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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, the Berliner InvestitionsBONUS, aims to provide financial incentives to Berlin-based businesses, including small, medium, and large enterprises, as well as sole proprietors and freelancers. Its core objective is to support necessary future-oriented investments that enhance competitiveness, create or preserve jobs, and contribute to the economic future of Berlin. The grant places a significant emphasis on promoting sustainable investment measures.

Financial Structure

Funding Amounts:
Minimum Eligible Project Costs: The total eligible investment costs for a project must be at least €5,000 net.
Minimum Individual Invoice: Individual invoices for funded items must be at least €500 net, unless they are part of a larger overall investment that meets the project minimum.
Grant Type: The funding consists of non-repayable subsidies ('nicht rückzahlbare Zuschüsse').
Funding Limits and Rates per Aid Regime: The specific funding rate and maximum grant amount depend on the EU state aid regime under which the company is funded:
De-minimis Regime:
- Funding Rate: 30% of eligible costs.
- Maximum Grant: Up to €200,000 per company over a rolling three-fiscal-year period (this includes any sustainability bonus).
AGVO Article 17 (for SMEs):
- Funding Rate: Small enterprises receive 15% of eligible costs; medium enterprises receive 5% of eligible costs.
- Maximum Grant: Up to €7.5 million per company and project (this includes any sustainability bonus).
- Note: Intangible assets must remain capitalized for at least three years.
AGVO Article 14 (for Large Enterprises in C-Funding Areas):
- Funding Rate: 5% of eligible costs (only possible if the sustainability bonus is also granted, i.e., sustainability is mandatory).
- Maximum Grant: Limited by an 'adjusted maximum aid intensity' (calculated based on €100 million in eligible costs).
- Note: Investments must be maintained for at least five years after completion, and SaaS rental costs are not eligible under this regime.
Sustainability Bonus: An additional 5% funding rate is available for particularly sustainable investments (see 'Evaluation Criteria' for details), applicable to all aid regimes.
Co-financing Requirements: Applicants must provide an 'Eigenbeitrag' (own contribution) of at least 25% of the total eligible project costs.
Eligible Costs:
Activatable costs of physical assets (e.g., plants, machinery, operating and business equipment).
Mobile assets that are used exclusively within Berlin.
Activatable intangible assets (e.g., software licenses, patents, operating licenses, patented and non-patented technical knowledge), provided they are activated, depreciable, acquired from a third party at market conditions, and used exclusively within the funded Berlin operating establishment.
Costs for rented or leased assets, specifically those structured as finance leasing agreements where the maintenance risk lies with the lessee and an acquisition option exists at the end of the term, with the asset being activated by the applicant at contract signing.
Rental costs for 'Software as a Service' (SaaS) used in the operating establishment (only eligible under the De-minimis regime).
Eligible acquisition costs for assets when taking over a closed or threatened operating establishment (up to market price; previously funded assets must be deducted).
Ineligible Costs:
Internal personnel and administrative expenses, as well as cash payments.
Assets acquired from affiliated companies.
Measures already supported by other EU, federal, or Berlin state funding programs.
Costs for replacement or supplementary acquisitions (with limited exceptions for used goods, e.g., for SMEs in the founding phase or business takeovers, provided they were not previously publicly funded).
Purchase/production costs for passenger cars, trucks, buses, aircraft, ships, rail vehicles, and other road-approved transport vehicles primarily intended for transport.
Activatable financing costs (e.g., interest components of lease-purchase agreements).
Costs for manufacturing or acquiring immovable assets (e.g., land, real estate, construction work).
Mobile assets used outside Berlin or for private purposes (e.g., smartphones).
Individual invoices below €500 net (unless they are explicitly part of a larger, single investment project).
For large enterprises funded under AGVO, SaaS rental costs are explicitly ineligible.
Payment Mechanisms & Reporting:
Funds are generally disbursed after the investment project is completed and the 'Verwendungsnachweis' (proof of use) has been reviewed.
Partial payments ('Teilabrufe') are possible if at least €5,000 net or 50% of the planned total investment has been completed.
The program operates on an 'expenditure reimbursement principle' ('Ausgabenerstattungsprinzip'), meaning applicants must first pay for investments and then seek reimbursement.
Proof of payment must be provided via bank statements; cash payment receipts are not accepted.
The applicant's bank account must be a German bank account.
Comprehensive financial reporting is required, including a numerical report and a factual report, with a tabular overview of all invoices and corresponding payments.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type:
Commercial enterprises ('gewerbliche Unternehmen').
Sole proprietors ('Soloselbstständige').
Freelancers ('freiberuflich Tätige').
Legal Structure: All common legal forms are eligible (e.g., GmbH, UG, AG, GbR, Einzelunternehmer).
Location:
Must have a company seat or operating establishment in Berlin, Germany, or intend to establish one in Berlin.
All investments must be carried out in a Berlin-based operating establishment.
Mobile assets acquired with funding must be used exclusively within Berlin.
The business activity must be taxable in Berlin.
Economic Activity: Must have already commenced economic activity (i.e., generating first revenues).
Income Source (for sole proprietors/freelancers): At least 51% of the applicant's income must be derived from self-employment and be taxable in Berlin.
Minimum Investment: The total eligible project costs must be at least €5,000 net.
Wages: All employees in Berlin (excluding single entrepreneurs, GbR partners, managing directors, and apprentices) must receive wages according to the relevant Berlin collective bargaining agreement for at least 24 months following the completion of the investment project.
Temporary Workers:
Berlin operating establishments with more than 30% temporary workers ('Leiharbeitskräfte') are not eligible for funding.
If the proportion of temporary workers is between 20% and 30%, the maximum funding rate (excluding the sustainability bonus) will be halved.
Financial Health: Companies currently in financial difficulty, as defined by EU state aid rules, are not eligible.
Prior Funding Exclusion:
Companies that have applied for or received GRW funding since January 2024 and are located within the Berlin GRW funding area 2022-2027 are not eligible.
Companies that have not complied with a recovery order based on a previous state aid decision are not eligible.
Public Ownership: Companies majority-owned by public entities are not eligible.
Excluded Professions/Entities:
Self-employed doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, notaries, patent attorneys, auditors, and tax consultants are not eligible.
Hospitals, clinics, sanatoriums, or similar facilities are not eligible.
Airports are not eligible.
Project Start: The application must be submitted before the official start of the project. Project start is defined as the signing of a delivery or service contract, the first legally binding commitment to order equipment, or any other irreversible commitment to the investment. Preliminary work like land purchase or obtaining permits does not count as project start.
Organizational Structure Preferences: Legal entities (e.g., GmbH, UG, AG) and GbRs (if composed of legal entities) must be registered in the Berlin Transparency Database to be eligible.

