Nine financial programmes with a total budget of ECU 40 million have been set aside for this purpose. euros (public expenditure), which aim either to support existing businesses in the ROPs through grants for the implementation of investment projects and recruitment of staff, or to create new small businesses, are currently active in various regions of the country in the framework of the Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs).

The implementation of these programs is linked per Region to the utilization of their comparative advantages, as they have been reflected by the local Smart Specialisation Strategies (Regional RIS3). In other words, emphasis is placed on the specific characteristics of each region so that the aided enterprises will start or further develop their activity in sectors that are considered to have particular prospects.

Although the budgets of the individual actions are relatively small in terms of public expenditure, the amount of subsidy per investment project is particularly generous, as in general moves at rates above 50%, and in some cases reaches 100% for example for innovation vouchers for businesses in Central Macedonia, or the recruitment of staff in the region of Epirus.

Based on the available data, these actions are of great interest from the investment community, which is why in the near future the announcement of new cycles, either the same or similar, is expected in all regions of the country.

The active programs per Region are the following:

RIP Central Macedonia

- Innovation Vouchers

From €1,000 to €10,000 can be received by small, micro and medium-sized enterprises operating in the Central Macedonia, through the dedicated funding programme called "Innovation Vouchers". The aim of the program is to finance businesses to purchase innovation services from certified bodies in order to improve their production or organizational processes.

The program is addressed to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that have closed at least one full administrative year of twelve months duration.

Specifically, the companies that will be included in it, can acquire a plan for the transfer of know-how that will concern the dissemination of scientific or technological knowledge or expertise from an innovator to a company, in a way that will be immediately usable by it. That is, it will fully respond to the problems that the enterprise has raised in the application submitted and will help to solve them.

The total public expenditure budget of the programme for the MIPs is 4 million euros while the subsidized budget of each investment proposal of a potential aid beneficiary can range from €1,000 to €10,000. The amount of the contract between the undertaking and the innovator must correspond to the cost of the services to be provided by the innovator. If the cost of the project exceeds the amount of 10,000 euros, the additional expense will be paid by the enterprise. If the cost of the project is less than 10,000 euros, the entire amount indicated on the invoice for the provision of services issued by the operator to the business, minus VAT, will be subsidized.

North Aegean

- Strengthening cooperation agreements between businesses and research and innovation organisations

Funding for the purchase of know-how from Universities and Research Institutions provides small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the North Aegean region with the program "Strengthening cooperation agreements between enterprises and research and innovation bodies", with a budget of EUR 4.7 million. euro (public expenditure).

By the rate of subsidy be as high as 80% for specific eligible costs, the programme focuses on support existing businesses, which invest in research and innovation, for the development of competitive innovative products and/or services that they plan to place on the market, as well as in innovative processes and processes in the production of their products.

The amount of investment projects to be supported can range from €30,000 to €200,000, while in the case of a partnership of two or more small and medium-sized enterprises, the maximum budget is set at €300,000.

- Support for the establishment of small and micro-innovative enterprises in the North. Aegean, with priority in the areas of RIS3

The promotion of innovative business activities, the creation of incentives for the development of entrepreneurship as well as the improvement of the degree of economic exploitation of innovative ideas through their transformation into marketable products and services, concerns the action "Strengthening the establishment of small and micro innovative enterprises in Vor. Aegean, with priority in the areas of RIS3"

The subsidized budget of each investment proposal of a potential aid beneficiary can range from 20,000 to 300,000 euros, while the amount of the grant can be up to 70%. The total budget of the programme amounts to στα 2,5 million euro.

The deadline for online submission of research proposals to the State Aid Information System, at: www.ependyseis.gr/mis , is set from 19/12/2019 at 1:00 pm until the deadline of 14/04/2020 at 3:00 pm.

- Strengthening existing and new businesses to utilize patents, innovations and new productive / business ideas to improve their productive activity and / or to develop new products

The main objective of the Action is to enhance modernization or expansion existing and new businesses through technological and non-technological upgrading, by utilizing assistive technologies or innovation, to improve productivity, quality and innovation at enterprise level with the aim of increasing the added value of the product / service produced and further business development.

The duration of the implementation of the projects is up to 24 months from the Integration Decision.

