Competence through Further Training KdW Open
The "Competence through Further Training" (KdW) program in Saarland supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a business establishment in Saarland in financing further training and qualification measures for their employees. This program, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), offers financial grants to strengthen the performance and competitiveness of Saarland SMEs through targeted personnel development and to address the challenges of demographics, digitalization, and decarbonization.
Who is funded
This funding program explicitly targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a business establishment in Saarland. The aim is to support these companies in improving the qualifications of their employees through external further training measures, thereby maintaining and increasing their performance and competitiveness.
What is funded
The "Competence through Further Training" (KdW) funding program supports specific external further training measures and qualifications for employees of SMEs in Saarland. The funded content must be relevant to the company's activities and deepen or expand existing knowledge. Certain types of training and costs are excluded from funding.
Type and Scope of Funding
The KdW funding program offers financial grants for further training costs. The funding amount is 40% of the seminar costs per employee, limited to a maximum amount, and the total funding sum per SME per year varies depending on company size. The funding is provided as a non-repayable grant.
Conditions and Requirements
To participate in the KdW program, certain legal and formal requirements must be met, including compliance with EU state aid rules and specific requirements for further training measures. There are no consortium requirements, as individual companies are funded.
Application Procedure
The application procedure for the KdW program is two-stage and is handled via the KdW Service Center. Companies must first register online and prove their SME status before they can submit applications for specific further training measures. Approval is granted after the KdW Service Center verifies the funding requirements, which also handles the disbursement of grants.
Legal Basis
The legal basis for the "Competence through Further Training" (KdW) program is formed by the guidelines for implementation in the ESF+ funding period 2021–2027, based on the Saarland budget ordinance and specific EU regulations, particularly concerning structural fund support and state aid.
Funding Overview
Maximum Amount:
2,000 € per employee. The maximum funding amount per SME per year is: micro-enterprises 20,000 €, small enterprises 100,000 €, medium-sized enterprises 250,000 €.
Deadline:
always open
Open Until:
31.12.2027
Award Channel:
Demand Driven Scheme
Region:
Saarland (Germany)
Funding Stages:
Capacity Building
Funding Provider
Program Level: Regional
Funding Body: Ministry for Economy, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy (MWIDE)
Managed By: KdW Service Center c/o Institute for Technology Transfer at Saarland University of Applied Sciences gGmbH (FITT)