The Environmental Innovation Programme (Umweltinnovationsprogramm) by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) supports large-scale pilot projects that implement innovative technological processes aimed at reducing environmental pollution. These projects must demonstrate for the first time a technology that goes beyond the current state-of-the-art or a novel combination of technologies, and must be implemented in Germany. The programme’s goal is to promote sustainable industrial innovation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 9, 12 and 13).

Funding is offered either as an investment grant or as an interest subsidy for a loan refinanced by KfW. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may receive up to 30% of eligible project costs as a grant, with a maximum of 7.500.000 Euro. The programme also covers costs such as installation, commissioning, and performance measurements related to the pilot. Eligible areas include wastewater treatment, air pollution control, resource and energy efficiency, circular economy, and climate change mitigation. Projects must meet strict requirements in terms of innovation, transferability, and ecological benefit, and must not have started before the funding decision is made. Applications follow a two-step procedure starting with a project outline submission.