Sustainable business in the Münsterland region: green light for three ERDF joint projects worth millions
Total volume of more than five million euros
The go-ahead has been given for three ERDF joint projects in Münsterland: The Münster district government has now approved ERDF funding for the projects "Kreislaufwirtschaftsregion Münsterland", "Sustainable Innovation Münsterland" and "Grünes Gründen Münsterland" and handed over the funding decisions to representatives of the projects.
As the lead partner, Münsterland e.V. is implementing the projects together with regional partners. "We want to drive forward the ecological transformation of the region in a targeted manner with all three projects and are therefore extremely pleased about the approved ERDF funding," emphasises Klaus Ehling, CEO of Münsterland e.V. "For a successful transformation, it is essential that business and science work together, benefit from each other's expertise and experience and provide each other with mutual impetus. Topics such as the circular economy and renewable energies play a major role here. Sustainable innovations in these areas are the basis for a sustainable regional economy. The three projects address these challenges at different levels and with a variety of approaches."
Münsterland circular economy region
As a region-wide initiative, the circular economy region of Münsterland aims to mobilise all public, municipal and private stakeholders in Münsterland and jointly promote innovations in the field of the circular economy. All measures aim to generate activities in the field of innovation promotion. The aim is to further expand and publicise the competence network in the region. The four partners in the project - Münsterland e.V., Münster University of Applied Sciences, Münster Chamber of Crafts and the North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce - have been granted funding totalling around 1.69 million euros.
Sustainable Innovation Münsterland
Networking small and medium-sized enterprises with experts from universities in order to develop more sustainable business models: That is the aim of the Sustainable Innovation Münsterland project. Until February 2027, the project will form innovation groups in new networks consisting of companies, founders and students and develop prototype solutions for challenges in various business models in terms of sustainability. This also includes the development and introduction of a further education programme in the field of sustainable leadership.
A total of around 1.85 million euros in funding was approved for the project for the seven partners. The partners are: Münsterland e.V., Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken, Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Coesfeld, Fachhochschule Münster, Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung im Kreis Warendorf, Wirtschaftsförderung Münster and the Westfälische Hochschule.
Green start-ups Münsterland
The Grünes Gründen Münsterland project aims to strengthen the start-up culture and start-up intensity in Münsterland. As a follow-up initiative to the established Gründergeist #Youngstarts Münsterland project, Grünes Gründen Münsterland focusses on ecologically and/or socially sustainable start-up ideas in Münsterland. The project team aims to inspire those interested in starting a business and founders to rethink the topic of sustainability and support start-up projects that contribute to ecological transformation. Particular attention is paid to knowledge transfer and cooperation between science and the start-up scene.
Funding totalling around 1.04 million euros has been approved for the project for nine partners. The partners are: Münsterland e.V., Münster Chamber of Crafts, IHK Nord Westfalen, Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung im Kreis Warendorf, Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Coesfeld, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken, Technologieförderung Münster, Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Steinfurt.
The three joint projects have a total volume of 5.35 million euros and consist of 80 per cent funding (50 per cent EU share, 30 per cent NRW share) and 20 per cent own contribution. The funding is part of the ERDF programme "Regio.NRW - Transformation". The ERDF programme (EU) aims to increase research and development activities and the competitiveness of SMEs in the European Union. All projects will run until February 2027.
Picture line: Group photo at the Münster district government: District President Andreas Bothe personally handed over the funding decisions to representatives of the three joint projects, among others. Photo: Münster district government
