Foreign Trade Support Programs

Sächsischer "Sachsen live"-Gemeinschaftsstand auf einer internationalen Messe

Source: Saxony Economic Development Corporation (WFS)

MESSEN, AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT – MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE / [TRADE SHOWS, FOREIGN TRADE - “MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE” DIRECTIVE ON FINANCIAL AID FOR SMES]

Within the scope of this subsidy program, the Federal State of Saxony supports SMEs in developing new markets. The objective is to improve the name recognition and acceptance of Saxony’s enterprises and their products both in Germany and abroad. The companies will receive the requisite support for the participation in international trade shows and exhibitions, product presentations and symposiums as well as for conducting feasibility or concomitant studies revolving around economic and technical issues of the respective target market.

Any financial support to participate in domestic trade shows and exhibitions is only possible for international trade shows which are either listed in the AUMA-Germany catalog of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) - please limit your search to the category “International” - or appear in Saxony’s Development Bank (SAB)’s list of additionally funded domestic trade shows. When it comes to foreign trade fairs, it is necessary to either be listed in the AUMA-Worldwide catalog or to submit informative documents on the respective foreign trade show or exhibition.

For any subsidies to be granted within the scope of the “Mittelstandsrichtlinie” Directive on Financial Aid for SMEs, it is irrelevant whether or not the requisite trade show or exhibition is a part of the Federal State of Saxony’s Landesmesseprogramm [State Trade Show Program] (please see opposite).

   

Detailed information (German)

LANDESMESSEPROGRAMM DES FREISTAATES SACHSEN - [STATE TRADE SHOW PROGRAM OF THE FEDERAL STATE OF SAXONY]

The annually published Landesmesseprogramm des Freistaates Sachsen [State Trade Show Program of the Federal State of Saxony] provides a list of Saxony’s joint trade show participations which are eligible to subsidies within the scope of the “Messen, Außenwirtschaft – Mittelstandsrichtlinie” [Trade Shows, Foreign Trade – “Mittelstandsrichtlinie” Directive on Financial Aid for SMEs]. These participations are organized on behalf of the Federal State of Saxony by the state-owned Saxony Economic Development Corporation (WFS) and/or the responsible chambers. In each case, applications for these support measures need to be submitted to Saxony’s Development Bank (SAB).

Another component of the State Trade Show Program are the trade show participations of Saxony’s food industry.

BETRIEBSBERATUNG / COACHING – “MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE” - [BUSINESS CONSULTATION / COACHING - “MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE” DIRECTIVE ON FINANCIAL AID FOR SME]

The “Business Consultation / Coaching” program is the core component of Saxony’s consultation funding for SMEs. Thanks to the financial support, SMEs will benefit from the professional expertise of competent consultants in virtually all entrepreneurial issues and get the necessary help so that they can help themselves.

Counseling services may be provided, for example, on the following topics:

  • Corporate management, particularly with regard to operational, financial, human resource, technical, and organizational issues
  • Development of foreign markets insofar as these services are above and beyond the standard services provided by the Saxony Chambers of Industry and Commerce, the Saxony Chambers of Crafts, and the Saxony Economic Development Corporation (WFS)

Detailed informationen (German)

MARKTEINFÜHRUNG INNOVATIVER PRODUKTE UND PRODUKTDESIGN (MEP) – MARKTEINFÜHRUNGSPHASE – MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE [MARKET LAUNCH OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT DESIGNS (MEP) – MARKET LAUNCH PHASE – “MITTELSTANDSRICHTLINIE” DIRECTIVE ON FINANCIAL AID FOR SME'S]

Projects involving the market launch of new or advanced products, services, or processes which have not yet been introduced to the market and which are based on innovations are subsidized during their market launch phase.

SMEs will get the requisite support specifically for the following measures:

  • Product design as well as supporting design services
  • Production of a marketable mass production sample or a zero production series insofar as these items are not earmarked for sale
  • Measures designed to directly prepare the market launch, such as standardizations and certifications
  • Development of a product-related sales / marketing concept, implementation of market surveys and acceptance tests
  • Creation of product-specific advertising materials

Detailed information (German)

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