Program for Internationalization - Promoting Foreign Trade

The Program for Internationalization promotes the expansion of bilateral regional relations. Support is provided for projects that serve to sustainably strengthen economic cooperation between Berlin and foreign companies, networks and industries. The program for network building is aimed primarily at business-related institutions and internationally oriented networks with economic objectives in Berlin. Eligible for funding are measures to build up international networks that serve in particular to implement the joint innovation strategy of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg (innoBB) in the field of action of internationalization.

Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit indirectly from the funding by taking part in the network activities (e.g. regular entrepreneurial trips, matchmaking or workshops) that the project management organization develops, accompanies and implements. In this way, SMEs from Berlin cannot only open up new sales markets, but also establish cooperation opportunities along the entire value chain.

Contact us not only as a potential applicant, but also as an SME! It is possible that a network project related to your industry and a target region of interest to you is already being implemented and open for you to participate in.

More information in English is available here: Investitionsbank Berlin – Netzwerkbildung

Individual funding for a company within the Program for Internationalization is possible through the guideline of SME projects. Funding is available for:

• Participation in trade fairs, exhibitions, congresses, cooperation exchanges, fashion shows, showrooms with a predominantly international and specialist focus, provided that these do not predominantly serve a direct sale.

The own contribution that a company has to make is always 50 percent of the total cost, with funding up to 12.000€. Funding is available for companies in the health care, energy technology, transport, mobility and logistics, ICT, media and creative industries, optics, manufacturing and production-related services sectors.

More information in English is available here: Investitionsbank Berlin – KMU

This part of the program funds projects aimed at opening up foreign markets and the internationalisation of companies, such as

• Joint and industry information booths at fairs and exhibitions of trans-regional relevance in Germany and abroad, primarily such fairs and exhibitions that are recorded in the Berlin-Brandenburg trade fair schedule. The Berlin-Brandenburg trade fair schedule is adopted by the Senate Department of Econimic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.
• Location presentations as well as contact and co-operation exchanges, conferences, workshops and information events in Germany and abroad that particularly serve the economic interests of the Federal State of Berlin
• Trips by company delegations that particularly serve the economic interests of the Federal State of Berlin

The program for joint projects provides funding for business-related institutions. Individual companies are not eligible. However, they can participate in delegation trips or joint trade fair stands organized by institutions or associations.

More information in English is available here: Investitionsbank Berlin – Gemeinschaftsprojekte