ERDF Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2021-2027

EU structural funds for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: grants for innovation, climate, the maritime economy and tourism.

The ERDF Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2021–2027 programme is the state's operational programme for the European Regional Development Fund. It awards grants through themed calls covering innovation and research, SME digitalisation, climate protection and the energy transition, coastal protection and climate adaptation, the maritime economy, tourism infrastructure, and urban and regional development. Under EU law Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is classified as a transition region. The central approving body is the Landesförderinstitut Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LFI MV). Terms such as the funding rate, maximum amount and who may apply differ per call, so always check the LFI MV's current call profile before applying.

Eligibility

A registered office or operating site with the project's place of effect in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (the ERDF place-of-effect principle, Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 Art. 63)
Membership of the group eligible under the relevant call (SME, large company, university, research institution, municipality, association or consortium, depending on the call)
No early start: the project may not begin before the approval notice (Art. 6 GBER, ANBest-P MV)
The company is not in economic difficulty under Art. 2 no. 18 GBER, for company-related calls
No outstanding EU recovery order (Art. 1 (4) (a) GBER)
No double financing of the same costs from the ERDF and another EU fund (Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 Art. 63 (9))
Total financing secured and evidenced (creditworthiness, where relevant a bank confirmation)
An indicator plan with output and result indicators, a baseline and realistic targets
DNSH compliance (do no significant harm) under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 Art. 9 (4)
Acceptance of the EU publicity obligations: the EU emblem, an ERDF reference in communications and where relevant a sign at the project site (Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 Art. 47–50)
A willingness to maintain data in the eCohesion portal M-V (ecohesionportal-mv.de) under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 Art. 69 (8)
The project has to match the thematic field and EU policy objective of the specific call substantively

Eligible costs

Staff costs: employees working directly on the project, including social security contributions
Investment costs: machinery, plant, IT hardware, building conversions and other movable and immovable assets
Research and development costs: external services, patents, licences
Consultancy and service costs: market analyses, technical advice, certifications, testing
Property costs: acquiring, constructing or converting buildings and land (where eligible under the relevant call)
Digitalisation costs: software licences, cloud services, IT security, digital infrastructure
Climate and energy efficiency measures: energy saving, renewables, climate adaptation
Maritime economy and coastal protection: maritime infrastructure, port development, coastal protection measures, the blue economy
Tourism and cultural infrastructure: cycle paths, water tourism and harbour infrastructure, cultural facilities, accessible tourism offerings
Other material costs: operating costs directly attributable to the project such as travel, printing and insurance

Common pitfalls

Starting the work early

Any order, contract or investment before the approval notice leads to complete exclusion from funding or to clawback. Planning and preliminary steps are harmless, but no contract may be awarded.

MV is a transition region, not a less developed region

The EU co-financing rate for MV is typically up to 60%, not 85% as for less developed regions (Saxony-Anhalt, for instance). Anyone planning with 85% for companies is calculating wrongly. Municipalities and research institutions can receive up to 85%.

No Just Transition Fund allocation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

MV is not a coal region and has no share of the Just Transition Fund. JTF calls exist only in Lusatia, the central German coal region and the Rhenish coal region. Projects in MV that assume a JTF link are not eligible.

Avoiding double financing, especially ERDF/EMFAF/EAFRD

Maritime fisheries and aquaculture projects fall under the EMFAF, agricultural projects under the EAFRD, not the ERDF. The same costs may only be funded from one fund. Clarify which fund applies before you apply.

A missing or unrealistic indicator plan

ERDF applications without output and result indicators (baseline, targets, collection method) are downgraded or rejected. Indicators have to come from the indicator system of the specific call.

Underestimating the publicity obligations

The EU emblem with the wording 'Co-funded by the European Union', an ERDF reference on the website and, for investments above the threshold, a sign at the project site are mandatory. Breaches lead to financial corrections of typically 2–25% of the grant.

Missing the call deadline

ERDF MV funds are awarded through time-limited calls. Once the submission deadline has passed, taking part in that round is ruled out. Check current deadlines at foerderportal-efre-mv.de.

