Go International, the Free State of Bavaria's flagship export promotion instrument, is entering a new funding period. Effective immediately, interested companies seeking to tap into new foreign markets can apply for grants relatively easily. To provide targeted support for new foreign activities of this kind by medium-sized Bavarian companies, the Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) and Chambers of Skilled Crafts, and BIHK Service GmbH – Foreign Trade Center Bavaria (AWZ), with the support of the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology, are offering foreign trade funding from Bavarian sources as part of the "Go International – Fit for Foreign Markets" funding project. The funding is provided by the European Union as part of the ERDF program "Investments in Growth and Employment" 2014–2020 and the Free State of Bavaria. The project runs until the end of 2020.
The Go International program has been in existence for eleven years. To date, around 1,500 companies have received funding totaling over €6.5 million. The funding program is aimed specifically at Bavarian SMEs, but is also open to Startups from Bavaria interesting and worth considering.
Whether a website or company brochure needs to be translated into other languages, products need to be certified for foreign markets, or a trade fair appearance is planned in the new target country, all of these measures are eligible for funding. Also eligible are language courses for employees, targeted training for the relevant foreign market, and even customs consulting.
Up to two target countries are supported per companyThe prerequisite is that the company has not previously operated in these countries. Grants of up to €20,000 are available for each country. A company can therefore receive up to €40,000 in funding from the Go International program during the current funding period, which runs until 2020. It is up to the company whether it draws on the funds in one year or spread them over three years. Grants range from 25 to 50 percent, depending on where the company is based within Bavaria. A detailed overview can be found on the Go International website.
More information about the project can be found on the Go International website. Important forms and information sheets can be found here.
