The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) supports international projects that develop innovative, exemplary and economically viable solutions for the environment, ecology and sustainability. Based on ecological sustainability, it is important to us that, as far as possible, social added value is also generated compared to the current situation. The regional focus of the DBU’s international funding is on the countries of Central and (South) Eastern Europe (CEE). Funding for international projects beyond CEE is possible in individual cases. Information on the eligibility criteria can be found here.
As a rule, legal entities are funded – e.g. small and medium-sized enterprises, clubs, organizations, associations, local authorities, scientific institutions and universities. Natural persons and state institutions can be funded in individual cases following a separate review. Special consideration is given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). One focus is on funding cooperation projects between an applicant in Germany and local international partners.
Please inform yourself first here on this website. You can also read the DBU funding guidelines (EN: Funding Guidelines of the German Federal Environmental Foundation) – in particular the section “Procedural provisions” – is recommended, as these define the legal framework for funding.
The next step is then to upload a “project outline” in our online application procedure in order to initiate the technical processing of your request at the DBU. If you have any questions, the DBU staff will contact you.
Before submitting the outline online, you are welcome to contact the DBU contact persons are available for an initial consultation. Please note that they will not yet assess the technical content of your project idea.
The amount of funding is reviewed and determined on an individual basis. The amount of funding per project (excluding own contribution) is often between €100,000 and €400,000. Projects with a funding amount of up to €175,000 are approved by the Secretary General of the DBU. Projects with higher funding volumes are additionally assessed and approved by the DBU Board of Trustees.
In accordance with our funding guidelines, these are not eligible for funding:
Funding is also generally not considered if a project does not comply with the statutory purpose of the DBU. This is particularly the case if a project
Please note the detailed lists of projects that are generally not eligible for funding for the following funding topics:
Funding theme 0: Open-topic funding
Funding topic 1: Sustainability communication, education and evaluation
Funding theme 4: Climate and resource-friendly construction
Funding theme 5: Sustainable neighborhood development
Funding theme 6: Renewable energy, energy conservation and efficiency
Funding on an expenditure basis (up to 100 % funding rate): no. For information see Information sheet for the calculation on an expenditure basis (EN: Info sheet expenditure-based funding).
Funding on a cost basis (usually 50% funding rate): possible. For information see Info sheet for the calculation on a cost basis (EN: Info sheet cost-based funding) and FAQ “When can overhead costs be applied for?” in the section “Questions on funding quotas, own contribution and overhead costs”.
Acceptance of the funding obliges the grant recipients to comply with the DBU’s funding guidelines, to concentrate their efforts on the project in accordance with the funding application or the work plan and to inform the DBU immediately if:
1) the funding project is interrupted or terminated,
2) there is a risk of insolvency or bankruptcy,
3) circumstances arise that jeopardize the successful implementation of the project,
4) circumstances arise that make the ecological or sustainable impact of the project no longer achievable,
5) they receive relevant funding from another source.
The funding guidelines (EN: Funding Guidelines) of the DBU must be observed.
The funding activities of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt fall under EU state aid regulations. The funding guidelines have been notified to the EU Commission. In practice, the classification of the funding as state aid means that the admissibility of funding projects must first be measured against European state aid law. Funding modalities with project partners outside the EU are agreed individually with the DBU. See also the Info sheet on EU state aid law (EN: Info sheet EU state aid law).
The funding rate is the percentage share of DBU funding in the total project costs that can be invoiced to the DBU. The own contribution is the difference between the total project costs and the proportionate funding provided by the DBU. The use of the total costs including the own contribution must be proven. Only the share corresponding to the funding quota will be paid out.
In principle, own contributions must be provided and verified in DBU funding projects, see Information sheet for the calculation on a cost basis (EN: Info sheet cost-based funding).
There are exceptions to this rule in the case of applications for funding on an “expenditure basis” by public universities in Germany or public institutions with basic state funding, see Information sheet for the calculation on an expenditure basis (EN: Info sheet expenditure-based funding).
Another exception is funding as de minimis aid in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, see Info sheet on EU state aid law (EN: Info sheet EU state aid law).
If you have any questions about project partners based outside Germany, please get in touch with the relevant contact person at the DBU.
The project can be co-financed from own funds and to an appropriate extent also in the form of voluntary work. In exceptional cases, co-financing from EU and state funds as well as from other sponsors or donations is possible. As a rule, however, federal funds should not be used for co-financing.
