Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures — GRW (Gemeinschaftsaufgabe Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur)

GRW, the federal-state joint task for improving regional economic structure, is Germany's central regional development program. It was established in 1969 and is used to strengthen structurally weak regions by offsetting location disadvantages, supporting employment, and accelerating climate-neutral transformation. Federal and state authorities approved a new coordination framework effective 1 January 2026. The program supports commercial investment, municipal economic infrastructure, business networking, and measures that improve SME competitiveness in designated funding regions. In the 2022 to 2025 period, 2.1 billion euros was approved for commercial investments, with roughly 77 percent reaching SMEs and 14,659 jobs created. Applications are handled by the individual Länder, which run the actual administration on the ground. GRW suits companies and local institutions that operate inside the eligible regional map and need state-level support rather than a national R&D call. The practical path is to work through the relevant state agency, match the project to the regional criteria, and show that the investment improves local economic structure in a way that fits the current funding territory.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.