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Funding in North Rhine-Westphalia: grants for websites, marketing and digitalisation

In North Rhine-Westphalia, 5 state programmes are currently open that can subsidise services like ours – plus the federal programmes. Here you find all of them with funding rate, conditions and link.

Funding finder for North Rhine-Westphalia

1What are you planning? Select as many as you like.

State programmes in North Rhine-Westphalia (5)

North Rhine-Westphalia

Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – digitalisation

Official name: Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – Digitalisierung · NRW.BANK

Development/further development of marketable digital products with high innovation potential (AI, machine learning, data mining, real-time processing, AR/VR) by external contractors

50% · €15,000 (minimum threshold €4,000)

Suits: Software and apps, Automation

  • Apply before placing the order (no project start before the approval notice)
  • Based in NRW
  • Contractor with relevant references

Note: Only relevant for agencies with genuine AI/AR/VR product development; classic website/shop/process digitalisation NO LONGER eligible.

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

North Rhine-Westphalia

Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – digital security

Official name: Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – Digitale Sicherheit · NRW.BANK

A: external IT service for as-is analysis of IT security; B: staff training; C: antivirus/anti-ransomware/patch management software, firewall solutions incl. installation (can be combined)

50% · €15,000 (minimum threshold €4,000)

Suits: IT security, Training, Consulting

  • Apply before placing the order
  • Based in NRW
  • Service provider with references

Note: Only fits if the agency offers IT security services (analysis, training, security software).

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

North Rhine-Westphaliaplease verify

NRW Business Consulting Programme (BPW) – start-up/succession consulting

Official name: Beratungsprogramm Wirtschaft NRW (BPW) – Gründungs-/Nachfolgeberatung · State of NRW (Wirtschaft.NRW), handled via IHK/HWK advice centres

Business, financial, HR and organisational consulting after start-up/takeover

50% (max. €510 per consulting day) · 6 days (start-up) or 8 days (takeover); have the IHK or HWK confirm beforehand

Suits: Consulting, Strategy

  • start-ups/takeovers only
  • consulting via accredited consultants
  • application before consulting

Note: Only for agencies offering start-up/strategy consulting; implementation services (web, branding) not eligible. Have the IHK or HWK confirm the terms before applying.

Status: probably running (guideline of 1 September 2023)

Checked: 17 April 2026Programme page ↗

North Rhine-Westphaliaplease verify

Education Cheque 2.0 NRW (Bildungsscheck)

Official name: Bildungsscheck 2.0 NRW · NRW district governments (ESF online portal), State of NRW / ESF+

Vocational further training related to current/future work

50% · €500 (once per calendar year)

Suits: Training

  • Application by the individual online before course start
  • Residence in NRW
  • Income limit

Note: Only relevant if the agency offers open courses/training for individuals; clarify the requirements for training providers beforehand. Unsuitable for company contracts.

Status: running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

North Rhine-Westphalia

Messe meets Mittelstand NRW (trade fair funding for SMEs)

Official name: Messe meets Mittelstand NRW · State of NRW (MWIKE), administered by NRW.Global Business

Grant for participation in trade fairs abroad (per IHK Köln also international trade fairs in Germany), including virtual ones – incl. advertising and preparation measures, stand rental, stand construction by third parties.

up to 50% · €7,500 per company and year, max. 3 grants

Suits: Trade fair presence, Print, Film and photo

  • Application to NRW.Global Business at least 2 months before the trade fair starts
  • Trade fair in AUMA calendar
  • cannot be combined with other public programmes

Note: Trade fair-related costs only; general advertising and corporate films without a trade fair link are not eligible. Clarify with NRW.Global Business beforehand whether promotional material and stand construction are recognised.

Status: running – valid until 31 December 2027

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Currently closed or expired

North Rhine-Westphaliaplease verifycurrently closed

Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – digital processes

Official name: Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – Digitale Prozesse · NRW.BANK

External consulting on digitalising internal business/production processes: as-is analysis, target concept, software selection, implementation support

Fixed amount up to €500 per consultant day (max. 30 days) · €15,000

Suits: Consulting, Automation, Software and apps

  • Apply before placing the order (binding contract = project start)
  • Based in NRW
  • Quote from a contractor based in the EU required, no subcontracting

Note: Only the consulting part is eligible (software selection/implementation as consulting), no web/marketing. The quota was used up within a few days due to high demand – apply early in the next call.

