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Coronavirus - Information and contacts for companies
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Corona - Information and contacts for companies

The current situation surrounding the corona pandemic continues to develop very dynamically and presents us all with major challenges. We have compiled the most important information for companies, self-employed persons and freelancers in connection with the corona virus, which we are constantly updating and expanding.

Guideline "Federal funding of production facilities for protective equipment and medical devices used for patient protection and their preliminary products".

It is no longer possible to apply for funding for plants for the production of filter fleece using the meltblown process and for plants available at short notice for the production of protective masks.

Bridging assistance (‘Überbrückungshilfe’) for small and medium-sized enterprises

Application for 1st phase has expired!

The bridging aid is to be granted across all sectors to small and medium-sized enterprises that have had to permanently cease all or a substantial part of their business activities as a result of the Corona crisis.

The State of NRW will also increase federal aid for affected freelancers and self-employed persons with the 'NRW Überbrückungshilfe Plus'. If they receive the bridging subsidy from the federal government, they can also apply for a one-off payment of 1,000 euros per month (supported months June to August 2020). However, this only applies for a maximum of three months. The same conditions apply as for federal funds. 

After the first phase, a second phase of the bridging assistance (supported months September to December 2020) has started at the beginning of October.

For whom:

  • Organizations and companies from all sectors of the economy, in so far as they do not qualify for the Economic Stabilization Fund and in so far as they have had to cease their business activities completely or to a significant extent as a result of the Corona crisis.
  • Self-employed persons and self-employed persons as members of the liberal professions in their main occupation
  • A cessation of business activities in whole or in part as a result of the Corona crisis is assumed if sales in the months of April and May 2020 taken together have fallen by at least 60 percent compared to April and May 2019.

An overview of the eligible costs can be viewed here.

Type of funding:

The bridging allowance reimburses a share of

  • 80 percent of fixed costs with a more than 70 percent drop in sales,
  • 50 percent of fixed costs in the event of a slump in sales between 50 percent and 70 percent,
  • 40 percent of fixed costs in the event of a slump in sales between 40 percent and less than 50 percent in the month of promotion compared to the same month last year.

Application procedure:

  • The application is only possible via tax consultants and auditors / sworn auditors.
  • Tax consultants and auditors must first register via a central portal of the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi).

Links / Hotlines:

The 2nd phase of the bridging assistance covers the funding months September to December 2020. Applications for this period can be submitted at this time. The application period ends on 31st January 2021.

Brief description: The 2nd phase of the bridging assistance is a cross-sector grant program with a duration of four months (September to December 2020), which aims to mitigate declining sales during the corona crisis. The program is supplemented by NRW Überbrückungshilfe Plus for solo self-employed persons, freelancers and owners of sole proprietorships and partnerships with a maximum of 50 employees working for the company in North Rhine-Westphalia.

For whom: Small and medium-sized companies are eligible to apply:

  • with either a sales slump of at least 50 % in two consecutive months in the period April to August 2020 compared to the respective months of the previous year
  • or a drop in sales of at least 30% on average in the months April to August 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year (previously sales drop of 60% in April and May 2020).

Scope:

  • In the 2nd phase, the so-called SME threshold is no longer applicable, according to which within the 1st phase only a maximum of EUR 9,000 was eligible for support for companies with up to 5 employees, and only a maximum of EUR 15,000 for companies with up to 10 employees.
  • The maximum amount of the bridging aid is EUR 50,000 per month. This means that companies can receive up to EUR 200,000 in funding for the four months, depending on the level of fixed operating costs.
  • In addition, the monthly reimbursement of fixed costs increases:
    • 90% of fixed costs in the event of a sales slump of more than 70% (previously 80% of fixed costs),
    • 60% of fixed costs in the event of a slump in sales between 50% and 70% (previously 50% of fixed costs),
    • 40% of fixed costs in the event of a sales slump between 30% and less than 50% (previously in the event of a sales slump of more than 40%)
  • The flat rate for personnel expenses was increased from 10% to 20%.

Application procedure:

  • The application is only possible via tax consultants and certified public accountants/sworn auditors
  • Auditors and tax consultants must first register via a central portal of the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi).

