Who it concerns
The beneficiaries of aid under this aid scheme are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises within the meaning of Article 2 of Annex I to the General Tax Code.
Micro and Small Enterprises controlled by shareholders of companies that have ceased trading in the previous 12 months are not eligible for this scheme, provided they operate in the same or adjacent markets,
The following are also not eligible and are excluded from aid under this scheme:
- firms in difficulty, as defined in paragraph 18 of Article 2 of the General Tax Code (Article 1(4)(c) of the General Tax Code),
- enterprises which, during the two (2) years preceding the submission of the application for aid, have relocated to the business premises where the initial investment in respect of which aid is requested will take place or have not undertaken not to do so within a period of two (2) years after the completion of the initial investment for which aid is requested,
- enterprises implementing investment projects carried out on the initiative and on behalf of the State, on the basis of a relevant contract for the execution of a project, concession or provision of services.
Eligible business forms
Eligible are companies that are established or have a branch in Greek territory at the time of commencement of the investment project and have one of the following forms:
- sole proprietorship,
- trading company,
- cooperative,
- Social Cooperative Enterprises (SPs) of 4430/2016 (A 2015)), Agricultural Cooperatives (AC), Producer Groups (POs), Agricultural Corporate Partnerships (ACPs) of Law 4384/2016 (A 78),
- companies being formed or merged, with the obligation to have completed the disclosure procedures before the start of work on the investment project,
- enterprises operating under theform of a joint venture subject to their registration in the General Register of Companies,
- public and municipal enterprises and their subsidiaries, provided that:
- they are not entrusted with the service of a public purpose,
- they are not exclusively entrusted by the State with the provision of services,
- δεν επιχορηγείται η λειτουργία τους με δημόσιους πόρους για το διάστημα τήρησης των
μακροχρόνιων υποχρεώσεων του άρθρου 21.
Υπάγονται επενδυτικά σχέδια όλων των τομέων της οικονομίας με την επιφύλαξη των παραγράφων του άρθρου 7 της προκήρυξης
Beneficiaries - Eligible activities
- Hotels and camping of at least 3 star category
- Health and medical tourism
- Manufacturing / Industry
- Agri-Nutrition
- Energy
- Supply Chain/Logistics
- Τουριστικά λιμάνια/Υδατοδρόμια
- Special Tourist Infrastructure Facilities: conference centres, golf courses, tourist ports, ski resorts, theme parks, spa tourism facilities (thermal therapy units, thermalism centres, thalassotherapy centres, spa centres), sports tourism training centres, mountain refuges, motorways
- Recovery and rehabilitation centres
- Fields (4×4, 5×5, etc.) and swimming pools
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Program budget
The total budget of this Micro and Small Enterprises Entrepreneurship scheme is EUR 405 000 000, of which EUR 400.000.000 relating to the types of aid of the grant, the leasing subsidy and the subsidy for the cost of the employment created come from the Public Investment Budget and the 5.000.000 euros concern the type of aid of the tax exemption.
The entity's participation in the total eligible costs of the investment project may be made either through own funds or external financing, provided that twenty-five percent (25%) of it does not contain any state aid, public support or benefit (Article 14(14) G.A.K.).
The same participation can also consist of external funding. The alternative ways to cover equity are:
- Increase in share or company capital from new cash contributions
- Capitalization of existing taxable reserves and retained earnings
- Use of existing taxable reserves and retained earnings
- Asset disposal
- Bank loan
Amount of subsidy
The minimum eligible investment project size for the inclusion of investment projects in the present aid scheme is defined on the basis of the size of the entity, i.e:
- for small enterprises, in the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) euros,
- for micro enterprises, in the amount of one hundred (100.000) euros
- for the Social Cooperative Enterprises (JVs) of Law 4430/2016 (A'205), as well as the Agricultural Cooperatives (AC), the Producer Groups (POs) and the Agricultural Corporate Partnerships (ACPs) of Law. 4384/2016 (A' 78) in the amount of fifty thousand (50,000) euros.
Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας προκήρυξης ¨του καθεστώτος Επιχειρηματικότητα Πολύ Μικρών και Μικρών Επιχειρήσεων, προβλέπονται ενισχύσεις μέχρι 55%, με βάση τον Χάρτη Περιφερειακών Ενισχύσεων, ανάλογα με την περιοχή εγκατάστασης.
Types of aid
- Tax exemption
- Subsidy
- Leasing subsidy
- Subsidization of the cost of employment created
Restrictions
- The total amount of aid per submitted investment project can reachup to EUR 3.000.000
- The aid granted to each body, including aid to cooperating or associated enterprises may not exceed a cumulative total of 20 million euro. euros for an individual enterprise, and 30 million. euros for all related and cooperating undertakings, subject to the restrictions laid down in Article 4 of the General Tax Code.
These restrictions shall apply to investment projects subject to the provisions of this and for a period of three (3) years from the date of the entity's application for inclusion of its investment project.
Special categories of aid (Article 12)
In order for a company to be eligible for a higher rate of aid through a grant, it must fall into at least one of the following categories:
1. Extroverted media: It concerns companies that show at least 10% increase in extroversion on average over the last three years, either 5% if their exports account for more than 70% of their turnover in the third year, or no increase if exports account for more than 85% of their turnover in the third year before the submission of their project.
2. Innovative SMEs: with a minimum of 10% of total operating costs to be taken up by research and development expenditure, for at least one (1) year out of the last three (3) years prior to the submission of the application for inclusion in the provisions of this.
3. Independent SMEs that after the entry into force of the law (22-6-2016) have gone through amerger process either by absorption or by creating a new company - outside of a takeover
4. Increase employment by at least 10% over the last three years
5. Cooperatives, Social Cooperative Enterprises of Law 4019/2011, Agricultural Cooperatives (AC), Producer Groups (PO), Agricultural Cooperatives (AES) of Law 4384/2016.
6. Investment projects which are implemented in ICT sectors (Technology, Informatics, Communication) and Agri-food
7. Enterprises that achieve increased value addedcompared to the average of their sector as determined by ELSTAT
8. Enterprises that implement their investment plan in B.E.P.E., E.P.E.B.O., E.P.E.B.O., T.I.C.T. and do not concern the modernisation or extension of existing structures of the assisted enterprise.
9. Enterprises implementing an investment project in special regions as defined in a relevant annex of the law (mountainous, disadvantaged, with particularly increased refugee and migration flows, with population decrease, island, border regions).
10. Enterprises whose investment project is implemented in areas with particularly increased refugee and migrant flowsand in particular: Agathonisi, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Leros, Lesvos, Samos, Symi, Chios.
