Financing instruments
Financing and funding for the agri-food sector
Overview of federal, national und international funding options
Federal
L-Bank Staatsbank für Baden-Württemberg
(Karlsruhe)
Focus:
“We support start-ups and businesses in new ventures, investment projects, and energy-saving measures.”.”
Details:
- Funding guide for the following support areas: parental allowance, founding & investing, building & housing, environmental & climate protection, municipalities & infrastructure, education & qualification.
- Additional services: schedule of local financing consultation days, newsletter, mortgage calculator, LfA magazine with funding examples.
LfA Förderbank Bayern
(München)
Focus:
“We offer you a flexible funding program in the core business areas of start-ups, growth, innovation, energy and environment, stabilization, and infrastructure.”
Details:
- Additional financing options for: order guarantees, foreign investments, film funding, equity financing.
- Funding guide for the following industries: industry, craftsmanship, trade, hospitality and catering, horticulture, other services, liberal professions, film.
- Additional services: free funding consultation, local advisory days, creditworthiness calculator, repayment calculator, subsidy calculator.
IBB Investitionsbank Berlin
(Berlin)
Focus:
“The IBB supports investment projects on behalf of the State of Berlin in the business fields of economic promotion, real estate and urban development, as well as labor market promotion.”
Details:
- Funding areas: business start-ups, business growth & investments, innovation & technology, energy & environment, new construction & real estate purchases, housing & modernization, ESF+ (European Social Fund Plus).
- Förderfibel: Jährlich erscheinender Ratgeber für Unternehmen und Existenzgründungen mit allen aktuellen Wirtschaftsförderprogrammen im Land Berlin
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Funding guide: an annually published guide for businesses and start-ups with all current economic support programs in the state of Berlin.
- Additional services: newsletter.
Focus:
“The ILB supports the state of Brandenburg and other public entities in fulfilling their tasks. Its core business is the promotion of public and private investment projects in the areas of economy, infrastructure, and housing construction.”
Details:
- ILB Funding Finder: all available programs in the funding portfolio
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ILB Funding Consultation: free consultation in all regions
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Additional services: events, newsletter, commercial space rental
Focus:
“As the development bank of the state of Bremen, we support public and private investments through housing and economic promotion.”
Details:
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Funding areas: start-ups, economic promotion, housing support, crisis aid, digitalization, sustainability
- Additional services: online funding application via the Förderbar funding portal, organization of the Bremen Environmental Award
Focus:
“The IFB Hamburg supports the Hanseatic City of Hamburg in housing and economic development, as well as in environmental protection and innovation projects.”
Details:
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Funding areas for start-ups and businesses: start-ups & succession, investment & liquidity, infrastructure, innovations, energy & resource efficiency, social entrepreneurship
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– Additional services: free webinars on start-up financing and suitable funding programs (including support from other federal states, the federal government, or the EU)
WIBank: Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen
(Offenbach am Main)
Focus:
“We are active in structural, economic, social, and housing promotion as well as agricultural support.”
Details:
- Funding areas: building & housing, start-ups & investment, agriculture, infrastructure financing, education & employment, innovation, regional development
- Additional services: regional advisory days, monthly consultation days for entrepreneurs, annual Hessian Funding Day
Focus:
“The focus is on the economy, housing and urban development, environment and energy, as well as agriculture.”
Details:
- Grant finder for the following areas: economy, infrastructure, housing, forestry, climate
- Additional services: consulting upon request, newsletter
Focus:
“NBank stands for competent support in the areas of economy, labor market, housing, and infrastructure.”
Details:
- Areas of activity: securing the structure of small and medium-sized enterprises, social housing support, provision of venture capital, construction development in municipalities, infrastructure, agriculture & forestry & rural areas, environmental protection & technology & innovation, business start-up & start-up funding, education & qualification, measures for social & cultural & scientific purposes
- Additional services: five advisory centers, local consultation days, free European funding program advice for Lower Saxony companies, coordinates Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Lower Saxony, newsletter
NRW.BANK: Förderbank für Nordrhein-Westfalen
(Düsseldorf)
Focus:
“The three funding areas of NRW.BANK are economy, housing, and infrastructure/municipalities. Sustainability is a central guiding principle.”