Links / Hotlines:

According to current plans, the Bridging Assistance II, which runs until December 31, 2020, is to be extended and expanded until June 2021. Improvements are planned, for example, in the recognition of expenses for modernization measures, maintenance or depreciation costs. Up to now, a maximum of EUR 50,000 per month could be reimbursed as operating costs; in the future this will be up to EUR 200,000.

In addition, the Bridging Aid III is intended to bring about significant improvements for solo self-employed persons.

For whom:

Essentially nothing has changed in the companies eligible to apply. Nevertheless, from now on also solo self-employed persons are entitled to apply, who otherwise cannot claim or assert fixed costs within the framework of the bridging assistance II. However, at least 51 percent of their income in the reference period (year 2019) must have come from self-employment.

Further information on the assistance can also be found in the press release of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Financial assistance for companies, self-employed persons and freelancers

KfW Loan for Growth

Brief description: Support for investments and operating resources for larger projects in the fields of innovation and digitization of commercial enterprises.

For whom:

  • For domestic and foreign companies with a turnover of up to EUR 2 billion

Funding type: Loan

Scope:

  • KfW participates directly as a consortium partner or indirectly as a risk sub-participation in debt financing of financing partners. The scope of risk assumption is as follows
    • For projects up to EUR 50 million a maximum of 70 percent of the project financing, provided that the risk assumption by KfW does not exceed 50 percent of the total financing,
    • for projects over EUR 50 million, a maximum of 50 percent of the project financing.
  • KfW's share of risk is usually between EUR 7.5 million and a maximum of EUR 100 million. The total volume of risk sub-participation plus refinancing funds is limited to a maximum of EUR 100 million per measure.

Application procedure:

  • KfW participates at the invitation of your financing partner, either directly as a consortium partner or indirectly through risk sub-participation.

Links / Hotlines:


KfW Quick Loan 2020

Brief description: Subsidized loan for purchases (investments) and running costs (operating resources). The loan is 100% secured by a guarantee of the Federal Government. This significantly increases your chance of receiving a loan commitment. 

For whom: 

  • Companies with at least 11 employees, which have been on the market at least since January 2019 and
  • Companies that have made a profit in the sum of the years 2017-2019 or in 2019 (if your company has only been on the market for a shorter period so far, this period will be used).

Scope: 

  • 100% risk assumption by KfW
  • No risk assessment by the bank
  • Max. Credit amount: up to 25 % of annual turnover in 2019
    • Companies with up to 50 employees receive a maximum of EUR 500,000
    • Companies with more than 50 employees receive a maximum of EUR 800,000
  • Up to 10 years term

Application procedure: The application is made at your own bank or Sparkasse. 

Links / Hotlines: 


KfW Corona aid: Loans for enterprises

Brief description: Financing of investments and operating resources of medium-sized and large commercial enterprises, sole traders and freelancers.

For whom:

  • Companies and freelancers
  • KfW Unternehmerkredit: Companies that have been active on the market for at least 5 years.
  • ERP-Gründerkredit-Universell: 
    • Young companies that have been active in the market for less than 5 years. 
    • SMEs and large enterprises that have been active in the market for less than 3 years.

Funding type: Loans

Scope: Assumption of a partial risk of the bank by KfW when applying for loans for investments and working capital.

  • Up to 80 % risk assumption for large enterprises
  • Up to 90 % risk assumption for SMEs
  • Up to EUR 1 billion can be applied for per group of companies
    • Credit limit is limited to: 
      • 25 % of the annual turnover in 2019 or 
      • twice the wage costs of 2019, or 
      • the current financing requirements for the next 18 months for small and medium-sized enterprises or 12 months for large enterprises, or 
      • 50 % of total debt or 30 % of the group's balance sheet total in the case of loans exceeding EUR 25 million.

Application procedure: Application must be submitted to the house bank or another financing partner before the start of the project. 

Links / Hotlines:


NRW.BANK Universal loan

Brief description: Low-interest loans with flexible terms in the event of liquidity bottlenecks and for financing working capital and investments.

