Jan 13, 2025

ESF PLUS - new guideline for funding projects as part of the "Sustainable at work - future-oriented training" (NIB) program published by the BMBF

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the socio-ecological, transformative promotion of skills in vocational training with the ESF-Plus co-financed program "Sustainable at work - future-oriented training (NIB)". Funding is provided for up to 36 months.

The purpose of the grant is to develop and test innovative, practice-oriented and transferable solutions for the vocational education and training (qualification) of skilled personnel in the context of the energy transition and circular economy in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

Funding is provided for transformation projects and a meta-project. Transformation projects can be collaborative and individual projects that develop vocational education and training programs in the areas of the energy transition and/or the circular economy. Metaprojects accompany the transformation projects with development-oriented research and support the transfer of knowledge.

Universities can only be applicants in collaborative projects in which non-scientific partners are also involved. The share of funding is up to 100% with a minimum grant amount of EUR 200,000.

Application procedure

The application procedure consists of two stages: In the first stage, a project outline must be submitted by February 15, 2025 using easy-Online, which for TU Dresden is done via the EPC. For this purpose, the documents listed on the EPC program page must be sent to by February 10. After a positive expert assessment, the submission of a funding application is recommended. The start of transformation projects is planned from September 1, 2025. A further funding phase is planned.