Protective face masks

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Today, a ‘Guideline for Federal Funding of Research and Technology Projects for the Production of Innovative Personal Protective Equipment’ is to be published in the Federal Gazette, thus entering into legal force. As of today, research institutions and companies can submit funding applications for innovative projects in the field of personal protective equipment.

The use of protective equipment is an essential part of the Federal Government's strategy for permanently beating the coronavirus pandemic in Germany. For example, FFP masks have found widespread use not only in the healthcare sector, but also amongst the general population, in administration and in business to reduce the risk of infection. Protective equipment has always been of considerable importance in industry and commerce as an occupational health and safety measure. Up to 40% of the working population use such protective equipment.

The aim of the new funding guideline is to provide incentives for greater innovative activity along the entire value chain of protective equipment in order to strengthen the international competitiveness of German companies and to contribute to maintaining production capacities in Germany. In implementing this funding measure, we want to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, and to stimulate and strengthen greater cooperation with scientific institutions and other companies in the sector.

The programme addresses the following funding priorities in particular:

  • Sustainability and recyclability
  • Functionality, development of new areas of demand
  • Automation and digitalisation of production and services
  • Contribution to the efficiency of the National Health Protection Reserve
  • Standardisation, testing and certification procedures

A total of €163 million in funding is available for the period until 2025. For commercial enterprises, funding in the form of a non-repayable grant can be granted for 15% to 50% of the total eligible costs, depending on the market proximity of the solutions to be developed. For SMEs, universities, research and science institutions, a higher percentage rate of funding (up to 80% or up to 100%) can be awarded for the eligible project-related expenditure in individual cases.

More information on this and other Federal Government programmes to promote the expansion of production capacities for personal protective equipment in Germany can be found at www.bmwi.de/Redaktion/DE/Coronavirus/Fragmente/arbeitsstab-produktion.html (in German).