For whom:

  • Companies with an annual turnover of up to 500 million EUR, founders and freelancers

Type of funding:

  • Installment loans and loans at final maturity

Scope:

  • Indemnity in favor of the house bank - with immediate effect for companies that have run into liquidity problems due to the Corona crisis, in addition to the existing 50% risk assumption, also an 80% risk assumption. The minimum loan amount previously required for this will be suspended.
  • For indemnity amounts up to EUR 250,000: loan commitment usually within 72 hours

Application procedure:

  • The application must be submitted to a credit institution of the applicant's choice (house bank).

Links / Hotlines:


NRW.BANK.Mittelstandskredit (NRW.BANK SME loan)

Brief description: In the case of growth projects to be financed in North Rhine-Westphalia, companies can obtain a loan of up to EUR 10 million with the NRW.BANK Mittelstandskredit under certain conditions. From now on, this loan will also be available for coping with the economic consequences of the Corona crisis.

For whom:

  • Commercial companies (SMEs; also for foreign companies) and freelancers, which are mainly privately owned and whose group turnover does not exceed EUR 500 million and which have generally been active in the market for at least five years.

Type of funding: Loans

Scope:

  • Support for further growth, e.g:
    • acquisition of land and buildings,
    • Construction measures and costs for outdoor facilities,
    • Acquisition and/or manufacture of operating and business equipment,
    • Purchase of intangible assets, provided that they are capitalized in the balance sheet for at least 3 years,
    • Procurement and replenishment of the material, goods or spare parts warehouse.
  • Loans between a minimum of EUR 25,000 and a maximum of EUR 10 million

Application procedure:

  • The application for financing is submitted to the house bank. The bank then forwards the application to NRW.BANK.

Links / Hotlines:


Extraordinary economic aid for the month of November (Novemberhilfe)

Brief description:

  • Novemberhilfe is a support offer for companies, businesses, self-employed persons, associations and institutions that are particularly affected by the measures to contain the Corona pandemic that were decided on October 28, 2020. It offers centralized support in the form of a pro rata reimbursement of turnover. It is paid in the form of a one-off lump sum.

For whom:

  • All companies (including public ones), businesses, the self-employed, associations and institutions that had to cease business operations on the basis of the closure ordinances issued by the federal states on the basis of the resolution of the Minister-Presidents' Conference (MPK) of October 28, 2020 (directly affected companies). Accommodation establishments and event venues are regarded as directly affected companies.
  • All companies that demonstrably and regularly generate 80 percent of their sales with companies directly affected by the above measures (indirectly affected companies).
  • Eligible for application are also companies that regularly generate 80 percent of their sales through deliveries and services on behalf of companies directly affected by the measures via third parties (e.g. event agencies). These companies must prove beyond doubt that they will suffer a drop in sales of more than 80 percent in November 2020 due to the closure orders based on items 5 and 6 of the above-mentioned resolution.

Scope:

  • Solo self-employed persons will receive a simplified direct access route for subsidies of up to EUR 5,000; other companies will receive an advance payment of up to EUR 10,000.

Application procedure:

  • Applications are submitted and paid out fully electronically via the platform www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-unternehmen.de   
  • Applications must be submitted electronically via tax consultants, auditors, sworn accountants or lawyers. Exceptions are solo self-employed persons who do not apply for more than EUR 5,000 in funding. They can submit the application themselves, provided they have not yet applied for bridging assistance.

Links / Hotline:


Extraordinary economic aid for the month of December (Dezemberhilfe)

Aid for the month of December (a total of 17 billion €) is being discussed/prepared.

Guarantees NRW

Brief description: 

  • Bürgschaftsbank NRW provides guarantees of up to EUR 2.5 million per company
  • Guarantees of EUR 2.5 million or more are provided by PWC-PricewaterhouseCoopers in the form of a state guarantee.
  • SchnellBürgschaft 100: The Bürgschaftsbank Nordrhein-Westfalen provides guarantees to secure loans for small enterprises for working capital and investment financing caused by the "corona crisis" (liquidity shortage).

For whom:

  • Classic guarantee: Small and medium-sized existing companies and startups in the commercial sector, including horticultural businesses and members of the liberal professions.
  • Express guarantee: Established small and medium-sized enterprises, including horticultural businesses and members of the liberal professions.
  • SchnellBürgschaft 100: Small commercial enterprises including horticultural businesses and members of the liberal professions with <= 10 employees. Young companies are also eligible for funding, provided that they were founded before/on 01.01.2019 (company has been on the market at least since January 2019).

