SME Funding (SME Guideline) Closed
With the SME Guideline, the Free State of Saxony funded individual company and inter-company projects to improve the performance and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The program offered grants and loans for areas such as short-term and operational consulting, environmental management, market introduction of innovative products, and projects with model character. It aimed to support growth, innovation, internationalization, and digitalization within Saxon SMEs.
Who is funded
This guideline primarily targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commercial sector and members of liberal professions with a registered office or permanent establishment in the Free State of Saxony. Additionally, agricultural enterprises, chambers, associations, universities, and municipalities can submit applications. The aim is to improve the performance and competitiveness of the Saxon economy and to support business start-ups.
What is funded
The SME funding of the Free State of Saxony supports a variety of projects to strengthen corporate performance. These include consulting services in various areas such as operational consulting, environmental management, and short consulting, as well as projects for the market introduction of innovative products and overarching projects with model character. The specific funding items and exclusions are defined depending on the individual program.
Type and Extent of Funding
Funding is primarily granted as a subsidy, although loans or a combination are also possible for the market introduction of innovative products. The amount of the grant and the funding rate vary depending on the individual program and the nature of the project to meet the specific needs of the projects.
Conditions and Requirements
Various legal and organizational conditions must be observed for utilizing the funding. These include state aid requirements such as the De minimis Regulation and the General Block Exemption Regulation, minimum expenses for projects, as well as specific requirements for the independence of service providers and compliance with documentation obligations.
Application Procedure
The application procedure takes place in several steps, starting with the application to Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB). There is the option to submit applications directly to the approving authority or through a quality assurance provider, especially for consulting services. SAB makes decisions on eligibility and merits at its discretion.
Legal Basis
The SME funding of the Free State of Saxony is based on a specific guideline and is legitimized by various state and EU regulations. These legal bases ensure compliance with state aid law and adherence to budgetary regulations to ensure transparent and legally sound allocation of funding.
Funding Overview
Maximum Amount:
2,000,000 EUR
Open Until:
30.06.2024
Award Channel:
Demand Driven Scheme
Region:
Saxony (Germany)
Sectors:
Agriculture and Agribusiness, Service Sector, Research and Development, Environmental and Climate Protection, Information and Communication Technology, Creative Industries
Beneficiaries:
SMEs in commercial business, liberal professions, agricultural enterprises
Funding Stages:
Basic Research, Applied Research, Experimental Development, Feasibility Study, Market Introduction, Commercialization, Planning, Implementation, Capacity Building, Process Optimization, Other
Funding Provider
Program Level: Regional
Funding Body: Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport (SMWA)
Managed By: Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank – (SAB)
Additional Partners: Ellipsis Gesellschaft für Unternehmensentwicklung mbH (Quality Assurance Provider), RKW Sachsen GmbH (Quality Assurance Provider)