Development of New Technologies in the Skilled Crafts Sector (Handwerk Innovativ)

The "Handwerk Innovativ" funding program is aimed at cooperation partners in the skilled crafts sector in Bavaria. It supports collaborative projects between craft organizations with a registered office, operating facility, or branch in Bavaria and research institutions, to strengthen the competitiveness of craft businesses through the integration of new technologies. The funding is designed for non-economic activities and aims to ensure technology transfer.

The "Handwerk Innovativ" program promotes innovative research and development projects in the field of applied research that develop new technologies for the skilled crafts sector. This includes specific subject areas such as digital automation, the integration of new production processes, and the development of digitally supported services, with only direct project-related personnel and material costs being eligible for funding.

Funding is provided in the form of grants or budgetary allocations for non-economic activities. The funding intensity varies depending on the type of applying institution, with university-affiliated research institutions able to receive up to 100 percent of eligible expenditures. For funding, the total project expenditures must be at least 50,000 Euros, and the maximum project duration is limited to three years.

Specific conditions must be met for funding, including focusing on non-economic activities and demonstrating a verifiable level of innovation according to the OECD Oslo Manual. Cooperation agreements are mandatory, and certain state aid and budgetary provisions apply. Additionally, own funds must be utilized, and the results must be made publicly accessible.

The application for the "Handwerk Innovativ" program is form-bound and can be submitted electronically, with craft organizations coordinating and submitting the applications bundled. The competent district government is the granting authority, which decides on the applications and disburses the funds.

The "Handwerk Innovativ" funding program is based on the guidelines for the implementation of the Bavarian funding program for the development of new technologies in the skilled crafts sector, which were issued by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. These guidelines are aligned with the general budgetary provisions of Bavaria and the EU Framework for State Aid for Research, Development and Innovation.