The Environmental Protection Programme, an initiative of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), supports projects contibuting to environmental protection, with particular focus on small businesses. Depending on respective calls for proposals, topics of eligible projects might include environmental technology, environmentally friendly processes and products, climate protection and energy. The programme's key goal is to foster research, development and implementation of innovative environmentally friendly technologies and products, consistent with the principles of preventive integrated environmental protection, conserving and recovering natural heritage, and contributing to higher public environmental awareness and education.

Grant sizes depend on the project and applicant; usually 50 % of eligible costs for SMEs, 100 % for research institutions.