Details:
- Funding areas: financing for business start-ups & business stabilization, social housing support, municipal construction development, infrastructure, agriculture & forestry & rural areas, environmental protection & technology & innovation, measures for social & cultural & scientific purposes, financing projects of public interest
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Locations in Düsseldorf, Münster, and Brussels
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Additional services: monthly funding consultation day, trade fairs, seminars, advisory days
Focus:
“Whether it’s business start-up, expansion, purchasing new machinery, or developing technological innovations: With our funding programs, we support businesses and entrepreneurs in Rhineland-Palatinate in their projects.”
Details:
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Funding areas: Start-up & succession, growth & investment, regional funding, innovation & digitization, venture capital, education, energy & environment, consulting support, tourism, disaster relief
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Additional services: Consulting upon request, local consultation days, collection of links on the topic of business start-ups, location finder
SIKB: Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG
(Saarbrücken)
Focus:
“We are specialists in ‘One for All.’ Together with partner companies and by combining four different funding components (loans, equity, guarantees, venture capital), financing models are created that are tailored to the individual needs of our customers.”
Details:
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Improvement and strengthening of the economy, transportation, and environmental structure
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Funding areas: companies & freelancers, start-ups & successors, housing construction
- Additional services: founder platform, repayment calculator
SAB: Sächsische Aufbaubank
(Leipzig)
Focus:
“On behalf of the Free State of Saxony, we allocate funding in the areas of housing construction, economy, infrastructure and municipalities, education and social affairs, environment, and agriculture.“
Details:
- Funding areas for businesses: research & innovation & digitization, investments in fixed assets & consulting, business start-up, agriculture & forestry & fishing, housing economy
- Additional services: consulting in 3 customer centers (Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz), telephone consulting, Saxony funding portal
IB: Investitionsbank Sachsen-Anhalt
(Magdeburg)
Focus:
“A key focus of IB Sachsen-Anhalt is the promotion of innovation and technology. The bank offers special funding programs for companies working in the fields of renewable energy, digitalization, or healthcare. Another focus is on consulting services.”
Details:
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Funding areas: energy supply, investments, innovations, digitalization, creative industries & culture, education & training, environmental protection, housing & renting, tourism, networks
- Additional services: consulting hotline, local consultation days
Focus:
“IB.SH supports the economy, housing and urban development, municipalities, labor market and education initiatives, environmental and energy projects, as well as the agricultural sector in Schleswig-Holstein.”
Details:
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Funding areas for businesses: business financing, project & infrastructure financing, housing construction, energy & environment, labor & education
- Additional services: online and on-site consultation days, European Digital Innovation Hub Schleswig-Holstein (EDIH-SH), business succession initiative Schleswig-Holstein, IB.SH women entrepreneurs’ award, newsletter
Thüringer Aufbaubank
(Erfurt)
Focus:
“Funding for Thuringia – Economy, Environment, Agriculture, Municipality, Tourism, Housing, Research, Start-ups”
Details:
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Funding areas for businesses: innovations, start-ups, investments in agriculture, business succession, investing & growing, research & development, accessibility, rental housing construction, SME consulting funding, sustainability in business
- Additional services: regional consulting (Thuringia Central, East, North, West, South), online portal for applications
National
Förderberatung des Bundes
(Onlineportal)
Focus:
“You are planning a demanding research or development project and are looking for funding. The federal government offers you the free consulting service of the Funding Advisory for Research and Innovation.”
Details:
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Areas of focus: education & science & higher education system, nutrition & agriculture, social sciences & humanities, health & medical technology, basic research
- Publication of funding announcements
Förderdatenbank
(Onlineportal)
Focus:
“You will get an overview of funding programs from the federal government, the states, and the European Union.”
Details:
- The funding activities are summarized according to uniform criteria and in a consistent presentation, regardless of the funding level or the funding provider.
Förderportal des Bundes
(Onlineportal)
Focus:
“You will find information on funding opportunities, databases with current research projects, access to forms, and more.”