Scope:

  • Classical guarantee - extension of funding possibilities:
    • Increase in guarantee amount from EUR 1.25 million to EUR 2.5 million
    • Increase in the credit volume to be guaranteed to EUR 3.125 million
    • Term Working capital financing up to 10 years with a maximum of 2 grace years possible (classic guarantee 80% and EXPRESS 80%)
  • Optimization of the express guarantee 80 % (decision in 72 hours).
    • Increase of the maximum guarantee amount from TEuro 150 to TEuro 250
    • Increase in the guarantee rate from 50-60% to 80%. 
  • New: 90% guarantee (product overview)
    • classic guarantee 90%: maximum guarantee amount EUR 2.5 million, maximum loan amount EUR 2.777 million
    • Express guarantee 90%: maximum guarantee amount EUR 250,000, maximum loan amount EUR 277,000
    • New program Immediate Guarantee 90% (for credit lines and working capital loans): Max. Guarantee amount EUR 90,000 Euro, max. loan amount EUR 100,000
  • New: SchnellBürgschaft 100
    • With immediate effect, small companies with a maximum of 10 employees can apply for a 100% guarantee for loans of up to € 250,000 via their house bank.
    • Scope of support: up to 100% of the loan amount for loans up to € 250,000
    • Funding period: up to 10 years, up to 8 years for overdraft facilities

Application procedure:

  • The application for guarantee is made by the house bank. The Bürgschaftsbank NRW offers online application forms for this purpose in its application portal. 

Links / Hotlines:


Export credit guarantees (Hermes guarantees)

Brief description: The Federal Republic of Germany provides these guarantees to cover the foreign trade risk in order to protect German exporters in their foreign business. Further information can be found on the homepage of the BMWi.

For whom:

  • German companies

Application procedure:

Links / Hotlines:

State aid program to strengthen the equity base (KBG Pillar II)

Brief description: By means of partial refinancing via funds provided by KfW-Bank and NRW.BANK free of liability, the Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft (KBG) can provide equity capital in the form of typical silent partnerships to established SMEs in NRW, thereby strengthening their equity base. "Start-up" companies can apply for funds from NRW.BANK (see also KfW-Corona-aid: Equity Finance for Start-ups and Small Companies).

For whom:

Medium-sized companies (according to SME criteria) based in NRW that

  • were not a company in difficulty (UiS) as at 31.12.2019 and
  • have run into difficulties in 2020 as a result of the Corona crisis

Scope:

  • Up to max. T€ 800 per company (group), at least T€ 50 (depending on the still available small aid budget of the company)
  • Investment projects: Measures to strengthen the balance sheet, especially to strengthen the equity base and secure liquidity
  • Duration: minimum 5 years, maximum 10 years (with up to 10 grace years)

Application procedure: Informally to KBG NRW (commitment required by 31.12.2020) with standard banking documents (funds must be called up by 31.12.2022 at the latest)

Links / Hotlines:


Micromezzanine Fund

Brief description: Mezzanine capital is a hybrid of equity and debt capital. The company receives economic equity. The "Mikromezzaninfonds Deutschland" can enter into silent partnerships (max. EUR 75,000) without the involvement of the principal bank and without collateral and contributes to strengthening the economic equity base.  

For whom:

  • Small businesses, startups and freelancers who are not subject to the professional code of conduct
  • Special target groups are companies that provide training, that are founded out of unemployment or are managed by women or people with a migration background
  • commercially oriented social enterprises and environmentally oriented enterprises

Scope:

  • Amount of participation: maximum EUR 50,000; up to EUR 150,000 for applicants from the specific target groups of the Fund (maximum EUR 75,000 per project)
  • Duration: 10 years
  • Repayment: after the 7th year in 3 equal annual instalments

Application procedure

The application must be made using the KBG NRW application form.

Links / Hotlines

Request for a flat-rate reduction of advance payments already made for 2019

Brief description: The tax authorities grant a flat-rate loss carryback from 2020 for the subsequent reduction of advance payments for 2019.

