“Transition to innovative, extroverted and smart specialization”: New Program in Central Macedonia Region with 45% subsidy

Non-Repayable Grant

The Action for the Region of Central Macedonia “Transition to innovative, extroverted and smart specialization” has been published, with a total budget of 60,000,000 euros.

This Action aims to strengthen the activities of the priority sectors of the National Smart Specialization Strategy, as they specialize for each Region (Regional Terminations), through support existing, very small, small and medium enterprises in the Region of Central Macedonia that have closed at least two (2) full administrative uses before the date of electronic submission of the financing application.

Purpose of the action is the development and diffusion of new technologies, the technological transformation of the supported companies, their scale up (scale up), the increase of extroversion (emphasis on both global value chains – GVC, as well as in the promotion of products of high technological value) and the promotion of the double transition, i.e. digital transformation and the circular economy.

Key Points of Action

Interested businesses have the possibility to be subsidized at a rate of 45% for the implementation of budget investment plans from 60,000 euros up to 400,000 euros.

The maximum duration of completing a physical and financial object is set at 24 months from the date of approval of the funding application.

It is important to note that each investment project, to be eligible, should be documented linked to a Regional Outcome of the priority areas of the National Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) and the expenditures included in it serve the regions intervention of each ending.

In particular, it should be connected to the following Regional Terminations in the Central Macedonia Region:

  • Agri-Food Chain: Product processing of plant & animal production, Wine, Macedonian/local cuisine
  • Biosciences, Health, Medicines: Wellness, accessibility, rehabilitation & integration with an emphasis on the elderly and vulnerable social groups, Parapharmaceuticals & cosmetics with an emphasis on the use of local products
  • Digital Technologies: Digital transformation of industry
  • Sustainable Energy: Alternative fuels & biofuels, geothermal
  • Environment & Circular Economy: Textiles and Clothing, Food, Materials, Green Tourism
  • Transports & Supply Chain: Textile and Clothing, Food, Materials, Sustainable Mobility
  • Materials, Construction & Industry: Textile and Clothing, Building Materials
  • Tourism, Culture & Creative Industries: Film Market, Arts & Audiovisual, Health tourism, seniors and vulnerable groups, Culture for vulnerable groups and seniors

Beneficiaries

In the Action, existing medium, small and very small businesses can apply for funding, which, among other conditions, should be active in Greek territory and invest exclusively in the Region of Central Macedonia.

The proposed investment plan should concern at least one of the eligible SDFs included in the Action Announcement, in which the beneficiaries should be substantially active, during the last closed management year (Main SDF or SDF with higher revenues).

Eligible Expenses

Expenses are considered eligible, which are made after the date of publication of the invitation (13/12/2023) and concern the following categories:

  • Staff expenses
  • Equipment expenses such as indicative equipment expenses for the protection of the Environment and
  • Energy saving, costs of digital office equipment and production & mechanical equipment
  • Expenses for means of transport and instruments, i.e. costs for electric means of transport for business or mixed use up to nine (9) seats
  • Expenses for Buildings, Grounds, Facilities & Surroundings
  • Expenses for the provision of Services such as indicatively the cost of consulting services from external consultants, software supply/use services under the “Software as a Service” regime, “cloud computing” or similar, product development studies, etc.
  • Software costs and costs for software program licenses
  • Promotion, Promotion & Networking expenses such as indicative expenses for participation in trade fairs
  • Indirect Costs at a rate of 7% of the eligible direct costs of the investment plan

Submission Time and Evaluation Process

The electronic submission of funding applications starts on 22/01/2024 at 12:00 and will last until 22/05/2024 at 14:00 and the process of evaluation and inclusion of the investment projects is comparative, based on the specific criteria, as described in the Invitation.

The Call for Action was published in the DIAVGEIA program posted on the websites of the EYD of the program “Central Macedonia” (EYD PKM) http://www.pepkm.gr, of the NSPA (https://www.espa.gr/) and the Intermediate Body (EF) (https://www.efepae.gr) and the competent partner of KEPA-ANEM AMKE (https://www.kepa-anem.gr).

See in detail the Call to Action here.