Status: Fully booked for 2026 – maximum number of applications reached after a few days

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

North Rhine-Westphaliacurrently closed

NRW.BANK.Impuls KI (AI impulse grant)

Official name: NRW.BANK.Impuls KI · NRW.BANK

Grant for AI strategy consulting and building an AI test version.

50% · €25,000 in 2 years

Suits: Consulting, Strategy, Automation, Software and apps

  • no start before the approval notice

Note: No applications possible at present – watch for reopening.

Status: Application stop – portal closed due to high demand

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide programmes

Germany-wide

Funding for management consulting for SMEs (BAFA)

Official name: Förderung von Unternehmensberatungen für KMU (BAFA) · BMWE / BAFA (ESF Plus), applications via coordinating offices (Leitstellen)

Grant towards conceptual individual consulting on all economic, financial, HR and organisational questions of business management (max. 5 consulting days)

Saxony excl. Leipzig region: 80%; Leipzig region (City of Leipzig, Leipzig district, Nordsachsen) and western German states: 50% · Eligible costs max. €3,500 per consultation → max. €2,800 (80%) or €1,750 (50%); max. 2 consultations per year, 5 over the programme term

Suits: Consulting, Strategy, IT security, Automation

  • Apply online BEFORE consulting starts; sign contract only after the information letter from the Leitstelle (coordinating office)
  • Consultant must be registered with BAFA, mainly (>50% of revenue) management consulting, with QA system
  • Consulting report with analysis, weaknesses, specific recommendations for action

Note: Only consulting is eligible (e.g. marketing and sales strategy, digitalisation/AI strategy, recruitment concept, IT security concept), not implementation (design, website, campaign, film). Applications only until 31 December 2026.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

INQA coaching

Official name: INQA-Coaching · BMAS / ESF Plus; approval by DRV Knappschaft-Bahn-See; entry via INQA advice centres (IBS)

Grant for participatory coaching (agile method with lab team) on HR/work-organisation change needs related to digital transformation

80% of the maximum daily rate (€1,200 net/day); 20% own contribution · Max. 12 consulting days → max. €11,520 grant

Suits: Coaching, Consulting, Automation, Training

  • First INQA consultation at an IBS (initial advice centre), then INQA coaching voucher (early start permitted from voucher)
  • Only coaches from the pool authorised for INQA coaching, no subcontracting
  • Reimbursement principle: company pays upfront

Note: Suits AI/automation rollouts in terms of work organisation, leadership, employee participation – not technical implementation or marketing.

Status: Running

Checked: 22 June 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP promotional loan for digitalisation (KfW 511/512) incl. ERP grant

Official name: ERP-Förderkredit Digitalisierung (KfW 511/512) inkl. ERP-Förderzuschuss · BMWE / BMF / KfW via your bank

Loan in 3 levels: Basis (hardware, standard software, cloud migration), LevelUp (process digitalisation, digital business models, implementation of a social media communication concept, digitalisation strategy, IT security concepts, further training), HighEnd (future technologies such as AI, big data).

Reduced-interest loan; grant 3% (LevelUp) or 5% (HighEnd) of the disbursed loan, level 1 without grant; optional 50% liability exemption · Loan up to €7.5 million (level 1) or €25 million (level 2/3); grant max. €200,000

Suits: Software and apps, Cloud, IT security, Automation, Online shop, Website, Social media, Training, Strategy, Web hosting

  • Apply via your bank before the project starts
  • KfW digitalisation check (mandatory for Basis level)
  • No refinancing/follow-up financing

Note: Broadest nationwide lever for implementation services, but a loan (grant share only 3–5%). Implementing a social media concept is explicitly named under LevelUp; whether a web shop or hosting is recognised is decided case by case by your bank and KfW.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

ERP start-up loan – StartGeld (KfW 067)

Official name: ERP-Gründerkredit – StartGeld (KfW 067) · BMWE / KfW via your bank

Loan for investments and working capital (e.g. software, marketing, website)

80% liability exemption for your bank; interest rate market-dependent · Up to €200,000 external financing need, of which max. €80,000 working capital

Suits: Brand and logo, Website, Online shop, Print, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Film and photo, Trade fair presence, Software and apps, Web hosting, Cloud

  • Apply at your bank before the project starts
  • Viable business concept

Note: Loan, not a grant. Have your bank confirm the terms before applying.

