Saarland Regional Funding Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Commercial Sector

This funding program of Saarland is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector. The funding is geographically limited to specific parts of the St. Wendel district and the Saarpfalz district. The main goals are to strengthen the competitiveness and adaptability of these companies, as well as to create and secure permanent jobs, in order to support structural change and employment in the Saarland economy.

The Regional Funding Program supports a variety of investment projects by SMEs aimed at promoting growth and structural changes. These include the establishment or expansion of business premises and the diversification of production. The modernization of production processes and the acquisition of closed business premises can also be funded. The funding is directed at specific tangible and intangible fixed assets but excludes replacement investments and the acquisition of land and certain vehicles. The projects must also represent a special effort on the part of the applicant, which is demonstrated either by the investment volume or the creation of jobs.

The Saarland Regional Funding Program offers financial support in the form of grants. The amount of funding is staggered according to company size, with higher funding rates for small companies. There is a maximum funding amount per project and a de minimis threshold for eligible costs. Funded projects must be completed within a fixed period, with extensions possible under certain circumstances. In addition, an own contribution to the financing of the project is required.

To receive funding, applicants must meet a range of conditions, from application submission to project implementation. These include specific requirements for ensuring overall financing, compliance with state aid regulations such as de minimis rules, and the creation or securing of jobs. The use of temporary workers is also regulated. The funded assets are subject to a retention period, and there are maximum limits for investment sums per job created or secured.

The application for the Saarland Regional Funding Program must be submitted in due form and completely to the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy before the start of the investment project. The start of work is clearly defined to ensure eligibility for funding. The decision on funding is made at the discretion of the granting authority, with various criteria such as spatial planning and job effects being reviewed.

The Saarland Regional Funding Program is based on a specific guideline from May 2022 and is embedded in a comprehensive legal framework that includes both state and EU law. It is subject to the provisions of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), the De minimis Regulation, and the Federal Regulation on Small Aid 2020. The Administrative Regulations on the Saarland Budget Code and the Subsidy Act also regulate the granting and review of grants.