Details:
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Links to relevant databases and information sources
Focus:
“Whether infrastructure, mobility, or digital: The BMDV supports on-site with numerous funding programs.”
Details:
- Funding map with current and realized funding projects:
- https://bmdv.bund.de/DE/Themen/Foerderlandkarte/foerderlandkarte.html
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Information on funding programs from the funding map: https://bmdv.bund.de/DE/Service/Foerderprojekte/start.html
Focus:
“As the Ministry of Research, the BMBF addresses new research topics and introduces new instruments for innovation funding.”
Details:
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Information on the federal “Research and Innovation” funding advisory service (www.foerderinfo.bund.de): https://www.bmbf.de/DE/Service/Foerderberatung/foerderberatung_node.html
Focus:
“Funding for rural areas, digitalization, village development, mobility, and other key areas.”
Details:
- Funding guide with information on the funding structure at the state, federal, and EU levels: https://www.bmel.de/DE/themen/laendliche-regionen/foerderung-des-laendlichen-raumes/bund-und-laender-foerderung/foerderwegweiser.html
Focus:
“Ministry priorities: Digital transformation, strengthening investments, social cohesion, energy transition, further developing Europe, global trade.”
Details:
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Funding tasks include: foreign trade promotion, market development programs, innovation funding, regional economic development
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Information phone line for SMEs and business start-ups
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Hotline for funding and financial advisory services of the BMWK
- Federal funding advisory service: www.foerderinfo.bund.de
INNO Innovation Beratung Förderung
(Programm)
Focus:
“From potential analysis to market maturity: Qualified external consulting for the preparation and implementation of the innovation idea.”
Details:
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Funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
- Components: go-inno (innovation consulting), go-digital (digitalization, expired in 2024), INNO-KOM (technology transfer for SMEs), WIPANO (patent support)
KfW Förderbank des Bundes
(Frankfurt am Main)
Focus:
“The KfW is one of the leading development banks in the world and works on behalf of the federal and state governments to improve economic, social, and environmental living conditions worldwide.”
Details:
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Financing areas for businesses: start-up & succession, innovation & digitalization, investments & growth, energy & environment, housing economy
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Additional services: funding loan price calculator, subsidy value calculator for funding loans, repayment calculator
Focus:
“ZIM is a funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The aim of the ZIM funding is to strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the crafts and liberal professions.”
Details:
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Funding type: Grant
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Funding area: Research & Innovation (open to all topics)
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Funding region: Nationwide
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Eligible applicants: Companies, research institutions, universities
International
Bord Bia – Irish Food Board
(Dublin, Ireland)
Focus:
“Headquartered in Dublin, Bord Bia supports the national and international ambitions of Irish food, drink and horticulture businesses through its highly focused organisational structure and its network of offices in EMEA, Asia and the USA.“
Details:
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Industry Support Areas: Brand Forum, Learning Zone, Global Sustainability, Think Digital, Commercial Marketing Strategy, Customer Management, Category Management
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Services for Farmers & Growers: Market Trends, Agri Market Insights
- Offices in Asia, Europe, the UK, North America, the Middle East, and West Africa
Johnson & Johnson Innovation
(New Brunswick, USA)
Focus:
“Johnson & Johnson Innovation seeks to positively impact human health through innovation. We offer a suite of capabilities for breakthrough, early-stage innovations with the greatest potential to strengthen and differentiate the pipeline of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies (Johnson & Johnson) within our strategic areas of focus.“
Details:
- Four Collaboration Stages: Early Innovation (Partnerships), Incubation (JLABS), Venture Investing (JJDC), Late-Stage (Partnerships)
- Early Innovation: https://jnjinnovation.com/early-innovation-partnerships
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Innovation Centers in Asien, USA, Kanada, UK
Scottish Enterprise
(Glasgow, Scotland)
Focus:
“We’re Scotland’s national economic development agency. We help ambitious businesses to innovate and scale. Using our global reach and networks, we attract inward investment and enable Scottish companies to export and enter new markets.“
Details:
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Overview of Funding and Grants: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/funding-and-grants
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Additional Services: Events, Webinars, Leadership Academy, Reports