GRW: a cash grant for your regional investment.
The Gemeinschaftsaufgabe co-funds investments and the jobs they create for companies in Germany's structurally weaker regions. We confirm your site qualifies, build the case and run the application end to end.
Germany’s grant for regional investment
The GRW (Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur“) is a joint Bund–Länder programme that pays a non-repayable grant on investments in designated assisted areas, new sites, expansions and the jobs they create.
The rate depends on your location, company size and project. Because it is tied to a region’s assisted-area map, the first step is always to confirm your site qualifies. See who qualifies further down.
First question: is your site in a GRW assisted area?
GRW is location-bound. Funding only exists for investments in designated assisted areas, defined in the joint federal–state assisted-area map. We confirm your location before anything else.
The decisive criterion: your site must lie in a C- or D-area (or a special area) on the current Fördergebietskarte.
The investment must create new permanent jobs or secure existing ones, and keep them for at least five years.
The application must be in before the investment begins; starting early generally disqualifies the project.
A new site, an expansion, a diversification or a fundamental change of an existing operation, buildings and equipment included.
What GRW pays, by region and company size
The grant is a share of your eligible investment. Try the estimator first, then see the full rate breakdown below, the rate scales with company size and the assisted-area category.
| Company size | C-area | D-area |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 30% | 20% |
| Medium | 20% | 10% |
| Large | 10% | up to 10% |
Standard GRW ceilings (C-area 30 / 20 / 10%). Special and border areas (e.g. Helgoland) can be higher; D-areas follow national rules, where large enterprises are often limited to de-minimis. Actual rate per the current Koordinierungsrahmen and assisted-area map.
From first call to funding
Four steps. You stay focused on the work; we handle the funding end to end, on a success-based fee.
Eligibility check
We review your project against the programme's criteria, confirm it qualifies and give you a realistic figure before you commit any time.
Application
You tell us what you are working on; we build the application, write the technical case and manage the entire submission for you.
Submission & review
We file with the responsible authority in your name and handle every query through to the funding decision.
Funding
Once approved, we prepare the required reporting so the funding is released to you, accurately documented and on time.
GRW in practice
Real projects we have taken through GRW, from first scoping to the funding decision. Anonymised, figures as orders of magnitude.
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What counts as an eligible investment
GRW funds the act of investing in a region. Your project must be one of five recognised types, and you choose one of two cost bases.
- New establishment in the assisted area
- Extension of an existing establishment
- Diversification into new products
- Fundamental change of the production process
- Acquisition of a closed or threatened establishment
Fund either your fixed-asset investment (land, buildings, machinery and intangibles), or instead the wage costs of the new jobs you create over two years, whichever is more valuable for your project.
You contribute at least 25% of the eligible costs from funds free of any public support, and the establishment must sit in a designated C- or D-assisted area.
Apply before you start: a binding supply or works contract counts as the start of the project. Rates are federal ceilings; your Land sets the actual rate.
Who qualifies, and the two tests
Beyond the assisted-area location, GRW turns on company size and two economic tests.
Open to the commercial economy. Large enterprises can only be funded in C-areas, never in D-areas (De-minimis aside).
More than 50% of the establishment's output is sold supra-regionally, so the income benefits the wider region.
Additional permanent jobs, an elevated investment volume, or a labour-productivity rise of at least 10%.
At least a quarter of eligible costs financed free of any public support, and the assets kept for five years.
Apply before you start
GRW can only fund a project that has not yet begun. One signature decides it.
A binding supply or works contract counts as the start. Sign it before applying and the funding is lost.
Buying the land, permits, planning, feasibility and soil studies do not count as starting.
To your Land's development bank, which sets the actual rate within the federal ceiling. Reformed for 2026: simpler access, a new productivity route.
See if your project qualifies for GRW
Tell us about your investment and location. A funding advisor reviews your case by hand, then either comes back with feedback or a few follow-up questions. No obligation.
- Whether your site sits in an assisted area
- A first read on the grant amount
- What to prepare before you apply
GRW guides
Long-form explainers from our knowledge hub, for teams who want the detail before they talk to us.
GRW assisted areas explained
What C- and D-areas mean and how to check whether your site qualifies.
Read more → GuideWhat GRW funds
Eligible investments, the jobs rule and the five-year commitment.
Read more → GuideGRW vs. other programs
When a regional investment grant beats a tax incentive or ZIM.
Read more → GuideApplying before you start
The timing rule that decides eligibility, and how to prepare.
Read more → GuideGRW assisted areas explained
What C- and D-areas mean and how to check whether your site qualifies.
Read more → GuideWhat GRW funds
Eligible investments, the jobs rule and the five-year commitment.
Read more → GuideGRW vs. other programs
When a regional investment grant beats a tax incentive or ZIM.
Read more → GuideApplying before you start
The timing rule that decides eligibility, and how to prepare.
Read more →GRW questions, answered
The basics on who qualifies, how much, and the one timing rule that matters most.
Companies making a qualifying investment in a designated GRW assisted area, typically creating or securing jobs. Whether your location qualifies is the first thing we check.
The rate depends on region, company size and project, commonly up to around 45% of eligible investment for small companies in priority areas, less for larger firms.
A non-repayable grant. It does not have to be paid back as long as you meet the investment and job commitments.
Before the investment begins. Starting the project before approval generally disqualifies it, so timing is critical, talk to us early.
Nothing upfront. Our fee is success-based and only due once the grant is secured.
Ask us anything
Tell us about your project and we'll assess your case by hand. No prep, no obligation. Prefer to talk?
Tell us about your project and we'll assess your case by hand. No prep, no obligation.