e-Retail – Subsidy for existing SMEs in the retail sector, for the development/upgrade and management of an online store

e-Retail – Subsidy for existing SMEs in the retail sector, for the development/upgrade and management of an online store - The program

The action entitled "e-Retail - Grant of existing SMEs in the retail sector, for the development/upgrading and management of an online store" refers to the support of medium, small and very small Retail Businesses, with the aim of developing, upgrading and management of e-commerce (e-shop) as well as to improve the handling of difficulties in these exceptional circumstances of the outbreak of the disease COVID-19.

The Action aims to:

• supporting the operation of SMEs under the regime of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19),
• strengthening the degree of integration of digital technology as well as their digital transformation and
• avoiding overcrowding in their interior spaces

Beneficiaries 

The following have the right to apply:

Existing businesses, as long as they have been established and have obtained an eligible NACE code until 30/09/2019
Newly established businesses, as long as they have been established and have obtained an eligible NACE code from 1/10/2019 until the date of the announcement of the Action.

Eligible for the Action are medium, small and very small businesses that meet the following criteria:

• have as their main Activity, at the head office or in the branch, or as the activity with the largest income, the branch of retail trade (NACE code 47 and its Analyticals)
• maintain a physical retail store, in a separate area of ​​their home, i.e. a commercial area that welcomes and serves customers,
• the operation of the head office and/or branches has been suspended for at least one day from Wednesday 18 March 2020 onwards,
• existing businesses must have a reduction of at least 20% in their turnover during the 4th quarter of the year 2020 compared to the corresponding quarter of the year 2019

Businesses that are part of an already organized uniform distribution network of products or services and that exploit licenses to exploit intellectual property rights, usually related to trademarks or distinctive titles and know-how for the use and distribution of goods or services (e.g. franchising, Shop in shop, agency network, etc.).

Program budget

The indicative budget of the "e-retail" action amounts to €80,000,000 (public expenditure).

The Public Expenditure is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by National Participation.

The total amount of public funding that each company can receive (at the level of "single company" from the specific Action, taking into account any other support that it has received or will receive under Regulation 1407/2013 (De Minimis) in the last three years calculated on a rolling basis, it cannot exceed 200,000 euros (or 100,000 euros for the transport sector).

Amount of subsidy

The total grant amounts to the amount of €5,000.00 for each business (distinct VAT number) for the acquisition of IT equipment and the implementation of intangible actions (Software/services) in order to develop and manage an electronic store (e-shop).

If the business (distinct VAT number) already had an online store before 18/3/2020, then it can be upgraded with an eligible grant up to the amount of €1,500.00.

Subsidized expenses

The following expenditure categories will be financed in the "e-Retail" Action:

IT Equipment (only for new online stores)

• Servers for hosting applications - software required for the creation/upgrade and operation of an online store, with its accompanying components (keyboards, screen, etc.) and the required operating system. Acquisition in the form of Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) is also permitted. In the case of acquisition in the form of Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS), the cost for one year is eligible
• Computers (Desktop/Laptop)
• Other technological equipment related to the creation/upgrade and operation of an online store (e.g. Network equipment, Bar code readers, printers, etc.)

For IT equipment the maximum eligible percentage of the subsidized project budget is 30%

Software

• E-shop design, development and management services. It should work in 2 languages, as well as in a mobile device environment – mobile responsive or dedicated mobile version and integrate functions of ordering (basket), warehouse (quantity of items) and secure electronic payments (redirect to banking environment)
• Development and/or certification of digital security policy

For software the maximum eligible percentage of the subsidized project budget is 100%.

Marking

In the case of upgrading an existing online store (e-shop) that the business had before 18/3/2020:

• equipment procurement costs are not eligible
• the total grant amount to the business cannot exceed the amount of 1,500 euros

The start date for expenditure eligibility is 18 March 2020

Important Dates

Start date of electronic submission of investment plans to the State Aid Management Information System: July 9, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

Deadline for electronic submission of investment plans to the State Aid Management Information System: September 29, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

Duration of implementation of investment projects: The deadline for the completion of financed investments cannot exceed six (6) months from the date of issuance of the Incorporation Decision

Expenditure eligibility start date: March 18, 2020

Necessary supporting documents

12/02/2020

Required supporting documents for application submission

Useful files

12/02/2020

Notice of Action "e-Retail"

12/02/2021

Required supporting documents for application submission

12/02/2021

Eligible Activity Codes (NACE code)

05/04/2021

Extension of submission of applications

25/06/2021

Notice of Action "e-Retail" - 2nd Round