Digital regional home projects; application for funding

The Free State of Bavaria promotes innovative, interdisciplinary local projects with a focus on digitalization that have a positive impact on the spatial development of Bavaria and in particular serve to strengthen regional identity.

Purpose

One of the aims of the funding is to promote and ensure equal living and working conditions throughout Bavaria, to enable digital participation and digital equality of opportunity in all regions of Bavaria and to strengthen the attractiveness of urban and rural areas. The funded projects are intended to help maintain and shape a liveable homeland in all parts of Bavaria and to support the strengthening of citizens' awareness of and attachment to their homeland.

Object

The grant will be used to support the implementation of homeland projects with a focus on digitalization that are innovative in nature and interdisciplinary in approach and support the development of Bavaria in line with the purpose of the grant.

Recipient of the grant

Counties, districts, independent cities, associations, foundations and tax-privileged entrepreneurial companies (limited liability) and limited liability companies are eligible to apply for and receive funding. Other legal entities under public or private law are also eligible if at least one member or shareholder is a county, district or independent city.

Eligible costs

Funding can be provided for expenditure on personnel, travel and accommodation, hospitality at high-profile events, public relations work, external consulting and services, investments in digital goods (e.g. apps, websites and other online offerings) as well as other services provided by third parties and other investments.

Type and amount

The grant is provided as project funding by way of pro rata financing. It amounts to a maximum of EUR 300,000 per project. The basic funding rate is up to 50% and increases by up to 15 percentage points for projects in rural areas and in areas with a particular need for action, and by up to 10 percentage points for inter-municipal or inter-regional cooperation.

• Subsidy declaration (see under "Forms")
• Co-financing declaration(s)
• Financing plan (see under "Forms")
• Evaluation overview (see under "Forms")

Key funding requirements

• Local project: The project has a positive impact on the spatial development of Bavaria and serves in particular to strengthen regional identity.
• Interdisciplinary approach: The project covers at least two subject areas. It can focus in particular on strengthening regional identity, but also, for example, on culture/home culture, services of general interest, medical care, public transport, accessibility, integration or climate.
• Innovative project content: In terms of content, technology or methodology, the project goes beyond existing approaches in the respective thematic field of spatial development in Bavaria and thus offers recognizable added value compared to existing approaches.
• Digital focus: As part of the project, for example, an app or internet platform is created or "smart" or networked applications are realized. In the case of a feasibility study, the possibility and prospects of digitalization must be examined.

Application

A project outline must first be submitted to the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs for a basic assessment of eligibility for funding. Before submitting an application, a consultation meeting must also be held with representatives of the State Ministry and the local government (granting authority). Applications for funding can be submitted to the granting authority or via the linked online procedure.

Approval

The governments are responsible for approval. Grants can only be approved if the project in question has not yet begun. The approval period for project implementation is a maximum of three years.

Exclusion criteria

Funding under the Heimat-Digital-Regional-Förderrichtlinie is not available 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 (prohibition of multiple funding). 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.