Opportunity Information: Apply for BER NOFO FY19 002
The grant opportunity titled "Mapping MIC2025 in Germany" is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Germany) cooperative agreement that funds a focused research-and-outreach project on Chinese investment activity in Germany, specifically as it relates to the Chinese industrial policy initiative Made in China 2025 (MIC2025). The program is framed around concerns that Chinese firms, often supported by the state, may be using acquisitions and other strategic investments to obtain advanced technologies and critical infrastructure in Germany and across Europe. The background rationale emphasizes that Germany has been one of the largest European destinations for Chinese foreign direct investment, including significant inflows in 2018 and a large cumulative total from 2000 to 2018. It also highlights research suggesting that a large share of Chinese mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Germany has concentrated in MIC2025 priority sectors such as electric and hybrid vehicles, robotics, electrical equipment, and biotechnology, with activity clustered in major industrial regions including Baden-Wuerttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria.
The project has two main components. The first is an in-depth analytical report designed to move beyond broad, macro-level FDI statistics and instead examine Chinese M&A in Germany at the deal and company level using a case-study approach. The implementer is expected to select three to five relevant acquisitions and trace each transaction from the early exploratory stage through the acquisition itself and the transition to Chinese ownership. The analysis is meant to examine how these deals were structured and executed, whether the acquiring companies had ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and whether they benefited from state-backed financial support such as subsidized loans. A core requirement is to assess what changes followed the ownership shift for the German firms involved, including operational decisions affecting physical facilities, staffing and human resources, supply chains, and the handling or movement of intellectual property. Because Chinese M&A at this scale is described as relatively recent in Germany, the program specifically calls for conclusions that are useful for policymakers, including insights into the potential economic competitiveness and security implications if similar acquisitions continue.
The second component is a structured outreach effort to ensure the findings reach decision-makers and the wider public. After completing the written product, the implementer must develop and carry out an outreach plan in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Berlin. This dissemination strategy is expected to amplify the report through media engagement and social media, and may also include a public-facing event co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and its consulates in Germany. Outreach is not meant to stay limited to Berlin policy circles; it should include engagement with think tanks and academic institutions, as well as state- and city-level governments, industry and civil society organizations, and potentially the federal government. The solicitation also stresses that the report should be written for non-specialists, aiming to reach non-elite audiences who are not necessarily experts in China policy or investment policy. Consistent with that, the outreach phase is intended to target audiences outside Berlin as well, and applicants are expected to allocate enough funding in the project budget to support meaningful communications and engagement.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, categorized under Business and Commerce (CFDA 19.040). Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as specified in the eligibility line) and individuals. The opportunity anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $30,000. The notice was created on August 16, 2019, with an original closing date of August 31, 2019, indicating a relatively short application window for the competition. Overall, the grant is designed to produce a concrete, case-based assessment of how MIC2025-linked Chinese acquisitions operate in practice within Germany and to translate that research into public communication that informs German stakeholders and broader audiences about potential long-term competitiveness and security considerations.Apply for BER NOFO FY19 002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mapping MIC2025 in Germany" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Mapping MIC2025 in Germany
What is the "Mapping MIC2025 in Germany" grant opportunity?
"Mapping MIC2025 in Germany" is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Germany) cooperative agreement that supports a focused research-and-outreach project examining Chinese investment activity in Germany as it relates to the industrial policy initiative Made in China 2025 (MIC2025).
Who is the funder and program owner?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Germany (U.S. Embassy in Berlin and related U.S. government presence in Germany).
What type of funding mechanism is used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the implementer is expected to coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, particularly for outreach and dissemination of findings.
What is the purpose of the project?
The project is designed to produce a concrete, case-based assessment of how MIC2025-linked Chinese acquisitions operate in practice in Germany and to translate that research into outreach that informs German stakeholders and broader audiences about potential long-term competitiveness and security considerations.
What concerns or policy context motivated the program?
The program is framed around concerns that Chinese firms, often supported by the state, may use acquisitions and strategic investments to access advanced technologies and critical infrastructure in Germany and across Europe.
