Commercial investment projects and measures for improving regional economic structure are supported in various ways by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union.
In addition to support from the EU structure funds and investment allowance, the joint agreement entitled "Improvement of Regional Economic Structures" holds an outstanding position in the landscape of investment support.
In the year 2006 alone, commercial investments amounting to a total of 970 million euros were supported with 250 million euros within the framework of this joint agreement. It is the objective of the programme of the Federal Republic and the states to strengthen regions with a weak structure and to align living conditions in Germany. The creation of competitive jobs on the so-called primary employment market is hereby considered a priority task.
The new map of the areas supported by the joint agreement indicates that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a state-wide maximum support area as of 2007.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receive special support. Small companies may obtain up to 50 per cent of the subsidisable investment costs, medium-sized companies up to 40 per cent and large companies up to 30 per cent.
According to the framework of the joint agreement, the assistance scheme is supplemented by numerous additional support programmes that make it possible to create additional jobs and training positions, among others, by contributing wage subsidies and employment aid.
Technologie- und Innovationsförderung (TIF – Programme for the Advancement of Technology and Innovation) has drawn
particular attention. During the years between 2000 and 2006 the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism
within the framework of the TIF programme provided support within the state to as many as
1, 450 projects with a total financial volume of nearly 120 million euros.
The state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has passed a far-reaching resolution regarding the future
distribution of EU financial support between 2007 and
2013. Funds for research, development and innovation are to be increased and, in particular, are to benefit more than
ever regional companies. Along with individual company research and development advancement, in the future the
Verbundforschungsförderung Wirtschaft-Wissenschaft (Alliance for the Advancement of Research in Economics and Science)
is to be established.
Companies and research institutes find competent contact partners at the Landesförderinstitut Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (State Institute for the Promotion of Business in MV). This institute also provides comprehensive information about all the topic support programmes and filing applications on its Internet website www.lfi-mv.de. The Technologie-Beratungs-Institut GmbH (TBI - Technology Consulting Institute) is the institution of the State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism responsible for the advancement of technology, research and innovation. Further information about the topic can be found on the Internet website www.tbi-mv.de.