INTERMOT 2008 Announces Financial assistance for young innovative companies

2008-04-21 15:58
For the first time, young, innovative companies from Germany can now receive financial support from the German Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) for their trade fair presentations at INTERMOT Cologne 2008. The International Trade Fair for Motorcycles and Scooters, which is taking place in Cologne from 8th to 12th October 2008, is among the 44 internationally leading fairs in Germany at which participation in joint stands can be sponsored. The aim of the support programme is to promote exports of new products and processes by helping companies to take part in trade fairs.

Objectives of the support programme

The programme aims to help young companies market their products by taking part in trade fairs. In Germany, the marketing of newly introduced innovations is frequently in need of improvement, especially in the case of people who are starting up new businesses. However, leading export-orientated trade fairs such as INTERMOT Cologne 2008 provide young innovative companies in Germany with a platform for expanding into foreign markets — and thereby
for achieving further growth. Trade fair participation enables such companies to exploit the growth potential offered by international markets. The financial assistance reduces the obstacles young companies face in taking part in their first trade fair, allowing them to become exporters on
a sustained basis.

Requirements for receiving financial assistance

To be eligible for financial support, a young, innovative company must be headquartered in Germany, conform to the valid EU definition of a small enterprise (less than 50 employees or an annual turnover of not more than €10 million) and be less than ten years old. In addition, the company must have developed new or substantially improved products, processes or services and launched them on the market. If such companies exhibit at INTERMOT Cologne at a joint stand, they can receive financial support for this participation. To receive assistance, companies must register with Koelnmesse to exhibit at a joint stand by June 2008.

Amount of financial assistance

Financial assistance can be received to cover joint stand participants' costs of rental fee and construction as invoiced by Koelnmesse GmbH. Following the event, 80% of these costs will be refunded to the companies receiving support. The maximum amount of support that each company may receive is €7,500.

Application forms for this programme can be downloaded in the "Wirtschaftsförderung" section at www.bafa.de. Detailed information on the support programme can also be found at the AUMA website (www.auma-messen.de, Messeplanung Inland / Förderung durch Bund).


Further information and photo material is available at www.intermot-cologne.com

Source: Koelnmesse GmbH

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