Status: Running

Checked: 1 February 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wide

Trade fair programme 'Young Innovators' – participation of young innovative companies in leading international trade fairs in Germany

Official name: Messeprogramm 'Young Innovators' – Teilnahme junger innovativer Unternehmen an internationalen Leitmessen in Deutschland · BMWE / BAFA (with AUMA and trade fair organisers)

Grant towards stand rent and stand construction on the BMWE joint stand (invoiced by the trade fair organiser)

60% for the first two participations, 50% from the third · Max. €7,500 per exhibitor and trade fair

Suits: Trade fair presence

  • Register with the trade fair organiser no later than 8 weeks before the fair starts, then apply to BAFA immediately
  • Only trade fairs on the annual BMWE list
  • Innovation must be described (own development)

Note: Only stand rent/construction of the joint stand – own stand design, print, film or trade fair marketing by the agency are NOT eligible.

Status: Running

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Mittelstand-Digital centres (free services)

Official name: Mittelstand-Digital Zentren (kostenfreie Angebote) · BMWE

Free workshops, demonstrators, practical projects, initial consulting (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: Consulting, Automation, IT security, Social media, SEO and online marketing, Online shop, Training

  • No grant for external service providers

Note: Which centres will start in 2027 is not yet known. Thematic centres (e.g. retail, crafts) partly run until 31 December 2026.

Status: Transition phase: existing network being gradually phased out until end of 2026

Checked: 13 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Cybersecurity Transfer Office for SMEs / CYBERsicher check and emergency help

Official name: Transferstelle Cybersicherheit im Mittelstand / CYBERsicher Check und Notfallhilfe · BMWE (Mittelstand-Digital funding priority), a BVMW project

Free events, materials, CYBERsicher check, emergency help (no cash grant)

100% free of charge · —

Suits: IT security

  • No grant for external IT security service providers

Note: There has been no standalone federal GRANT for IT security in SMEs since go-digital ended; IT security is covered via Digi-Z/Digi-D (SN), KfW 511/512 (LevelUp) or as a consulting topic (BAFA, Saxon business consulting).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 October 2026Programme page ↗

Germany-wideplease verify

Training funding for employees (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz' – Qualification Opportunities Act)

Official name: Weiterbildungsförderung Beschäftigter (§ 82 SGB III, 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz') · Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency, employer service)

Grant towards course fees and wages during training

< 50 employees: up to 100% of course fees and up to 75% wage subsidy; 50–499: 50%/up to 50%; 500 or more: 25%; +5 percentage points with a collective or works agreement · No fixed upper limit

Suits: Training

  • Course > 120 hours
  • Provider and course AZAV-accredited
  • More than job-specific adaptation training

Note: Only usable if the agency (or a partner) is an AZAV-certified training provider offering courses > 120 h (e.g. AI/digital marketing qualification).

Status: Running

Checked: 1 April 2024Programme page ↗

How funding works with Trendtreiber

  1. Initial consultationWe clarify your project and check together which programmes fit in your federal state.
  2. Quote for the applicationYou receive a fixed-price quote and a project description that you can attach to your application.
  3. Application before orderYou submit the application yourself. You only place the order once the programme allows it – usually after approval.
  4. Delivery and proofWe deliver the project and provide invoices and documentation so that you can easily prove how the funds were used.

Trendtreiber in North Rhine-Westphalia

Digitalisation in Düsseldorf · Advertising in Düsseldorf

Frequently asked questions about funding in North Rhine-Westphalia

What funding is available in North Rhine-Westphalia for digitalisation and marketing?

In North Rhine-Westphalia, 5 state programmes that can subsidise services such as automation, consulting, film and photo, it security, print, software and apps are currently open: Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – digitalisation, Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) – digital security, NRW Business Consulting Programme (BPW) – start-up/succession consulting, Education Cheque 2.0 NRW (Bildungsscheck), Messe meets Mittelstand NRW (trade fair funding for SMEs). The federal programmes apply as well.

Is a new website or online shop funded in North Rhine-Westphalia?

A pure advertising website is hardly eligible in North Rhine-Westphalia at the moment. Digital processes such as an online shop, booking or interfaces have better chances and can be funded through digitalisation programmes.

Do I have to apply before placing the order?

In almost all programmes, yes. Talk to us before the project starts – you will get a quote and a project description for your application.

All information without guarantee, as of 13 October 2026. Funding programmes change often and budgets can run out. Only the guidelines and the decision of the funding body are binding. We are not a funding consultancy and do not submit applications for you; we provide the quote and documents for your application.

See all federal states and the funding finder →

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Briefly describe your project. We check which programmes fit and provide the quote and documents for the application.

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