For whom:

  • Eligible for application are ‘Corona sufferers’ who generate profit income and/or income from renting and leasing. It is assumed to be affected if the advance payments for 2020 have already been reduced to zero euros and it is assured that overall negative income is expected for 2020 due to the corona crisis.
  • The income previously recognized for prepayment purposes for the year 2019 will be reduced by a flat rate of 15 percent upon application, provided that ongoing losses can be expected from the respective sources of income due to the corona pandemic. The advance payments already made for 2019 will be recalculated on this basis, reduced and the corresponding differences refunded in the short term after offsetting any tax arrears.

Application procedure:

Links / Hotlines:

Tax deferrals 

Brief description: The tax authorities are accommodating companies affected by the crisis by granting interest-free tax deferrals (income tax, corporation tax and turnover tax) and reducing advance payments (income tax, corporation tax and trade tax) on request and are using their discretionary powers to the greatest possible extent in favor of taxpayers. 

For whom: 

  • All taxable companies affected by the crisis.

Application procedure:

Links / Hotlines:


Lump-sum refund of advance tax payments

Brief description: Anyone who has been severely affected by the Corona pandemic and is expecting substantial losses can now receive repayments from 2019 using a simplified, flat-rate loss carryback procedure. Under this procedure, the income for 2019 previously set for the advance payment will be reduced by a flat rate of 15% and any resulting differences will be paid out.

For whom:

  • Taxpayers directly and significantly negatively affected by the Corona crisis who have not yet been assessed for the 2019 calendar year

Application procedure:

  • This procedure is applied for directly via the tax office responsible for you.

Links / Hotlines:

Brief description: In the event of general operational difficulties (loss of orders, supply problems, etc.) and officially ordered closures of operations, companies have the option of applying for short-time work compensation (KUG).

For whom:

  • German companies

Application procedure:

  • The application for KUG is granted by the respective competent employment agency. This agency checks on a case-by-case basis whether all requirements for the granting of short-time work compensation are met.

Links / Hotlines:

Addition:

  • Employees in Corona-related short-time work whose working hours are reduced by at least 50 percent will in future receive more money if the short-time work exceeds a certain duration: As of the 4th month of short-time work compensation, the short-time work compensation (KuG) rises to 70 percent of the lost net pay (77 percent for households with children); as of the 7th month of KuG compensation, the short-time work compensation rises to 80 percent of the lost net pay (87 percent for households with children). This regulation applies until 31 December 2021 at the latest.
  • The governing coalition is expanding the additional income opportunities for employees on short-time work: in future, short-time workers in all occupations will be allowed to earn up to the full amount of their previous monthly income. This regulation applies from 1 May to 31 December 2020.

Promotion of entrepreneurial know-how through management consultancy

Brief description: The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control extends BAFA support for entrepreneurial know-how.

Important note: The BAFA received more applications for the attractive support module for companies affected by corona than budget funds available.

Due to the great demand, the funds earmarked for this special support module have already been exhausted, and no additional funds can be made available. Funding from the special corona module has therefore been discontinued prematurely. Therefore, for the time being, only applications that have already been granted can be approved and the funding paid out to the consultant. The prerequisites for this are also that you have submitted a proof of use eligible for funding and that sufficient budget funds are available.

The other modules for the promotion of entrepreneurial know-how allow for further subsidized consultations at favorable conditions. You can find more information here.

For whom: 

  • Young companies that have been on the market for no longer than two years (startup companies)
  • Companies from the third year after foundation (existing companies)
  • Companies in economic difficulties, regardless of age (companies in difficulty)

Scope: 

  • The companies concerned receive a subsidy for a consultancy service amounting to 100%, up to a maximum of EUR 4,000, of the invoiced consultancy costs (full financing).
  • The amount of the grant is based on the maximum eligible consultancy costs (assessment basis) and the location of the company.

Application procedure: 

  • The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) is responsible for implementing the program
  • Before submitting an application, young companies and companies in difficulty must hold a free information meeting with a regional contact person about the conditions for funding. Existing companies are free to take advantage of an information meeting.
  • Online portal for submitting applications 

Links / Hotlines:


Suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency

The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection has initially suspended the obligation for companies to file for insolvency until 30.09.2020. The regular three-week period of the Insolvency Ordinance has thus been suspended for the time being. The hitherto temporary legal regulation is to be promptly extended until December 31, 2020, with restrictions as to content.


