The “Produktives.NRW” competition call supports investments in critical technologies in the areas of digital innovations, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnology in NRW.
Industry in Europe and North Rhine-Westphalia is facing major challenges, particularly due to necessary economic adjustments in value chains and energy supply. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging to strengthen economic independence and secure long-term competitiveness. The aim of the “Produktives.NRW” funding program is to reduce strategic dependencies in the European Union and North Rhine-Westphalia while promoting the production of critical technologies with high economic potential.
Funding is available for companies that want to set up or expand and invest in critical technologies. The EU is providing around 140 million euros from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) for this purpose. The funding area includes the Rhenish mining area (excluding the district of Euskirchen) as well as the cities of Bottrop, Dorsten, Gladbeck and Marl in the northern Ruhr region.
Eligible critical technologies include
- digital technologies and technology-intensive innovations: These primarily include quantum technologies, advanced semiconductor and sensor technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems (especially for industrial and mobility applications) as well as advanced connectivity, navigation and digital technologies.
- Environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies: These include advanced materials, manufacturing and recycling technologies, circular economy technologies, renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, power grid technologies, battery and energy storage technologies, efficient technologies for energy systems, transformative industrial technologies for decarbonization, climate-friendly propulsion technologies for transport, and sustainable alternative and renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin.
- Biotechnologies: This includes developments in bioinformatics, process engineering and cell and tissue culture and engineering.
A total of three submission rounds are planned until February 2025. The first submission deadline is October 1, 2024 and projects will be selected by an independent committee.