Grants, financing, loans or other programmes can be of great value to start-ups and other ambitious, innovative companies. They help get past a certain point or realise growth potential. But the range is vast and sometimes confusing. We list, as we do every quarter, five new opportunities.
Biomass in the border region
For companies and institutions contributing to the circular economy in the border region between the Netherlands and Germany, there is the ‘Realise-Bio’ project. This project is now introducing a simplified procedure for shorter-term pilot projects. These are eligible for up to 75,000 euros, with a maximum funding rate of 50 per cent. Realise-Bio is part of the ‘Interreg VI Germany-Netherlands’ programme, which was set up to promote cooperation in the border region.
Realise-Bio supports projects relating to the innovative and sustainable use of biomass. This may involve issues such as process development and upscaling, as well as business models, logistics, regulations or skills development. Any SME from the Interreg Germany-Netherlands programme area can submit an application for a pilot project, provided it is collaborating with a partner on the other side of the border. Further information is available on this website.
DC fast charger
Entrepreneurs wishing to purchase or lease a DC fast charger with a stationary battery for logistics vehicles can apply for a grant from the province of Gelderland. The grant for the DC fast charger amounts to a maximum of 30 per cent of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of 60,000 euros. For a DC fast charger combined with a stationary battery, the maximum grant is 100,000 euros.
The charging point must be semi-public. This means that the fast charger must be available to third parties for at least 6 hours per working day, in return for a fee in line with market rates. Applications can be submitted throughout 2024. Further information is available here.
Sustainable transport advice
Companies can also apply to the province of Gelderland for a grant towards a consultancy report or training course on sustainable transport. The consultancy reports may cover two possible topics: ‘Making the freight transport fleet more sustainable’ or ‘Using self-generated energy to charge electric vehicles’. Training courses may also cover ‘Making the freight transport fleet more sustainable’, as well as ‘Charging infrastructure for logistics vehicles’.
The grant for the report is 3,000 or 6,000 euros, depending on the topic. A fixed grant of 1,250 euros applies to the training course.
Further information is available on this website.
Sustainable innovations
The Demo Voucher – the Energy Innovation Demonstration voucher from De Groeiversneller – is helping an increasing number of entrepreneurs. It is made possible in part by the province of Gelderland, Oost NL and the municipality of Arnhem, in support of the Connectr energy cluster, and is intended to bring sustainable innovations from theory into practice.
The organisers recently announced that there is room for new entrepreneurs in their programme. Over the next two years, they aim to put at least ten innovations from this region into practice. As an entrepreneur, the voucher allows you to finance up to 80 per cent of the external costs of your innovation. Further information can be found here.
ERDF grant for small SMEs
The lower limit for the EFRO Oost grant will be reduced with effect from 1 January. This will enable more smaller SMEs to benefit from the support. The new lower limit is 250,000 euros. At the same time, the upper limit will rise to 2 million euros. Demonstration projects in particular, which involve a larger investment component, are currently still reaching the upper limit of one million euros. This page shows the budgets available from EFRO East and the upcoming calls for proposals.
