With its “Spitze auf dem Land” (Peak Performance in the Countryside) funding line the Baden-Württemberg state government is focussing support on small and midrange companies that have technology leadership potential, thereby sustainably strengthening and supporting rural areas of the state.

„Funding from the state’s own ELR rural development programme and the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) will further extend Baden-Württemberg’s leading economic position. In the second selection round eight innovative companies in rural areas will receive a total of three million euros,” says Alexander Bonde, the state’s Minister for Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection.

Three million euros for small and midrange enterprises with potential

In the first selection round, which took place in autumn 2013, twelve companies shared EUR 4.2 million. This time round, the state appraisal committee evaluated all the projects in detail and recommended eight for funding. “‘Spitze auf dem Land’ focuses support on innovative and local business structures, attractive jobs and equal living conditions throughout the state,” Bonde said.

Projects funded by local authority (town/local authority, company, district):

• Albstadt, Boss Lubricants GmbH & Co. KG (special lubricants), Zollernalbkreis
• Neuenstein, Microfilter GmbH (special filter technology), Hohenlohekreis
• Sexau, MEDI-Tech GmbH (endoscopy technology), Emmendingen
• Neubulach, Vapic GmbH (cleaning technology), Calw
• Obersontheim, VMS-Maschinenbau GmbH (food packaging technology), Schwäbisch Hall
• Rosenberg, Josef Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG (technical wood fibres), Ostalbkreis
• Sulzbach-Laufen, Jäger Handling GmbH & Co. KG (automation technology), Schwäbisch Hall
• Albstadt, Carl Meiser GmbH & Co. KG (technical textiles), Zollernalbkreis

With the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) 2014-2020 the European Union and the state of Baden-Württemberg are focussing on strengthening research, technological development and innovation and on promoting endeavours to reduce carbon dioxide emissions with the “Innovation and Energy Turnaround” programme.

Boss Lubricants GmbH & Co. KG develops and manufactures customer-specific process fluids and industrial and special lubricants.
The development and production of human compatible fluids and lubricants is a further line of business. They are used, for example, to maintain and take care of highly complex instruments in the operating theatre area. The funding is to be used to assist with the acquisition and conversion of a commercial property for the expansion of warehousing and production with a clean room and additional research and development space.