible; however, it is planned to accept outlines until June 30, 2027.