NRW Innovation Loan
More information
Aim and Object
In cooperation with the NRW.BANK and KfW Mittelstandsbank, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports the innovative activities of SMEs in NRW.
The following measures are co-financed:
- Inclusion of new, technologically advanced products into the production programme;
- Introduction of new, technologically advanced production processes,
- Significant improvement in existing products and processes.
Eligible to apply
Eligible to apply are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accordance with the SME Definition by the EU.
Enterprises from the fisheries/aquaculture and agricultural primary production sectors as well as enterprises in economic difficulties as defined by the guidelines of the EU are excluded from this support.
Preconditions
Investment plans must have a good prospect of sustained commercial success and their total financing must be secured. The investment location must be in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The plan must be of a new kind for the enterprise supported. Pure replacement investments are excluded from support.
The investments are to be made in forward-looking fields of technology, such as new production technologies, new materials, medical technology, environment, energy, micro/nanotechnologies and optotechnologies.
Type and amount of support
The support is provided in the form of a low-interest loan.
The amount of the loan is between 25,000 and five million euros, with a maximum limit of 90% of the eligible expenditure.
Interest rate: see current conditions
Application procedure
Applications must be made before commencement of the project, using the application forms provided, through the borrower's own bank. The bank then passes applications to:
NRW.BANK
Kavalleriestrasse 22
40213 Düsseldorf
Internet: http://www.nrwbank.de
Advice Centre Rhineland (Beratungscenter Rheinland)
Tel. (02 11) 9 17 41-48 00
Fax (02 11) 9 17 41-92 19
E-mail: info-rheinland@nrwbank.de
Advice Centre Westphalia (Beratungscenter Westfalen)
Tel. (02 51) 9 17 41-48 00
Fax (02 51) 9 17 41-26 66
E-mail: info-westfalen@nrwbank.de
Source
Info sheet of the NRW.BANK, March 2009; Circular letter from the NRW.BANK dated 25 March 2009.
Important note
The support is provided as a de minimis grant.