DBU General Project Funding (Projektfoerderung)

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Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-10 12:35

DBU general project funding for innovative environmental projects with relevance to Germany. Funds typically 100,000-400,000 EUR per project. Online applications accepted year-round. Also offers PhD stipends (1,600 EUR/month) in marine conservation.

Source: https://www.dbu.de/foerderung/projektfoerderung

Funding Details

Funder: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
Funding Goal: Funds innovative, solution-oriented projects for environmental protection in areas including environmental technology, environmental research, environmental communication, nature conservation, and cultural heritage preservation. Focus on projects with Umweltentlastung (environmental relief), innovation, and model character. Priority for small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU), but other organisations including NGOs and universities also eligible. Relevant themes include water/marine environment, biodiversity/nature conservation, sustainable products, circular economy.
Funding Amount: Typically EUR 100,000–400,000 per project; PhD stipends at EUR 1,600/month (100.000 € – 400.000 €)
How to Apply: Applications submitted year-round via online portal. Start with a project concept (Projektskizze) before full application. Details at https://www.dbu.de/foerderung/projektfoerderung/foerderung-beantragen/. Also offers PhD stipends and Green Start-up funding on separate tracks.
Target Region: Germany (primarily); limited international funding in Central/Eastern Europe
Contact: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, An der Bornau 2, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany. Tel: +49 541 9633-0. Contact form: https://www.dbu.de/kontakt/
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 08:25

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Project must have relevance to Germany (German applicant or German environmental benefit)
Applicant can be an SME, non-profit, university, or research institution

Project Scope

Project must demonstrate innovation, environmental benefit, and model/replication potential

Required Documents

Project concept (Projektskizze) must be submitted before full application
Full project plan, budget, and impact assessment required for full application

Constraints

Applications accepted year-round via online portal
International projects mainly limited to Central/Eastern Europe (MOE region)

Summary

The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) is one of Germany's largest environmental foundations and a leading funder of innovative environmental projects in Germany. Its Projektförderung (project funding) program supports applied environmental protection projects across 11 thematic areas including water/marine, nature conservation, sustainable products and circular economy, energy, and environmental communication. Grants are typically EUR 100,000–400,000 per project, with individual and cooperation projects both eligible. DBU prioritises small and medium-sized enterprises but also funds non-profits, universities, and research institutions. Applications are accepted year-round via an online portal. Projects must demonstrate relevance for Germany, innovation potential, and model character that could inform broader environmental practice. The DBU also offers PhD stipends for doctoral candidates in environmental fields (EUR 1,600/month) and Green Start-up support for young environmental ventures. For the marine-conservation theme, DBU is highly relevant for German NGOs working on marine/coastal environmental protection, water quality, or sustainable marine use. Projects addressing North Sea or Baltic Sea conservation with German relevance would fit well. For plastic-circular, DBU's 'sustainable products' and 'circular economy' thematic areas and interest in plastic waste reduction solutions make it relevant for organisations working on plastic recycling innovations.

Historical Context

DBU is one of Europe's largest environmental foundations, established in 1990. Has funded over 10,000 projects with more than EUR 2 billion. Operates across 11 thematic areas plus thematic initiatives. Annually publishes funded project results in a public database.

Why it was added

DBU general project funding beyond the dedicated marine fund. Broader scope but highly relevant for innovative marine conservation and sustainable aquaculture projects.

Sources

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