DoppelFörderung

DoppelFörderung is a financing arrangement in which a project or program receives funding from two or more sources at the same time. The term is used in German-language policy and administration to describe co-financing or dual sponsorship schemes. Typically, one source is public (for example, federal, state or municipal budgets or a European Union program) and the other is another public body, the private sector, or philanthropy. The funds are intended to be additive and must be used in accordance with the terms and eligibility rules of each fund.

Implementation usually involves formal co-financing agreements that outline conditions, reporting requirements, and audit obligations. Disbursement can be parallel, sequential, or staggered to match project milestones. Rules on eligible costs, matching rates, and double counting vary by source and require careful coordination to ensure compliance and avoid overlap.

Applications of DoppelFörderung occur in diverse sectors, including research and development, infrastructure, energy and climate projects, cultural initiatives, and urban or regional development. For example, a university research project might combine EU Horizon funds with national science grants, while a city infrastructure project could mix federal transport funds with regional development subsidies.

Advantages include higher total budgets, risk sharing, and the potential to leverage private investment. Challenges involve increased administrative complexity, stricter reporting, potential double counting concerns, timing mismatches between sources, and the need for careful governance to align objectives and criteria across funders.