Businesses that will be eligible for the new NSRF programme " Competitiveness Toolbox for Small and Micro Enterprises" , announced today, can receive a grant of up to €130,000.

Competitiveness Toolkit for Small and Very Small Enterprises - Conditions for participation

Only existing Small and Micro Enterprises as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC are supported, which before the date of electronic submission of the funding proposal:

• at least three (3) full administrative years of twelve months have been closed
• have eligible NACE CODES of the investment
• have at least two (2) full-time or part-time AWUs in the year preceding the submission of the investment project.
• employ fewer than 50 SRM of paid employment or the annual turnover and annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 10 million. euros

The subsidized budget of each investment project varies from €20,000 to €200,000. The financing of investment projects shall cover at least the 50% of the eligible costs and is increased for certain categories of expenditure up to 65% depending on the export activity of the enterprises in the last year before the submission of the financing proposal.

To cover private participation, the potential beneficiary of the aid may use either own resources or borrowing.

Eligible costs

The following categories of expenditure will be funded under the Action: the Competitiveness Toolbox for Small and Micro Enterprises:

• Machinery – Equipment – Interventions – Energy Saving
• Certification – quality management systems, design, standardization and certification of Products – Services – Processes
• Packaging – Label – Branding
• Digital Promotion
• Means
• Costs of engineering studies
• Preparation and monitoring of the investment plan
• Wage costs of employees (new staff)

The starting date for the electronic submission of investment projects to the State Aid Management Information System has been set for 06/02/2019. Please note that funding applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the date of electronic submission of the investment project.

More information about the action here.