The application process

1. Identify the call. Research the matching call at foerderportal-efre-mv.de and lfi-mv.de. Check the thematic field (innovation, climate, digital, maritime economy, tourism, urban and regional), the approving body, the deadline and who may apply. For maritime or rural projects, clarify the ERDF/EMFAF/EAFRD boundary.
2. Design the project. Work out the contribution to the EU policy objective (PO 1–5). Produce an indicator plan with output and result indicators, a baseline and targets. Draw up a cost and financing plan; secure your own contribution and creditworthiness.
3. Classify it under state aid law. Determine the GBER article or de minimis per part of the project. For de minimis: check the cap of €300,000 over three years. Carry out the DNSH self-assessment; for long-lived coastal and port infrastructure investment, also a climate resilience assessment.
4. Submit an outline or expression of interest (stage 1). For competitive calls: upload the outline to the ERDF M-V funding portal (foerderportal-efre-mv.de) on time. The approving body (normally LFI MV) assesses it substantively and invites selected applicants to submit a full application.
5. Submit the full application (stage 2). Submit complete documents in the ERDF M-V funding portal: the project description, indicator plan, financing plan, SME/GBER/de minimis declarations, the DNSH assessment, a publicity concept, proof of creditworthiness and, where relevant, a consortium agreement.
6. Assessment and approval. LFI MV checks completeness, eligibility and state aid law. After a positive decision the project may begin. Costs are only eligible from the approval date.
7. Delivery and settlement. Deliver the project in line with the decision. Comply with procurement law (UVgO/VOB/VgV, the MV procurement act). Collect indicators continuously. Maintain data in the eCohesion portal M-V. Implement the publicity obligations. Submit the statement of use on time with a substantive report, receipts, an indicator balance and procurement records. Keep records for at least 5 years after programme closure.

How upsmart helps

We match your project against all active ERDF MV calls and show which thematic field — innovation, climate, digital, maritime economy, tourism — and which GBER article fits. We carry out the cumulation and de minimis check (the €300,000 cap over three years) as we go, and keep an eye on the call deadlines so no submission window passes. We write the draft application — indicator plan, financing plan, state aid classification — ready for assessment; your team decides. Fixed terms, independent of the grant amount.

Combining it with other programmes

ERDF MV can be combined with ZIM (federal, BMWK) where costs are clearly separated per part of the project, with KfW or LFI MV loan programmes for your own contribution, and with GAK (coastal protection) and GRW (business infrastructure). Horizon Europe and ERDF MV can be combined on research projects provided no costs are financed twice. For fisheries and aquaculture the EMFAF replaces the ERDF, and for rural projects the EAFRD does; there is no combination for identical costs.

Frequently asked questions

Depending on the call, SMEs, large companies, universities, research institutions, municipalities, associations and consortia can apply. A registered office or the project's place of effect in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is always required. Which groups are admitted for a specific call is set out in the relevant LFI MV call profile.

MV is classified as a transition region. SMEs generally receive up to a 60% funding rate, large companies up to 50%, municipalities and research institutions up to 85%. Uplifts of 5–10% are possible for climate, digitalisation and innovation. The exact rate is in the call document.

Applications are made exclusively through current calls; there is no open application without a call. Calls and deadlines are at foerderportal-efre-mv.de and lfi-mv.de. For competitive calls an outline comes first, then a full application. Both stages run through the ERDF M-V funding portal.

Depending on the call, eligible costs are staff costs, investment and machinery costs, R&D costs, consultancy, digitalisation costs, climate and energy efficiency measures, maritime infrastructure, tourism infrastructure and directly attributable material costs. Property costs are only eligible where the call expressly provides for them.

Yes. ERDF MV can be combined with ZIM, KfW loans, GAK (coastal protection) and GRW, provided the same costs aren't financed twice. Maritime fisheries and aquaculture projects fall under the EMFAF and agricultural projects under the EAFRD; there the ERDF and the responsible fund exclude each other for identical costs.

Read on in the blog

Funding strategy across the innovation process

Primary sources

Europe portal Mecklenburg-Vorpommern— State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Landesförderinstitut Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LFI MV)— Landesförderinstitut Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
ERDF M-V funding portal (applications)— Landesförderinstitut Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
eCohesion portal M-V (data exchange)— ERDF/ESF/EAFRD managing authority Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 — Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)— European Parliament and Council of the EU
Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 — the ERDF Regulation— European Parliament and Council of the EU

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