This programme belongs primarily to the programme family. It is designed for existing small and medium-sized enterprises as well as freelance professionals.
Aim
Individual projects: This programme is designed as a two- stage procedure and aims to support small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) in Berlin to open up new markets. Joint projects: The programme is to support SMEs in open- ing up new markets. This involves supporting companies in the form of services by third parties who, in their capacity as an intermediary organisation, are eligible to funds from this programme.
Who
Individual projects: Support is to be provided in particular to companies oper- ating in the competence fields of Berlin’s economic policy. Applications can also be submitted by SMEs in the manu- facturing sector, production-related service companies and commercial firms in the tourism sector (incoming business). Eligible companies are non-affiliated companies based in Berlin or operating a facility in Berlin with a staff of no more than 250 and previous year’s sales of no more than EUR 50 million or a balance-sheet sum of up to EUR 43 million and which are not owned (capital or voting shares) more than 25% by one or more companies that fail to fulfil these criteria (exception: public investment or venture capital companies, as well as institutional investors). Joint projects: Business-near institutions based in Berlin can also apply for subsidies for the organisation and implementation of joint projects for a group of companies that fulfil the SME crite- ria. These include, in particular, chambers, associations and other business promotion organisation pursuing activities throughout the federal land. Partners who have no operating facility in the subsidy zone or who fail to fulfil the SME criteria can co-operate in joint projects. However, they do not receive any support under this guideline.What
Individual projects: Subsidies are granted for projects which support the first-time market entry of SMEs as well as the networking of companies in order to make up for structural competitive disadvantages. Subsidies are granted within the scope of a two-stage proce- dure which initially provides support for the establishment of a sensible strategic overall concept for opening up a new mar- ket (maximum of five consultant’s days, each subsidised with EUR 500) and subsequently accompanies the implementation of the concept with individual measures. These measures can, in particular, be the following:Consulting and coaching for specialists and executives: Subsidies are granted for consultancy and training services for specialists and executives for internal measures at com- panies related to commercial, technical, financial, human-re- sources and organisation-related problems of the company’s management which are designed to increase performance and competitiveness of existing businesses within the scope of opening up new markets and which clearly stand out against day-to-day business activities (maximum of 20 con- sultant days, maximum subsidy of EUR 6,000).
Activities aimed at opening up markets in Germany and
abroad: Within the scope of the implementation of the over-
all strategic concept, external services related to the follow- ing individual measures qualify especially for subsidies:
• participation in technical congresses, co-operation and supplier exchanges as well as delegation trips (maximum subsidy of EUR 5,000);
• first-time individual and joint participation in supra- regional trade fairs and exhibitions. In the event that a joint trade fair booth already exists for a trade fair or exhi- bition according to the federal land’s trade fair programme, individual subsidising is not possible. No subsidy is avail- able for projects for which subsidies are available from pro- grammes by the federal government (such as the federal trade fair programme: www.auma-messen.de). Subsidies are available to cover the costs of renting, setting up and operating the trade fair booth up to the amount of EUR 15,000 per event and company.
Development of concepts for co-operation and networking as well as measures aimed at opening up markets;
Feasibility studies;
Employment of a qualified professional assistant for inter- cultural and/or foreign trade management as a “foreign trade consultant” in order to develop new international busi- ness relations for Berlin-based companies; the gross salary of the employee as agreed to in the assistant’s employment contract is eligible for subsidy. The allowance totals 50% of the costs eligible for subsidy, however, limited to a maximum sum of EUR 20,000 p.a. Amount of allowance: up to 50% of the expenditure eligible for subsidy; maximum allowance of EUR 70,000 per subsi- dised company within a maximum of three years.
This programme is co-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund/ ERDF, refer to pages 136 and following).
Joint projects:
The following projects are supported which boost suprare- gional and international activities by Berlin-based companies: General company presentations: Subsidies are available for
projects, including upstream and downstream measures, which benefit companies opening up a new market, such as:
• delegation trips (such as organisation, interpretation ser- vices, preparation),
• international co-operation exchanges,
• industry presentations (company and location presenta- tions),
• market entry competitions.
Trade fair participation at joint booths: Subsidies are avail- able for the planning and implementation of joint and infor- mation booths at trade fairs, exhibitions and other business- related events of supraregional importance in Germany and abroad which were selected by the Senate department in charge of business on a recommendation by the “Opening up new markets” advisory board (refer to the federal land trade fair programme). A uniform presentation of the capi- tal city region must be ensured during preparation and im- plementation (refer to the leaflet which can be downloaded from IBB’s website).
Allowances for a joint project can total up to 100% (max- imum of EUR 100,000) of the total expenditure eligible for subsidy. The allowance is granted as compensation for the costs incurred during the performance of joint projects. The applicant’s contribution, which may be required and which can also consist of payments by participating com- panies, may not be financed from other public subsidy pro- grammes.
How
Formal applications; proof of fund application on comple- tion of the measure
Applications must be submitted to IBB using the UPLOAD procedure at least four weeks before the measure commenc- es.
Applications and rules can be downloaded from: www.ibb. de/NME.
This programme is subject to de-minimis rules (refer to page 140).