The own contribution can vary from project to project and for each individual project partner. The following applies within the EU: As a general rule, a minimum 50% own contribution should be assumed. Exceptions:
– Project partners who are entitled to calculate their project expenditure on an expenditure basis, see Information sheet for the calculation on an expenditure basis (EN: Info sheet expenditure-based funding)
– Funding as de minimis aid in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, see Info sheet on EU state aid law (EN: Info sheet EU state aid law)
As a rule, companies bear 75% of development-related project costs and 50% of research-related project costs. Supplements that reduce the amount of the own contribution are possible for small and medium-sized enterprises and for cooperation projects, see Info sheet on EU state aid law (EN: Info sheet EU state aid law).
Determining the upper limit for funding permitted under EU state aid law, from which the minimum amount of the own contribution to be made is derived, can be time-consuming in individual cases. Your DBU contact person will advise you if you have any questions.
For project partners outside the EU, the required own contribution is determined individually. As far as legally permissible in individual cases, they are based on the requirements described above.
Overhead costs can be applied for if employer contributions for social benefits (social insurance, health insurance, etc.) are incurred or if existing infrastructures to be maintained by the funding recipients (workplace costs including IT costs and building management costs, etc.) must be used to implement the project. In such cases, a flat-rate cost allowance of up to 45% may be applied in relation to the gross employee salaries and material overheads incurred in the project to a limited extent. The flat-rate cost allowance is based on the customary national conditions. For further options, please refer to the Information sheet for the calculation on a cost basis (EN: Info sheet cost-based funding). It is not possible to apply for additional “overhead costs”.
Generally no. However, there are exceptions, e.g. for the co-financing of your own contribution by third parties. If you have any questions, please contact your DBU contact persons.
It is not a loan. Funding is provided in the form of an earmarked, non-repayable grant. The use of the total project costs must be proven to the DBU.
We prefer a two-stage application process:
Applications can be submitted at any time. However, we advise you to submit the application or project outline as early as possible. You should expect several months before a funding decision is made and there is strong competition for funding.
This depends on the quality of the submitted project outline or full application and the amount of funding requested. If all the necessary data is complete and the content of the application is excellent, you can expect a processing time of around four to six months. If further queries are necessary, it will take correspondingly longer. If additional expert opinions are required for the assessment, the processing time will generally also take longer.
Project durations are on average between 18 and 36 months. Terms of more than 36 months are unusual and are only granted by the DBU in well-founded exceptional cases.
The most successful funding applications to the DBU very rarely have more than 20 pages. An initial project outline should not exceed ten pages. The basic rule is: as long as necessary, as short as possible. You can find a guide to writing your outline here.
If no “early start of measures” has been approved in advance, the project begins on the date of approval by the DBU. This means that the date of approval is the cut-off date from which project costs may be incurred and invoiced. A different date for the start of the project can also be set with the approval of the DBU. In principle, however, project funding must have been at least partially utilized within twelve months of project approval (which presupposes a project start), otherwise it will expire.
Communication with the DBU can take place in German or English. Applications and reports can also be submitted in both languages.
Project outlines can be uploaded in our online application procedure. Please add “International project” to the title of your project.
If you have any questions, the DBU staff will contact you. The DBU contact persons will be happy to provide you with initial advice before you submit your outline online. Please note that the technical content of your project idea will not be assessed here.
When submitting an outline and an application, tabular comparisons and/or mind maps can be included as an attachment for a more comprehensible and precise presentation of the project objectives and the solution approach as well as for a clearer differentiation from the state of the art.
The German partner is the applicant and assumes responsibility for the progress and results of the project vis-à-vis the DBU. As a rule, he/she is responsible for communication (reports, public relations work in Germany, proof of use, etc.).
In rare exceptional cases, this is possible after consultation with the DBU Head Office if the potential applicant is known to the DBU and smooth content-related and financial processing is guaranteed.
Yes, a joint application must be submitted for cooperation projects. Each individual project partner prepares their own cost plan. The individual cost plans are then attached to the application together with a joint cost overview. The (German) grant recipient assumes responsibility for the project vis-à-vis the DBU.
Yes. A cooperation agreement with important information on the joint project (e.g. deadlines for interim/final reports and proof of use) is always helpful. The project partners usually conclude a detailed cooperation agreement after approval; the willingness of all project partners involved should already be declared in the application. You can use our Guide to drawing up a cooperation agreement (EN: Cooperation agreement (boilerplate)) for this purpose.