Compensation for school and daycare closures

Please note: Currently, fraudsters are trying to obtain sensitive data with fake websites. For this reason, please make sure that the address line of your browser contains one of the two addresses ifsg-online.de or ifsg-antrag.de. Similar addresses or addresses with other endings are not offered by the Federal Ministry of the Interior or the federal states. Under no circumstances should you enter your data there.

Brief description: If you are unable to work due to the care of your children because of a school or daycare closure and therefore have a loss of earnings, you can receive compensation.

For whom:

  • Working parents and foster parents of children in need of care who have not yet reached the age of twelve or who are disabled and need help and whose schools or day-care centers have been closed.

Scope & requirements:

  • According to § 56 para. 1a IfSG, employees and self-employed persons with custody rights can receive compensation for a maximum of 6 weeks due to the closure of day-care centers or schools.
    • The child's day-care center or school has been closed by official order.
    • No public holidays, school or daycare holidays fall within the period of care during which the facilities would have been closed anyway.
    • The child has not yet reached the age of 12 or requires special assistance (for example due to a disability).
    • There was no possibility of providing alternative, reasonable care for the child (for example, by older siblings or emergency care in the school or day care center).

Application procedure:

Links / Hotlines:


Compensation for quarantine / ban on activity

Brief description: You can receive compensation if you have lost your earnings due to quarantine or a ban on work. The ban on activity or quarantine must be ordered by the public health department or another competent authority.

For whom:

  • Employees, self-employed and freelancers affected by quarantine or a ban on activity.
  • Employers who pay compensation to their employees (for a maximum of six weeks).

Scope & conditions:

  • According to § 56 para. 1 IfSG, employees and self-employed persons receive compensation if they have suffered a loss of earnings due to an officially ordered quarantine or a ban on work.
    • You are in quarantine according to § 30 IfSG or are banned from working according to § 31 IfSG.
    • You have no possibility to compensate for your loss of earnings by another reasonable activity.
    • The application for compensation must be submitted within 3 months after the start of the ban on work or the end of the quarantine.
    • You yourself are not ill or unfit for work.

Application procedure:

Responsible in North Rhine-Westphalia are the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (administrative districts of Cologne and Düsseldorf)

and the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (administrative districts of Arnsberg, Detmold and Münster)

Links / Hotlines:


Promotion of home office (go-digital)

Brief description: The go-digital funding program supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and craft enterprises that want to optimize their business processes using digital solutions. New: Companies can now have home office workplaces subsidized.

For whom:

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (< 100 employees) in the industrial or craft sectors

Application procedure:

  • In a total of 3 modules that can be combined with each other, companies are supported by one of over 1,000 authorized consultants. 
    • Digitalized business processes, including home office
    • Digital market development
    • IT security

Links / Hotlines:


Commercial tenancy law

Brief description: In the period from 01.04.2020 to 30.06.2020, the tenant cannot be terminated by the landlord for his commercial premises, even if the rent is not paid despite the due date. However, the non-payment must necessarily be caused by the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.

For whom:

  • Commercial tenants, especially those affected by the closure of their businesses (e.g. retail, catering, ...)

Links / Hotlines:

Support for founders and startups

Already announced by the Federal Government at the beginning of April, the package of measures for start-ups has now been launched together with KfW and KfW Capital.

The financial assistance will build on existing structures and is intended purely for startups, but not for investors. The aid program is based on two so-called pillars.

Brief description:

  • The Corona Matching Facility is the first pillar of the federal government's support for start-ups and young growth companies.
  • The financial assistance supports VC-funded start-ups and young growth companies that have financing needs and a strong German connection during the Corona crisis. A further condition is that the start-ups and young growth companies did not have any financial difficulties as of 31 December 2019. You can find more information here.

