Germany Launches Digital and Innovation Programs

Starting in July, Germany’s economic development bank is accepting applications for its new initiatives. ERP Support Credit Digitalization and ERP Support Credit Innovation. Both draw on funds from the EU’s European Recovery Program (ERP). They are administered by Germany’s economic promotion bank, the KfW.

The programs offer low-interest loans to smaller companies that want to digitalize or innovate products or processes. The normal limit is EUR 7.5 million per project, although “high-end support” of up to EUR 25 million is available for groundbreaking or larger projects, for instance in the realm of artificial intelligence.

“Digitalization and innovation are tomorrow’s drivers of growth – for corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises alike,” said German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche in a statement. “The KfW is providing targeted support to small and medium-sized enterprises with its new financing offerings. We’re promoting investment in digital processes, forward-looking technologies and artificial intelligence – so that good ideas can quickly lead to growth.”