SME Promotion – B.III.2 – Model Projects

The funding program targets various Saxon actors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), chambers, associations, universities, municipalities, and natural persons with their main residence in Saxony. The goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of the Saxon economy and improve location conditions for businesses and start-ups in the Free State.

The funding program supports a variety of measures aimed at improving the performance of Saxon SMEs. These include application-oriented studies, consulting services in areas such as business management, environmental management and digitalization, as well as the market introduction of innovative products and the development of international markets.

The program primarily offers grants, but in certain cases also loans or a combination of both. The funding amount varies depending on the specific measure, with maximum limits set per project, calendar year, or over several years.

This program sets specific requirements for applicants and projects, including adequate self-participation, timely application before project commencement, and compliance with state aid regulations such as the De-minimis Regulation and the General Block Exemption Regulation. There are also provisions regarding the independence of service providers and the documentation of measures.

The application for funding must be submitted to the Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank – (SAB) before the start of the project. The SAB reviews eligibility and decides on fundability. Quality assurance providers can support the process, but are not mandatory.

The funding program is based on the guideline of the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport for SME promotion, supplemented by various budgetary, European, and national regulations. There is no legal entitlement to the grants; the decision lies at the discretion of the granting authority.