For whom:

  • Only private VC fund managers with a German portfolio are eligible to apply, to which the following applies:
    • Independent German or European VC fund manager
    • Successful completion of the audit by KfW Capital or the EIF

Application procedure: The public funding is requested by the private venture capital funds and not by the start-ups, and the funds must therefore be subject to prior due diligence. Further information on the application procedure can be found here.

 

Brief description:

  • Convertible loan of NRW.BANK to corporations (UG/GmbH) in the seed or start-up phase (not older than 36 months) due to corona crisis.
  • NRW.BANK uses funding from KfW to grant the convertible loan. These funds come from the so-called "Pillar 2" of the EUR 2 billion package of measures of the Federal Government for start-ups and small SMEs.

For whom:

  • Funding is available for innovative, growth-oriented corporations (UG/GmbH) in the seed or start-up phase (not older than 36 months) that have been demonstrably affected by the effects of the corona crisis.
  • Funding is provided for measures that are related to the establishment or growth of the company.

Scope & conditions:

  • Type of funding: convertible loan
  • Minimum amount: 15.000 €
  • Maximum amount: € 200,000 (possibly limited by the Federal Regulation on Small Grants 2020)
  • Duration: 6 years Final maturity
  • Interest rate: The interest rate is 6% p. a. (deferral until conversion or final maturity).
  • Early repayment fee: none, repayable at any time
  • Co-investment: not required
  • The registered office of the company or the investment location must be in North Rhine-Westphalia.
  • The company must be demonstrably affected by the effects of the Corona crisis.

Application procedure:

The application must be submitted in good time on the form provided for this purpose plus the annexes via startup-akut@nrwbank.de to

NRW.BANK
Bereich Eigenkapitalfinanzierungen
Abteilung 101-68001
Kavalleriestraße 22
40213 Düsseldorf

The funds are granted directly to the applicant by NRW.BANK.

NRW.SeedCap

Brief description: Investments by the NRW.BANK in corporations in the startup phase (up to 18 or 36 months after the foundation).

For whom:

  • SMEs (corporations) being in the founding or startup phase (up to this point not older than 18 months or 36 months). New: Generally up to 36 months after the foundation.

Scope:

  • Measures are financed that are related to the establishment of a company or companies that need financing for investments and/or working capital. In general, the Business Angel and the NRW.BANK take over the financing in equal parts.
  • In principle, the NRW.BANK provides equity capital in form of an investment in the same amount as the business angel and pari passu on its terms. The financing part taken over by the NRW.BANK must amount to at least EUR 15,000. The maximum amount in the first round of financing is EUR 200,000.

Application procedure:

NRW.BANK
Bereich Eigenkapitalfinanzierungen
Abteilung 101-68100
Kavalleriestraße 22
40213 Düsseldorf

Links / Hotlines:


NRW.BANK.Venture Fonds

Brief description: The NRW.BANK.Venture Fund promotes innovative companies as a co-investor in North Rhine-Westphalia in attractive future industries.

For whom:

  • Startups and young growth companies (corporations) with a convincing business model, first or second institutional financing round (Series A or B). New: Also possible in a later growth phase (e.g. financing rounds C or D).

Scope:

  • Equity capital is usually provided in form of a direct minority stake or a convertible loan.
  • The minimum amount of equity financing is EUR 0.25 million; the maximum amount in the first step is EUR 3.0 million. In total, the maximum amount is EUR 6.0 million per company.

Application procedure: 

Links / Hotlines:


NRW.Start-up akut

Brief description: Convertible loan from the NRW.BANK to corporations in the seed or startup phase due to the corona crisis.

For whom:

  • Funding is given to innovative, growth-oriented corporations in the seed or startup phase (not older than 36 months) that have been verifiably affected by the effects of the corona crisis.

Scope:

  • Companies receive up to EUR 200,000 over a period of six years. The loan is due or can be converted into equity capital at the end of the term or with the entry of a new investor.
  • Advantage: in the acute crisis, the company is not burdened by interest and principal payments.

