Get started with the right funding

Whether you want to invest, grow, or innovate, it is often not the idea that fails, but the financing. This is exactly where we come in. WESt mbH supports companies in the Steinfurt district in finding the right funding programs and using them successfully—free of charge, neutrally, and confidentially.

Get in touch

Overview of funding areas

Funding can take the form of grants, promotional loans, or tax incentives. 

Typical areas (areas of support) are:

Digitalization & Innovation

e.g., software implementation, process digitization, new products and services, AI applications

Energy & Sustainability

e.g., energy efficiency measures, renewable energies, transformation and climate protection projects

Human resources & training

e.g., continuing education programs, inclusion measures

External consulting

e.g., business management, strategic, or energy and resource efficiency consulting

Growth & Investments

e.g., investments in machinery, buildings, expansion, modernization

Internationalization & Trade Fairs

e.g., market entry abroad, trade fair promotion

Event series #Funding

Companies can often draw on public funding when implementing a wide range of projects. Programs are available at EU, federal, and state level for this purpose. The Steinfurt Economic Development Agency (WESt) mbH and the TRAIN initiative (Transfer and Innovation in the Steinfurt District) are offering a virtual series of events under the title #Fördermittel (Funding). Once a month, current funding opportunities for companies will be presented.

Learn more

Further information:

  • Federal funding database – Central overview of funding programs from the federal government, states, and EU
  • NRW.Bank – Offers for companies (state level)
  • KfW – Offers for companies (federal level)

Public funding – key basic rules

A few basic conditions apply to most programs:

  • No project start before approval of the application: As a rule, a project may only be started after approval or after express approval of the "early start of measures." Awarding contracts in advance may be detrimental to funding.
  • No double funding: As a rule, the same project cannot receive funding from several programs at the same time.
  • SME definition: Many programs are aimed exclusively at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as defined by the EU (companies with a maximum of 249 employees and an annual turnover of no more than €50 million or a balance sheet total of no more than €43 million).
  • De minimis aid: A maximum of €300,000 in de minimis aid may be granted per company within three fiscal years.

Tips for a successful application

Good preparation increases your chances of receiving funding. We recommend the following, among other things:

Take advantage of advice in advance
e.g. through economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, your bank, NRW.BANK, project sponsors, business or tax consultants.
Allow sufficient time
Depending on the program, it can take several weeks to months from the project idea to approval.
Review program guidelines
Funding guidelines, information sheets, and FAQs provide information about funding objectives, target groups, requirements, and deadlines.
Describe the project clearly
Objectives, measures, timetable, costs, and expected effects should be presented in a comprehensible and consistent manner.
Prepare documents carefully
Complete and timely submission of the required documents (e.g., offers, company data, signed declarations).

What we do for companies

We see ourselves as a guide in the world of subsidies. Specifically, we offer:

  • Initial individual consultation
    Assessment of which funding approaches might be suitable for planned investments.
  • An overview of current programs and networking with contact points
    Guidance on grants and promotional loans from the EU, the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and other partners.
  • Events and external lectures (on request),
    including the webinar series "#Fördermittel" (subsidies) with current dates at www.westmbh.de in the Events section.

Interested in free advice on subsidies?

Feel free to contact us by phone or email. A brief description of the project is sufficient—in the subsequent conversation, we will work with you to determine whether and which funding programs are suitable.

Contact person

Varvara Leinz
Unternehmensservice