The subsidized budget of each investment proposal of a potential aid beneficiary can range from €50,000 to €300,000, while the amount of the grant can be up to 70%. The total budget of the programme amounts to στα 3 million euro.

The deadline for online submission of research proposals to the State Aid Information System, at: www.ependyseis.gr/mis , is set from 12/12/2019 at 1:00 pm until the deadline of 31/03/2020 at 3:00 pm.

ROP( Regional Operational Programmes )of Western Greece

- Strengthening Green Businesses and Recycling in Western Greece

The financing of investment plans of medium, small and very small enterprises, so that with interventions in their production process to reduce their environmental footprint by increasing their competitiveness and the strengthening of businesses in the recycling sector, provides for the program "Strengthening Green Businesses and Recycling in Western Greece".

Under the programme for the MIPs, the public expenditure of which amounts to 4,6 million euros Investment projects with a budget of between EUR 25 000 and EUR 300 000 will be financed, with the subsidy rate being up to 55% for medium-sized and up to 65% for small and micro-enterprises.

The objectives of the action are to increase their competitiveness and productivity through the reduction of their energy and especially their environmental footprint and these can be achieved by introducing eco-innovations in the production process, but also by developing and placing on the market "green" products and services (Eco Design - Eco Label and so on).

Central Greece

- Support for micro and small enterprises in the Region of Central Greece for their upgrading through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and automation systems.

The support of micro and small enterprises in the Region of Central Greece for their upgrade through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and automation systems (directly linked to ICT) in their production process is provided for by the homonymous action.

Its total budget is 4 million euros while the amount of the eligible investment project varies depending on the activity and the years of operation of the enterprises.

For existing enterprises in the manufacturing sector, the budget ranges from €7,000 to €200,000. For new manufacturing enterprises, the budget of the investment project ranges from 7,000 euros to 150,000 euros.

For existing tourism businesses, the budget ranges from €3,000 to €80,000, while for new businesses it ranges from €3,000 to €70,000.

For other activities, for existing businesses, the minimum budget of the investment project is 3,000 euros and the maximum is 50,000 euros, while for new businesses of other activities, the minimum budget is 3,000 and the maximum is 40,000 euros.

The maximum amount of subsidy can be up to 65% for existing and 70% for new businesses.

CIP Epirus

- Subsidies to businesses in the cutting-edge sectors of the Region of Epirus for the employment of unemployed people with high qualifications.

The programme provides for the subsidisation of small and medium-sized enterprises with 100% of the wage costs of the unemployed they will employ for a period of 18 months: Subsidies for businesses in the cutting-edge sectors of the Region of Epirus for the employment of unemployed people with high qualifications, with a budget of €2 million. euro.

The program finances the wage costs of the unemployed beneficiary for 18 months of full-time employment, including monthly gross earnings, employer's insurance contributions, as well as Christmas and Easter holiday allowances and holiday allowance, with the minimum gross salary starting at 824 euros. The companies that will join the program will have to commit to maintaining the subsidized jobs for 4 months after the expiration of the 18-month period.

CIP Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

- Aid for modernisation - upgrading of existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as a priority in areas of the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Under this action for the MIPs, a budget of EUR 10 million; euros (public expenditure) existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the region concerned are supported for the implementation of investment plans in order to increase competitiveness and consequently improve their position in the domestic and international market.

The minimum budget of the investment project to be eligible for funding may not be less than 60.000 euro and the maximum, should not exceed the 800.000 euro. The amount of the subsidy varies from 45% to 55% and is determined by the categories of eligible actions and the size of the enterprise.

Aid for business start-ups, as a priority in areas of the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

The financing of investment projects under establishment is provided for by the action "Support for the establishment of enterprises, as a priority in areas of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace". That is, they will be financed Businesses under creation that will be active in the fields of agri-food, tourism - culture, materials (plastics- rubbers, non-metallic minerals) and innovative materials, chemicals, medicines and health, environment, energy and hybrid technologies, electrical and electronic equipment as well as the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector.

The budget of the investment projects should be from 20,000 to 285,000 euros, while the amount of the subsidy is 70%.

The total budget of the action amounts to 5 million euros with provision for an over-commitment of up to EUR 7 million. euro.