Expected NSRF (ESPA)

Pre-Announcement: “Export Orientation of SMEs” Action

Status
Expected
Opening
Not announced
Deadline
Not announced
Subsidy
40%–60%
Investment
+200.000.000 €

The programme

 

The Action entitled "Export Orientation of SMEs" will be implemented with funds from the "Competitiveness" Programme of ESPA 2021 – 2027, totalling 200 million euros, and aims to strengthen and support the export orientation of the country's small and medium-sized enterprises. The Action seeks to encourage investment plans that aim to use and develop modern technologies and to upgrade the products produced and/or services provided and the enterprises' activities in general, in order to improve the competitiveness and extroversion of the enterprises, integrate them into international value chains and strengthen the international presence of their products, also through their participation in trade fairs organised outside Greek territory, in the EU and in third countries.
Indicative actions that will be supported:
• Preparation of a business plan that sets out the specific targets of each SME.
• Search for opportunities in new markets in Greece and/or abroad through market research, participation in trade fairs, organisation of trade/business missions.
• Strengthening their position in existing foreign markets, mainly by widening their networks and partnerships, and developing new products, with corresponding interventions in equipment and production processes, mainly by making use of digital technology.
• Upgrading the promotion of products abroad through branding, establishing a quality mark for the products produced, participation in recognised international trade fairs etc.

Who it concerns

In the Action "Export Orientation of SMEs", proposals may be submitted by existing medium-sized, small and micro enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, with KAD codes of Manufacturing and accompanying services. In detail, the eligible activity codes (KAD) will be set out in the detailed Call of the Action.
 
The main conditions for participation of the potentially benefiting enterprises are the following:
1. They must make an investment exclusively in one Category of Region
2. They must have at least two (2) full closed financial years before the date the funding application is submitted electronically
3. They must operate substantially (main KAD code or KAD code with the highest revenue) in one (1) eligible activity KAD code, before the date the funding application is submitted electronically, which concerns products that the enterprise wishes to promote through its participation in the trade fairs
4. They must hold the eligible investment KAD code(s) of this call before the date the funding application is submitted electronically
5. They must already have export activity, with at least 2% of annual turnover coming from exports of products they produce/process, or intend to develop export activity within the implementation period of the plan.
6. They must have at least one (1) AWU of salaried employment in the calendar year before the funding application is submitted. This will be confirmed on the basis of the declared data kept for the enterprise in the ERGANI information system.
7. They must operate legally

Program budget

The total Public Expenditure of the Action "Export Orientation of SMEs"  amounts to 200 million euros. The minimum budget of each investment plan is set at €80,000.

If the investment plan has a budget higher than the upper limit set above, the excess amount will be considered 100% private contribution for the implementation of the plan. In that case, although the excess expenses are not subsidised, the whole investment plan, including the excess cost, is subject to evaluation and monitoring-control.

The total subsidised budget of the investment plan may not exceed the highest turnover achieved in one of the three (or fewer, if the enterprise does not have three) financial periods preceding the submission of the funding application, with a maximum aid of €200,000.

The maximum time for completing the physical and financial scope of the investment plan may not exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date the Inclusion Decision is issued. The Action is co-financed by the European Union, specifically by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by the Greek State.

Amount of subsidy

The aid of this Action "Export Orientation of SMEs"  will be provided under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 (OJ EL L 15.12.2023) of 13 December 2023 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid (De Minimis).

The aid rate is set as follows:

The grant rate of the Action "Export Orientation of SMEs" may receive a graduated increase of up to 20% when the investment plan is included, which will be paid at each stage of certification of the physical and financial scope, depending on the export target to which the enterprise commits. The increase is confirmed provided that the increase in exports is achieved and certified at the final verification stage. In any case the maximum aid may not exceed €200,000.

Expenses subsidized

The start date for the eligibility of expenses of the Action "Export Orientation of SMEs" is the date the funding application is submitted.

Expenses that may be included as eligible are:


Important dates

Expected 

Useful files

Pre-announcement of the Action "Export Orientation of SMEs" (in Greek): https://21-27.antagonistikotita.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/prodhmosieysh_exwstrefeia.pdf

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