Bavarian-Czech border region; application for funding for cross-border project

The Free State of Bavaria supports forward-looking projects with a cross-border character and interdisciplinary approach in rural areas in the administrative districts of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia.

Purpose

In order to further develop the Bavarian-Czech border region into an area of the future and to provide new impetus for cooperation with the Czech Republic, the commitment and innovative ideas of local players are still needed. By supporting pioneering, cross-border projects in rural areas in the administrative districts of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia, the aim is to create

• to create, maintain and promote equal living and working conditions throughout Bavaria, in both urban and rural areas (constitutional mandate under Art. 3 Para. 2 Sentence 2 of the Bavarian Constitution).
• to provide targeted impetus for the border region in order to recognize and exploit development potential and further improve strengths.
• support forward-looking, customized solutions from local players.
• to further strengthen and consolidate cross-border cooperation, exchange and mutual support with the Czech Republic.
• local people are brought together across borders, networked and thus an interdependent region is created.

Object

Funding is provided for the conception, planning and implementation of forward-looking projects exclusively in rural areas of the administrative districts of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate and Upper Franconia with a cross-border character and interdisciplinary approach as well as a positive impact on the development of the Bavarian-Czech border region.

Beneficiaries

Local authorities, associations and non-profit foundations based in the administrative district of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate or Upper Franconia as well as other legal entities under public or private law are eligible to apply and receive funding if at least one member or shareholder is a local authority.

Eligible costs

Funding can be provided for the expenditure required to implement the project for

• personnel
• Travel and overnight stays
• Hospitality at high-profile events
• public relations work
• external consulting and services
• Investments under 50% of the eligible expenditure
• other services provided by third parties.

Type and amount

The funding is granted in the form of pro rata financing/capital participation.

The type of funding is project funding.
Funding is provided over a period of between 1 year(s) and 4 year(s).

The maximum funding amount per grant recipient is EUR 100,000 per project year. The project can be supported for a maximum of four years.

The grant is provided as project funding by way of pro rata financing. The funding rate is between 30% and 90%, depending on the geographical scope and project funding already received:

1. For first-time funding, the basic funding rate is up to 70%.
2. If the majority of the geographical scope is located in an area with a special need for action, the funding rate increases by up to 15%.
3. The funding rate is also increased by up to 5% for inter-municipal projects or for projects in which the Czech side participates financially or in which there is cooperation with actors in a Czech project with a similar objective in the Plzeňský kraj (Pilsen district), Karlovarský kraj (Karlovy Vary district) or Jihočeský kraj (South Bohemian district).
4. In the case of second or third project funding, the funding rate is gradually reduced if there is no financial participation by the Czech Republic or close cooperation.

To be eligible for funding under the BYCZFöR, your project must have a cross-border character and an interdisciplinary approach, i.e. at least two subject areas (e.g. demography, culture, tourism, mobility/transport, services of general interest or volunteering) must be treated equally and the project must be located in a rural area of the administrative district of Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate or Upper Franconia. In addition, the following requirements must be met:

• Compliance of the projects with the stipulations of the Bavarian State Development Program and the relevant regional plans
• Compliance of the projects with existing development strategies
• Submission of a funding application with defined evaluation indicators
• Submission of a declaration that overall funding is secured

Exclusion criteria:

Project funding will not be considered if

• the project has already begun.
• the eligible expenditure is less than EUR 25,000.

• Before submitting an application, the responsible Department 52 in the State Ministry of Finance and Homeland must be contacted to ensure the coordination function. After a positive initial assessment, an application for funding can be drawn up with the support of the responsible government and submitted there.
• Application and approval: The final application must be submitted in duplicate at least four weeks before the planned start of funding to the local government responsible as the granting authority and to the State Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs. State project funding is approved by means of a grant notification by the governments, which are also responsible for further project monitoring.

The application must be submitted by 14.05.2026. Applications for funding can be submitted within the period of validity of the Bavarian-Czech border region funding guideline (15.05.2022 - 14.05.2026). The final application must be submitted at least four weeks before the planned start of funding.

Exclusion criteria and co-financing:

• The prohibition of double funding applies: Funding is not possible under BYCZFöR if funding can be claimed for the funding object under other programs of the European Union, the federal government or the Free State of Bavaria.
• However, co-financing of a project funded by an EU or federal program is possible if the EU or federal program requires or permits state co-financing.

• Required document/s
  • Application for project funding
  • Declaration of subsidy
  • Declaration of co-financing
  • Declaration of protection Scientology