Overall Description

This funding topic supports innovative solutions that reduce raw-material and material consumption and minimise harmful emissions throughout the product life cycle. It focuses on resource-efficient production processes, advanced materials, surface technologies and circular-economy solutions.

Particular emphasis is placed on pre-competitive development projects led by small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as practical research and educational projects that deliver holistic, exemplary and transferable solutions.

Funding Amount

• Typical DBU funding per project: €100,000–€400,000, excluding the applicant’s own contribution.
• Maximum per project: No fixed maximum; funding is determined individually.
• Funding instrument: Earmarked, non-repayable grant.
• Co-financing: Applicants must generally provide and document an own contribution.
• Indicative funding rate: Cost-based funding is usually approximately 50%.
  • Companies generally contribute 75% of development-related project costs and 50% of research-related project costs. More favourable rates may apply to SMEs and cooperation projects.
• Grants up to €175,000 are approved by the DBU Secretary General. Larger grants require additional assessment and approval by the DBU Board of Trustees.

Submission Deadlines

• Deadline: No fixed deadline; project outlines and applications may be submitted at any time.
• Early submission is recommended because funding is competitive.
• Indicative assessment period: approximately four to six months for complete applications not requiring additional clarification or external review.

Submission Conditions

• Applications normally follow a two-stage procedure:
  1. Submission of a project outline through the DBU online portal, normally 3–10 pages.
  2. Submission of a complete funding application, normally around 20 pages, following an invitation from DBU.
• Applications and project reports must generally be submitted in German.
• Projects must be innovative, exemplary, environmentally beneficial and practically implementable.
• Industrial projects should normally concern pre-competitive development rather than routine investment or market launch.
• Proposed solutions should take a holistic approach and demonstrate model and transfer potential.
• Projects must not begin before DBU approval unless early commencement has been expressly authorised.
• Applicants must generally provide an own contribution and document total project expenditure.
• Cooperation projects require a joint application and a separate cost plan for each partner.
• Typical project duration is 18–36 months; longer projects are considered only in justified exceptional cases.
• Compliance with DBU funding guidelines and applicable EU State aid rules is required.
• Pure investment projects, projects limited to market launch and basic research without practical implementation potential are excluded.
• Studies without a concrete implementation component and projects already started are also not eligible.

Eligible Types of Businesses

Funding is generally available to legal entities, including:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises – a particular focus of this topic.
• Other companies.
• Manufacturing and processing businesses.
• Material and surface-technology developers.
• Recycling and circular-economy companies.
• Universities and higher-education institutions.
• Scientific and research institutions.
• Associations and non-profit organisations.
• Educational and vocational-training institutions.
• Municipalities and other local authorities.
• Other legally constituted organisations.

Natural persons and state institutions may be supported in individual cases following a separate assessment.

Eligible Countries

• Primary eligible country:
  • Germany
• International projects:
  • Limited funding is available for international projects, primarily in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
  • Projects outside these regions may be considered individually.
  • International projects must primarily be implemented abroad and substantially involve local partners.
  • DBU particularly supports cooperation between a German applicant and local international partners.