Green Frontrunner: support of companies in their climate & environmental strategy

The R&D project must be embedded in an offensive business field strategy. Two strategy dimensions are particularly relevant here:

• Technology and innovation leadership: The business field strategy is geared towards the development of a new product, process or service innovations. The focus is on strategies that differentiate themselves from the competition, for example through higher quality. This results in high growth potential on the international markets.
• Climate and environmental strategy: Alignment of the business area strategy with the European “Green Deal” or with the challenges related to environmental and climate protection. The focus here is not on strategies to save eg petroleum-based energy sources, but on new business strategies and models that differ fundamentally from existing approaches with regard to environmental and climate protection.

Eligibility criteria

All projects are analysed and assessed in terms of the technical and economic aspects for funding. Technical funding criteria include in particular the degree of innovation and the technical challenge of the planned project. The economic assessment focuses on the commerciali-sation potential and the applicant’s economic performance.

A further prerequisite for funding are positive effects of the project on climate and environmental protection. The evaluation point of the frontrunner positioning or the green frontrunner strategy is also specific for this initiative.

Funding

Funding takes the form of a non-repayable grant. The amount of the grant depends on the size of the company and is usually

• large companies: 25 %
• medium-sized companies: 35 %
• small companies: 45 %

Cooperaton

Green Frontrunner projects are usually “single firm” projects and therefore no cooperation bonus, as is the case for example in the General Programme.

Description of the target group:
The focus of the Green Frontrunner Programme addresses two target groups: 1. SMEs (especially scaleups), medium-sized companies and 2. Established frontrunner companies. Note: Small businesses (companies with up to 9 employees) or companies in the startup phase are not the focus of the Green Frontrunner programme.