Funding Programs for Environmental Sustainability
Programs that make Berlin more sustainable
The IBB Group supports businesses and initiatives contributing to Berlin's ecological sustainability. Through various funding programs, we help the city achieve climate goals by improving energy efficiency, advancing sustainable technologies, and enhancing environmental quality in urban areas. Key focuses include optimizing building performance, promoting the transition to electromobility, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
We support the Berlin economy
The IBB offers specialized funding programs, such as the Pro FIT Program (Promotion of Research, Innovation, and Technology), which facilitates the transfer of knowledge from research to business and supports innovation development and implementation. These programs finance projects in phases including industrial research, experimental development, production setup, market preparation, and introduction.
In other programs, such as Berlin Innovativ PLUS, innovative, sustainable, and creative companies are supported through loans with liability exemptions. Additionally, new incentives in the form of repayment grants will soon be introduced to encourage the achievement of sustainability and innovation goals.
Through IBB Business Team GmbH, the IBB Group supports companies with investment grants and consulting services for the transition to electromobility. IBB Business Team GmbH's product portfolio also includes the “Berliner InvestitionsBONUS” program, which incentivizes investments with sustainability bonuses for energy and resource efficiency, adaptation to climate change and contributions to climate protection.
Applications for economic development products can be submitted electronically, ensuring resource-efficient and legally binding communication with clients.
Independent experts regularly evaluate the impact of these funding programs, both before (ex ante) and after (ex post) funding.
Funding programs through IBB Business Development
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Launched in 2024, this program succeeds Berlin Innovativ, offering low-interest loans for investments and operating resources to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps. The IBB provides the lending bank with a 70% liability exemption.
New criteria now include support for the creative industries as well as green and sustainable investments, such as renewable energy, social accessibility, low-emission transport solutions, and seven additional categories.
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Since January 1, 2023, the IBB has managed the Berlin Congress Fund, supporting event planners for B2B conferences, seminars, and meetings in Berlin.
With the 2024 guidelines, the focus shifted to sustainable events. Funding is only available for events that meet the criteria of the Sustainable Event Scorecard, which serves as both a funding criterion and a comprehensive guide for sustainable event planning, supported by visitBerlin and the Convention Office.
This program directly and indirectly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The scorecard evaluates 13 action areas with 47 possible measures. A minimum score must be achieved for funding.
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Certain funding requirements in the Pro FIT guidelines have long supported sustainability. For instance, project outcomes must provide a plausible basis for enhancing corporate and/or regional value creation and employment.
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The Gemeinschaftsaufgabe "Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur" offers attractive funding opportunities for investment projects in selected sectors in Berlin's development area. The program helps to offset locational disadvantages, create and secure jobs, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
A new objective has been added to the current coordination framework. The focus is now also on transformation processes – towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy.
In this context, investment projects with special energy efficiency and/or environmental protection effects are supported, provided they exceed national and EU standards.
Investments to cover energy needs from renewable sources, such as electricity storage or PV systems, are also eligible for funding. The requirements for depreciation and job creation have been partially eased in order to accelerate investments in sustainable technologies for companies in particular.
The program supports companies in their transformation activities and contributes to making Berlin a more sustainable and future-proof business location.
We support the Berlin housing market
In the real estate sector, the IBB supports property owners in:
- Energy-efficient building renovation
- Energy-efficient new construction
- Age-appropriate, barrier-reducing modifications
- Social housing initiatives
All programs take into account the long investment cycles in real estate investments through long-term interest rates and alignment with socio-cultural and demographic trends, as well as Berlin's established climate protection policy goals. These efforts aim to sustainably reduce CO2 emissions, secure housing for low- and middle-income households, and ensure future-oriented efficiency standards in new buildings, contributing to climate neutrality in the long term.
Funding programs through IBB Real Estate Development
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Supports investment in renovating homes or purchasing newly renovated residential buildings.
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Assists property owners and groups in transforming unused roofs and facades into green spaces to enhance the urban environment sustainably.
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Focuses on creating attractive, energy-efficient apartments, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing living comfort to support climate protection.
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Provides property owners with maintenance and modernization assistance, with a focus on energy efficiency.
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Encourages the construction or purchase of new, climate-friendly residential buildings in Berlin.
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Promotes the expansion of photovoltaic systems to boost solar energy in Berlin.
Status: 1 Jun 2025