Why is Germany specifically highlighted in the background rationale?
The opportunity notes that Germany has been among the largest European destinations for Chinese foreign direct investment, including significant inflows in 2018 and a large cumulative total from 2000 to 2018.
What is MIC2025 in the context of this grant?
MIC2025 (Made in China 2025) is described as a Chinese industrial policy initiative. The grant focuses on how Chinese M&A activity in Germany aligns with MIC2025 priority sectors.
What types of Chinese investment activity does the project focus on?
The primary focus is on Chinese mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Germany, with analysis at the deal and company level rather than only using broad foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics.
Which sectors are emphasized as relevant to the analysis?
The solicitation highlights MIC2025 priority sectors where a large share of Chinese M&A in Germany has reportedly concentrated, including electric and hybrid vehicles, robotics, electrical equipment, and biotechnology.
Which regions in Germany are mentioned as key locations for this activity?
The opportunity references activity clustered in major industrial regions including Baden-Wuerttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria.
What are the main components of the project?
There are two main components: (1) an in-depth analytical report based on deal- and company-level case studies, and (2) a structured outreach effort to disseminate findings to decision-makers and the wider public.
What does the analytical report need to do beyond macro-level FDI statistics?
The report is expected to move beyond broad FDI figures and instead analyze Chinese M&A in Germany at the level of individual deals and companies, using a case-study approach that traces how acquisitions were explored, executed, and transitioned into Chinese ownership.
How many case studies should be included in the report?
The implementer is expected to select three to five relevant acquisitions for detailed case-study analysis.
What stages of each acquisition should be traced?
Each case study should trace the transaction from the early exploratory stage through the acquisition itself and the transition to Chinese ownership.
What deal-structure details are expected to be examined?
The analysis should examine how the deals were structured and executed, including whether acquiring companies had ties to the Chinese Communist Party and whether they benefited from state-backed financial support such as subsidized loans.
What post-acquisition changes must the analysis assess?
A core requirement is to assess what changes followed the ownership shift for the German firms involved, including operational decisions affecting physical facilities, staffing and human resources, supply chains, and the handling or movement of intellectual property.
What kind of conclusions should the report provide?
The program calls for conclusions useful for policymakers, including insights into potential economic competitiveness and security implications if similar acquisitions continue.
Who is the intended audience for the written report?
The report should be written for non-specialists and aimed at reaching non-elite audiences who are not necessarily experts in China policy or investment policy.
What is required for the outreach and dissemination component?
After completing the written product, the implementer must develop and carry out an outreach plan in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Berlin to amplify the report through media engagement and social media.
Does the outreach component include events?
It may include a public-facing event co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and its consulates in Germany.
Is outreach limited to Berlin policy circles?
No. The solicitation states outreach should not remain limited to Berlin policy circles and should also engage audiences outside Berlin.
Which stakeholders should be included in outreach efforts?
The outreach is expected to include engagement with think tanks and academic institutions, state- and city-level governments, industry and civil society organizations, and potentially the federal government.
What does the solicitation say about budgeting for outreach?
Applicants are expected to allocate enough funding in the project budget to support meaningful communications and engagement activities.
What program category and assistance listing are provided?
The opportunity is categorized under Business and Commerce and lists CFDA 19.040.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as specified in the eligibility line) and individuals.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $30,000.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The notice was created on August 16, 2019, and had an original closing date of August 31, 2019.
How long was the application window?
Based on the creation date (August 16, 2019) and original closing date (August 31, 2019), the application window was relatively short.
What makes this project distinct from general research on foreign direct investment?
Rather than focusing on aggregate FDI totals, this project emphasizes case-based, transaction-level analysis of specific acquisitions, including how they were financed, executed, and what operational and intellectual property-related changes followed.
How is the U.S. Embassy in Berlin involved in the project?
The implementer must coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Berlin during the outreach phase, and dissemination may include co-sponsored events with the Embassy and its consulates in Germany.
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