Application procedure: 

NRW.BANK
Bereich Eigenkapitalfinanzierungen
Abteilung 101-68100
Kavalleriestraße 22
40213 Düsseldorf

Links / Hotlines:


Founder's Scholarships

All scholarships that expire between 01 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 can now be extended by three months without bureaucracy. For this purpose, Projektträger Jülich will contact all scholarship holders. Further information is available at: www.gruenderstipendium.nrw 


Start-up transfer

In order to provide greater support for spin-offs from universities, the funding period for projects that expire between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 is expanded by three months. For the application round ending on April 30, 2020, the documents can also be submitted later so that the respective project start is not delayed despite the closure of many colleges and universities. Further information is available at: www.wirtschaft.nrw/start-transfer

Financial aid for particularly affected sectors

Companies in the hotel and catering trade receive sector-specific information from DEHOGA.

  • https://www.dehoga-bundesverband.de/presse-news/aktuelles/dehoga-informiert-coronavirus/
  • If the restrictions currently required can be relaxed and restaurants, cafés and other catering establishments get back on their feet again, they should get back on their feet quickly. For this reason, the VAT on food in restaurants and catering establishments is to be reduced to the reduced VAT rate of 7% from 1 July 2020 for a limited period until 30 June 2021. The corresponding legal regulation is now being introduced.

The Competence Center Creative Industries CREATIVE. NRW provides information on support measures for the cultural and creative industries.

The special support program of the Ministry of Culture and Science, which was launched on the 20th of March as a bridging aid in the amount of EUR 5 million, has now been exhausted. A follow-up solution is currently being worked on. Support continues to be available through federal and state programs.”

The federal and state sponsors have developed a joint aid program for projects that are generally funded jointly with measures in the areas of production, distribution and cinema.

The German Travel Association has published extensive information on its homepage about the economic impact on the travel industry.

Other useful links

Information page (FAQ) of the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here you will find ongoing information on the COVID 19 pandemic in a total of 12 languages:

NRW hotline for the state government's aid package: ZENIT takes over the central NRW hotline for the "Unternehmen-Soforthilfe NRW" rescue package The hotline can be reached on weekdays between 8:00 and 18:00 hrs on the telephone number 0208 30004-39

You will find current information from the Federal Employment Agency for companies on the short-time working allowance under the following link:

Further up-to-date information from the NRW Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency can be found at the following path:

You will find current information and contact persons for companies under the following link:

Decrees to combat the corona pandemic: The relevant decrees to combat the corona pandemic can be found on the homepage of the NRW Health Ministry in chronological order.

Current case numbers for NRW can be found here:

Important questions and answers about the corona virus are prepared for the following topics in the FAQ list on the national portal.

Basic information, situation in North Rhine-Westphalia, companies, employees, child care, schools, universities, hospitals / nursing and old people's homes, justice, cultural institutions, consumers:

Contact persons/hotlines, current news, collected information etc. are compiled on the Corona site of the country:

The Chambers of Industry and Commerce in North Rhine-Westphalia have compiled helpful links and tips for companies:

The Landes-Gewerbeförderungsstelle des nordrhein-westfälischen Handwerks (LGH) summarises on its Corona service page mainly information for handicraft enterprises in form of a link list. The offer is updated several times a day. The range of information is supplemented by a service hotline for the NRW craft organizations and an overview of the service hotlines of the NRW Chambers of Trade for their member companies:

Unternehmer NRW provides the most important information on current developments from the perspective of labor law and economic policy:

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Regional Associations of the Rhineland (LVR) and Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) are responsible, depending on the location of the permanent establishment, for compensation in the event of a ban on work and loss of earnings as well as school and kindergarten closure in connection with the Infection Protection Act:

What employees need to know: Labor law, home office, short-time working allowance.

14 questions and answers for employees. Additional information in case of dismissal and unemployment but also on company pandemic planning can be found here:

Municipal online platform for the coronavirus launched: On the initiative of the KGSt and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, a separate section on the corona virus has been set up on the DStGB's "Network of Municipalities" exchange platform:

Database that supports from the finding of subsidies to the preparation of documents for banks:

Digital solution for the intuitive application for short-time work benefits. With simple and understandable questions, the newly developed chatbot fills out the form for notification of short-time work for the Federal Employment Agency with the employer and assists with the rest of the process.

The Federal Association of German Startups has presented a 4-step plan to protect German startups in the corona crisis:

Here you will find ongoing information on the COVID 19 pandemic in a total of 12 languages.