Federal Model Project Companies in Coal Regions

This funding program is aimed at natural and legal persons domiciled in the defined lignite mining regions. It particularly supports companies, municipal institutions, universities, and research institutions that wish to contribute to regional structural change with innovative model projects. The funding aims to strengthen the competitiveness and economic location in the affected regions and to create new perspectives for employment and value creation.

The Federal Model Project 'Companies in Coal Regions' funds innovative and exemplary projects that drive structural change in the lignite mining regions. Both investment and non-investment individual and collaborative projects are supported. Eligible expenses include personnel and material costs, external consulting services, and measures for networking and communication. Projects should pursue new approaches and have a direct link to economic development and structural change.

The Federal Model Project 'Companies in Coal Regions' provides non-repayable grants. The funding rate can be up to 90 percent of eligible expenses. For individual projects, a maximum grant of 300,000 Euros is provided, while collaborative projects can receive up to 1.2 million Euros. The project duration is limited to a maximum of four years.

The funding is linked to various conditions, including budgetary regulations and compliance with the de minimis rule. Projects must make a recognizable contribution to structural change and may not begin before approval. There are specific rules for cumulation with other aid and increased value thresholds for procurement procedures.

The application procedure for the Federal Model Project 'Companies in Coal Regions' is two-stage and based on idea and project competitions. Interested parties first submit project outlines, which are evaluated by a jury. If positively assessed, applicants are invited to submit a formal grant application. The selection of projects is based on the Regional Investment Concepts (RIK) of the respective regions.

The Federal Model Project 'Companies in Coal Regions' is based on the guideline of March 22, 2024, for the promotion of structural adjustment measures in lignite mining regions. It is subject to the provisions of the Federal Budget Code and the EU De minimis Regulation, which set the framework for program implementation and aid allocation. The Regional Investment Concepts (RIK) serve as the central decision-making basis on site.