Application Process

Application Status & Availability:
The application system is currently closed ('Das Antragssystem ist vorübergehend geschlossen'). New applications cannot be submitted at this time.
The current program guidelines are valid until December 31, 2025, indicating the grant's intended availability until that date, should the system reopen.
Application Submission:
Applications must be submitted electronically via the IBB Business Team GmbH online application system.
Submission is mandatory before the start of the project (i.e., before signing contracts or placing irreversible orders).
Project Implementation Timeline:
The investment project should typically be completed within 24 months of the grant approval.
All project-related invoices must be paid no later than four weeks after the end of the approved implementation period.
Required Documentation and Information for Online Submission:
Documents (uploaded as PDF, max 10 MB per file):
- KMU-Erklärung (KMU declaration, provided within the application system).
- Legitimationsunterlagen (identification documents) and, if applicable, power of attorney (using the system's template).
- Depending on legal form: Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) or current Registerauszug (register extract).
- Annual financial statements for the last two full business years (for companies required to balance their books) or income-expense statements for the last two full business years (for non-balancing entities).
- Finanzamtsnachweis (proof from tax office, e.g., current tax assessment for freelancers).
- GbR-Vertrag (GbR contract), if applicable.
- Proof of registration in the Berlin Transparency Database (for legal entities and certain GbRs).
- For large enterprises: A specific UiS calculation sheet (Excel template provided in the system).
Information (entered online):
- A detailed project description including a list of all planned investment measures.
- A financing plan with proof of funding sources (e.g., bank statements for own funds, loan agreements for external funds).
- Disclosure of all previously received De-Minimis and 'small aid' grants in the current and two preceding fiscal years.
- Sector classification (according to the 'Wirtschaftszweige-Code').
- Confirmation of the operating establishment's location within the Berlin funding area (can be checked via an online map).
- Other company details, including the tax ID of the management, trade tax number, full-time equivalent (FTE) employee count calculation, and founding year.
Disbursement of Funds:
Funds are generally disbursed as a single payment after the project is completed and the 'Verwendungsnachweis' (proof of use) has been reviewed and approved.
Partial payments ('Teilabrufe') can be requested if eligible investments of at least €5,000 net (or 50% of the total planned investment) have already been made.
Reporting Obligations:
A comprehensive 'Verwendungsnachweis' (proof of use) – comprising a factual report and a numerical report – must be submitted electronically.
This proof is due within one month after the project's completion, but no later than six months after the end of the approved period. This includes detailed invoice overviews with proof of payment (bank statements).

