Green Startups.NRW: North Rhine-Westphalia launches a new funding round for sustainable startups with up to €600,000 in support
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has launched a new round of applications for the "Green Startups.NRW" funding competition. The aim is to support innovative startups in the environmental sector whose technologies and services actively contribute to climate and environmental protection. Projects eligible for funding include AI-supported industrial applications, bio-based materials, and CO₂ sequestration processes.
Stakeholders can submit project outlines until September 30, 2025. Funding of up to €600,000 is available per project. This measure is part of the ERDF/JTF program NRW 2021–2027, which provides a total of approximately €1.9 billion in EU funding for sustainable and innovative projects.
In previous rounds, 31 forward-looking projects were funded with approximately €21 million. According to the Green Tech Monitor 2025, a quarter of all German start-up investments flow into the green tech sector – a strong signal for the ecological transformation.
Environment Minister Oliver Krischer emphasizes that North Rhine-Westphalia is specifically focusing on green innovations to further expand its pioneering role in the environmental sector. Projects from across the entire spectrum of the environmental sector are eligible for funding, particularly those promoting technological innovation, resource efficiency, and biodiversity.
Source: www.knuw.nrw
