The Luxembourg Development Cooperation kicks off the 12th edition of the Business Partnership Facility (BPF) with a new call for proposals, open to Luxembourg and European Union (EU)-based enterprises.
Does your company hold expertise or technology Looking to test your solution through a pilot project or to introduce it to new markets? The Business Partnership Facility (BPF) gives you the boost you need to expand internationally and make a meaningful impact.
Forging economic partnerships to tackle critical societal issues
Acknowledging the pivotal role of the private sector in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Luxembourg's ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade created the BPF in 2016. Over the course of its previous eleven editions, this program has backed 44 partnership projects between European businesses and entities based in over 20 developing countries.
The BPF targets solutions addressing key societal challenges in partner countries: poverty, food security, climate change, quality education, decent work, job creation, access to clean water, and more.
During the last edition, three partnership projects were selected:
- Fairkoperativ (Lux) contributes to strengthening the local dairy sector in Burkina Faso by developing innovative products for the local market;
- E-LMA (Lux) aims to create qualified jobs in Kosovo by establishing back-office structures for Luxembourgish enterprises in the financial sector;
- Madewithlove (Belgium) plans to transform the e-mobility landscape in Kenya with an affordable and reliable energy system for a local transportation solution.
Leveraging the innovation capacity of Luxembourgish businesses
As part of the 12th edition of the BPF, a new call for proposals is now open.
The BPF targets Luxembourgish or EU-based enterprises, registered for over 3 years, with a minimum turnover of 500,000 EUR (or three times the amount of the requested co-financing), and employing at least 5 people.
It offers co-financing of up to 200,000 EUR for the implementation of an innovative and impactful project within a strong partnership with an entity in a developing country (business, NGO, public entity, etc.). Whether through knowledge transfer, feasibility studies, or piloting new solutions in untapped markets, the goal is to bring the benefits of innovations "Made in Luxembourg" to developing countries and establish mutually beneficial partnerships.
Submit your project by October 31st
Support will cover up to 50% of the project costs (up to a maximum of EUR 200,000). Interested enterprises have until October 31st to submit their application.
The selection process involves multiple steps:
- Step 1: Candidates are invited to complete and submit an application online on the new platform (https://bit.ly/bpf-online-platform);
- A shortlist is made based on these applications;
- Step 2: Selected enterprises will then be invited to submit detailed proposals, based on which the final selection will be made in Spring 2025.
Two webinars are open to applicants wishing to know more and ask questions to the project team : Monday September 16 at 2 pm CET, in French ; Wednesday September 18 at 10 am CET in English.
An event is organised on October 14 at 3.30 pm at the Luxembourg House of Startup, to meet with those who change the world with the BPF, and network.
More info: www.luxaidbusiness4impact.lu/bpf