Evaluation Criteria

The grant does not rely on a scoring system for ranking competing applications, but rather on meeting specific eligibility conditions and criteria for receiving the 'Sustainability Bonus,' which is mandatory for large enterprises to be funded.

Project Fit & Future Viability: The core assessment revolves around whether the investment ensures the company's future viability, contributes to increasing its competitiveness, and aims to create or preserve jobs. This is fundamental for any project to be considered.
Sustainability Impact (for Sustainability Bonus / Mandatory for Large Enterprises): This is a key differentiating factor. To receive an additional 5% funding (the 'Nachhaltigkeitsbonus') or to be eligible for funding as a large enterprise, the project must demonstrate how it contributes to sustainability by fulfilling at least 3 of the following 13 criteria. For large enterprises, this demonstration must be substantiated and verifiable at the application stage:
Increased energy or resource efficiency.
Adaptation to climate change.
Contribution to climate protection.
Reduction of plastic consumption.
Reduced use of chemicals or pollutants.
Consideration of recycling aspects.
Promotion of biodiversity and natural habitats.
Sustainable use of land and soil.
Protection of healthy ecosystems.
Procurement of regional raw materials/products.
Strengthening fair trade.
Contribution to accident reduction and/or accessibility.
Contribution to noise reduction.
Quality & Economic Efficiency: While not a scoring criterion for innovation, for any procurement exceeding €1,000 net, applicants must obtain at least three comparable offers from different suppliers. If the most economical offer is not the cheapest, a justification based on qualitative aspects is required. This ensures responsible use of funds and economic efficiency.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance:
Adherence to German and EU state aid regulations (De-minimis-Verordnung, AGVO).
Compliance with the Landeshaushaltsordnung Berlin (Berlin State Budget Ordinance) and associated implementation rules.
Strict adherence to the Subventionsgesetz (Subsidy Law) to prevent fraud, as all application details are subject to this law.
Compliance with the Geldwäschegesetz (Money Laundering Act), meaning cash payments are not accepted as proof of expenditure.
For procurement values exceeding €1,000 net, a minimum of three comparable offers from different suppliers must be obtained. If the most economical offer is not the cheapest, a justification based on qualitative aspects is required.
Data Protection, Environmental, and Ethical Standards:
Applicant data will be stored on data carriers and used for statistical purposes and program effectiveness monitoring, with results potentially published, all while respecting applicable data protection regulations.
Environmental & Sustainability: A strong emphasis is placed on sustainability. Projects must contribute to environmental protection by meeting specific sustainability criteria (e.g., energy efficiency, climate protection, waste reduction, biodiversity, fair trade, responsible land use). For large enterprises, fulfilling these criteria is mandatory for funding. For KMU, it provides a 5% funding bonus.
Ethical Standards: The program explicitly excludes projects that would lead to a reduction in social security compulsory jobs. Companies deemed to be in financial difficulty are also excluded.
Social Standards: All employees in Berlin (with specific exceptions) must be paid according to the relevant Berlin collective bargaining agreements for at least 24 months post-project completion.
Accessibility: Projects that contribute to accessibility ('Barrierefreiheit') can qualify for the sustainability bonus.
Intellectual Property (IP) & Technology Specifications:
Intangible assets (e.g., software licenses, patents, technical knowledge) are eligible if they are activated, depreciable, purchased from a third party at market conditions, and used exclusively within the funded Berlin operating establishment.
Specific rules apply to leased or rented assets, requiring a finance leasing structure where the risk lies with the lessee and the asset is activated by the applicant upon contract signing.
Rental costs for 'Software as a Service' (SaaS) are eligible, but only under the De-minimis aid regime.
Unique Aspects & Strategic Opportunities:
Current Program Status: A critical unique aspect is that the application system is currently closed. Potential applicants must monitor for its reopening.
Location-Specific Focus: The grant is exclusively for investments within Berlin, making it highly strategic for businesses aiming to expand or modernize their operations in the German capital.
Sustainability Incentive: The explicit 'Sustainability Bonus' and the mandatory sustainability requirements for large enterprises offer a clear strategic opportunity for businesses prioritizing environmental responsibility.
Support for Specific Sectors: While generally sector-agnostic, the focus on pandemic-affected industries (retail, gastronomy, tourism, services, crafts) provides a significant strategic advantage for businesses in these sectors.
Job-Oriented: The emphasis on job creation/preservation and adherence to local wage standards aligns with broader economic development goals.

Grant Details