Eastern Macedonia and Thrace – Action 3a.4.2 – Support for the establishment of businesses, as a priority in areas of the Regional Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3)

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace - Action 3a.4.2 - Support for the establishment of businesses, as a priority in areas of the Regional Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) - The program

Action 3a.4.2 concerns the strengthening of investment plans for the establishment of very small, small and medium enterprises (MME) in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace within the Operational Program "Eastern Macedonia and Thrace" 201.

The purpose of the action is to provide incentives for the development of the economy, the strengthening of new business ideas through and their transformation into marketable products/services.

Through the Action, priority investment projects in areas of the Regional Strategy "Smart Specialization" (Regional RIS3) are strengthened, namely:

• in the agri-food sector,
• in the field of Tourism - Culture,
• in the field of Materials (plastic-rubber, non-metallic minerals) and Innovative Materials,
• in the field of Chemicals, Medicines and Health,
• in the field of environment, energy and hybrid technologies,
• in the field of electronic / electrical equipment
• in the field of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT).

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries, eligible for public funding under this call, are start-up micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that:
a) undertake that they will have at the time of their establishment or, in the case that they have been established after the issuance of this invitation, have an eligible NACE code
and
b) their investment plan relates to an eligible NACE code

Eligible NACE code

It is noted that:

• Investment projects from companies resuming their business activity are not eligible.
• According to Reg. EU 1407/2013, the total amount of de minimis aid granted to the single enterprise cannot exceed the amount of 200,000 euros in any period of three financial years. The total amount of de minimis aid granted per Member State to a single undertaking carrying out road freight transport on behalf of third parties may not exceed the amount of EUR 100,000 in any period of three financial years. These de minimis aids may not be used for the acquisition of road freight vehicles

They are not eligible to apply for funding:

• Public enterprises, public bodies or public organizations and/or their subsidiaries, as well as enterprises assimilated to them.
• Businesses that are part of an already organized uniform distribution network of products or services and which exploit, following relevant contracts, licenses to exploit intellectual property rights, which usually concern 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).
• Offshore businesses.

The proposed investment project must be located exclusively in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Program Budget

The Public Expenditure budget of the call "Support for the establishment of businesses, as a priority in areas of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy (Action 3a.4.2)" amounts to €5,000,000. The possibility of overcommitment at a rate of 40% or more is also foreseen with the consent of the Ministry of Development and Investments.

The Public Expenditure of Action 3a.4.2 is financed by National Resources and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the Operational Program "Eastern Macedonia and Thrace" 2014-2020. The ERDF contributes to the financing of aid to stimulate economic, social and territorial cohesion by reducing regional disparities and supporting structural improvements and adjustments of regional economies, including the reconstruction of declining industrial areas. In the context of the 2014 – 2020 Programming Period, the ERDF should contribute to the Union's strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, thus ensuring greater concentration of ERDF support on the Union's priorities.

Amount of subsidy

The subsidized budget of each investment proposal of a potential aid beneficiary can range from €20,000 to €285,000.

The intensity of the aid, the Public Funding of the investment project in the context of this call is set at 70% while the Private Participation at 30%.

Subsidized expenses

In Action 3a.4.2 the following categories of expenses will be financed:

A.1 Buildings, facilities and surrounding area
A.2 Equipment

• A.2.1 Mechanical equipment
• A.2.2 Machinery – ICT equipment / Automation systems and special IT systems
• A.2.3 Means of transport up to €15,000
• A.2.4 Other equipment up to €6,000

A.3 Intangible costs up to 10% of the total P/Y

• A.3.1 Certification of products – services – procedures up to €3,000/certificate and up to €9,000 in total
• A.3.2 Software and software services up to €10,000

B.1 Consulting, support and guidance up to a total of €8,000 and in particular, according to the following limitations:

•  B.1.1 Drafting, submission and monitoring and management of the investment plan up to €4,000
•  B.1.2 Other consulting, support and guidance costs

C.1 Digital projection up to a total of €7,000 and in particular, according to the following restrictions:

• C.1.1 Displaying an advertising message up to €1,000
• C.1.2 Digital projection services up to a total of €2,000
• C.1.3 Website development up to €3,000
• C.1.4 Development/management of an online store up to €4,000

Eligible Expenses

Important dates

Start date of electronic submission of investment plans to the State Aid Management Information System: 18/02/2020

Deadline for electronic submission of investment plans to the State Aid Management Information System: 30/06/2020 14:00

Duration of implementation of investment projects: 24 months from the date of issuance of the Incorporation Decision

Expenditure eligibility start date: Date of issue of this call

Necessary supporting documents for submission

Submission/joining documents

Useful files

22/01/2020
Invitation to submit applications for financing investment projects

22/01/2020
Eligible Expenses

22/01/2020
Eligible CADs

24/03/2020
1st Amendment to the Invitation to submit applications for financing investment projects

10/04/2020
2nd Amendment to the Invitation to submit applications for financing investment projects

12/06/2020
3rd Amendment of the Invitation to submit applications for financing investment projects