Investment grant for Berlin companies: the InvestitionsBONUS restart programme

The Berlin InvestitionsBONUS is a funding scheme initiated by the State of Berlin that offers small and medium-sized enterprises and full-time freelancers and sole traders with their registered office in Berlin an investment grant. The restart programme is essentially open to any sector but is predominantly aimed at those industries that were particularly hard hit by the pandemic, such as retail, gastronomy, tourism, and service and artisan enterprises. This programme closes the previous gap in funding.

 

Who can apply for the Berlin InvestitionsBONUS?

The funding is aimed at

•     small and medium-sized enterprises,
•     large companies,
•     solo self-employed and
•     freelancers,

that are based in Berlin with a company headquarters or a permanent establishment and wish to carry out the future investments to be applied for in the capital.

Self-employed persons and freelancers must derive at least 51% of their income from self-employment and pay tax on it in Berlin.

The programme is generally open to all sectors. The programme focuses on the following sectors, among others

•     Catering,
•     retail trade,
•     accommodation and tourism establishments,
•     service and craft businesses
•     and all listed sectors in the GRW positive list and conditional positive list if the business premises are located in a non-assisted area

Not eligible to apply:

•     Companies that are currently applying for GRW funding and have been approved since January 2024
•     Self-employed doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, notaries, patent attorneys, auditors, tax consultants, etc,
•     Hospitals, clinics, sanatoriums or similar facilities,
•     Companies in difficulty,
•     companies that are majority-owned by the public sector, and airports.

What does the Berlin funding scheme for investment grants cover?

The Berlin InvestitionsBONUS subsidises investments that ensure the future viability of the company. Eligible companies and individuals receive non-cash grants for exclusively external expenditure. In addition, a sustainability bonus can be granted for particularly sustainable investments. In the case of large companies, sustainable investment is demonstrably mandatory.

Specifically, funding can be applied for for the following investments

•     Capitalisable expenditure on assets (including plant, machinery, operating and office equipment)
•     Mobile assets that are used within Berlin
•     Capitalisable intangible assets (including software licences, patents, operating licences, patented & non-patented technical knowledge)
•     Rented or leased mobile assets, provided they are capitalised by the applicant at the time the contract is concluded
•     Takeover of a closed business establishment or one threatened with closure: Eligible acquisition costs of tangible fixed assets up to the market price (subsidisation of book values)
•     Rental costs for software used in the business premises (so-called software as a service) under the de-minimis regulation

All subsidised assets must remain in the subsidised business premises for at least two or three years and, in the case of large companies, five years after completion of the investment project.

The subsidy cannot be applied for

•     internal and operational personnel and administrative expenses as well as cash payments,
•     assets that are acquired by affiliated companies,
•     services and measures already supported by other EU funding programmes,
•     Investments for replacement and supplementary procurement,
•     Acquisition and production costs for cars, lorries and other transport vehicles that are registered for road traffic and are primarily used for transport,
•     the acquisition costs of used assets (exceptions: SMEs in the start-up phase / takeover of a business establishment that has been closed down or is threatened with closure),
•     Capitalisable financing costs (e.g. interest portion of hire purchase agreements),
•     Costs for the production or acquisition of immovable assets such as land, real estate and construction measures as well as
•     mobile assets that are used outside Berlin or are of a private nature (e.g. smartphones).

How much funding is available?

The Berlin InvestitionsBONUS funding program consists of basic funding and optional sustainability funding. These are non-repayable grants.  

1. basic grant

The basic grant provides subsidies of a maximum of 30 percent of the eligible investment costs of the project applied for.

The specific amount of funding is determined by the selected aid scheme - the legal framework from which the funding comes.
The decisive factor here is how much funding you have already received from the respective subsidy regime. The basis for assessment is also the type of company (whether SME or large company).

Overview of the three possible streams within Basic Funding

Sustainability bonus

An increased grant of five percentage points can be paid for particularly sustainable investments. When submitting the application, it must be demonstrated to what extent the investment project meets the sustainability criteria. At least three of the following questions on the sustainability of the planned investment must be answered positively. In the case of large companies, this is decisive for funding, so it is also mandatory that the information be substantiated/proven.

    Will the project increase energy or resource efficiency?
    Does the project adapt to climate change?
    Does the project contribute to climate protection?
    Does the project reduce plastic consumption?
    Does the project use fewer chemicals or pollutants?
    Does the project take recycling aspects into account?
    Does the project promote biodiversity and natural habitats?
    Does the project lead to conservation of land and soil?
    Does the project protect healthy ecosystems?
    Does the project source regional raw materials/products?
    Does the project strengthen fair trade?
    Does the project contribute to accident reduction and/or accessibility?
    Does the project contribute to noise reduction?

Applying for funding through the Berlin InvestitionsBONUS

The investment grant can be applied for electronically via the IBB Business Team GmbH application and management system.

Please note that applications can only be submitted in German. Please familiarise yourself with the eligibility criteria and necessary documents (only available in German) before applying!

 

Combine the Berliner InvestitionsBONUS with other funding schemes

We have the perfect funding scheme for your business, offering diversity and helping you launch and grow your business.

 

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