Γενική Επιχειρηματικότητα – Αναπτυξιακός Νόμος 4399/2016 – 3η Προκήρυξη

The programme

The objective of the scheme is to provide a comprehensive incentive framework with the main objective of creating business initiatives for existing, start-up or incipient enterprises intending to make an initial investment in one of the eligible sectors of the law.

Περιεχόμενο επενδυτικού σχεδίου – Χαρακτήρας αρχικής επένδυσης

• Create a new unit
• Capacity expansion of an existing unit
• Diversification of a unit's output into products or services that have never been produced in it
• Fundamental change of the entire production process
• Acquisition of assets of a unit that has ceased operations

Who it concerns

Beneficiaries of aid of the present aid scheme are enterprises which are established or have a branch in the Greek territory at the time the investment project starts, within the meaning of Article 2 of Annex I to the General Tax Code.

Not eligible for this scheme are companies controlled by shareholders of companies that have ceased trading in the previous 12 months, if they operate in the same or adjacent markets,

The following are also not considered beneficiaries and are excluded from the 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 the form 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

Program budget

The total budget of this scheme, General Entrepreneurship, of Development Law 4399/2016 for 2018 amounts to EUR 350 000 000, of which EUR 140.000.000 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 210.000.000 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 contribution may also consist ofexternal funding. The alternative ways of covering 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

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:

• major enterprises, in the amount of five hundred thousand (500.000) euros
• Medium enterprises and cooperatives in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) euros
• small businesses , in the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand (150.000) euros
• micro-enterprises , in the amount of one hundred thousand (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.

Amount of subsidy

Under this notice, aid of up to 55% is foreseen, based on the Regional Aid Map, depending on the region of establishment.

Types of aid

• Tax exemption
• Subsidy
• Leasing subsidy
• Subsidization of the cost of employment created

Restrictions

-The total amount of aid per investment project submitted may reach up to EUR 5.000.000
-The aid granted to each body may not exceed a cumulative total of 10 million euros for an individual enterprise and 20 million for all related and cooperating undertakings

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.

Expenses subsidized

Tangible assets

- Construction, extension, modernisation of buildings and special and ancillary facilities of buildings and landscaping.

Cumulatively cannot exceed 45% of the total eligible costs.

For investment projects in the tourism sector, the rate is set at 60% for building expenditure, while for investments in the logistics sector in 70% also for the building costs of these investment projects. Finally, for buildings that are classified as listed buildings, this coefficient amounts to 80%.

- Purchase of all existing fixed assets, for SMEs, subject to conditions.

- Purchase and installation of new modern machinery and other equipment, technical installations and means of internal transport

- Leases of new modern machinery and equipment

- Special & mechanical installations

Intangible assets

- Technology transfer, purchase of intellectual property rights, licences, patents, know-how and unpatented technical knowledge

- Quality assurance systems, certifications, supply and installation of software and business organisation systems

Eligible expenditure for intangible assets cannot exceed 50% of total eligible expenditure and for SMEs 75%.

Wage cost

The wage costs of the new jobs created as a result of the implementation of the investment project are subsidized, calculated for a period of two (2) years from the creation of each job.

Conditions for wage cost support

1. Mandatory a net increase in the number of Annual Work Units (AWUs) compared to the AWUs of the previous 12 months from the date of submission of the application for membership
2. The filling of jobs should be within 3 years from the date of completion and start of production operation
3. Mandatory job retention for 3 years from the date of their recruitment

Other categories of expenditure

• Expenditure on consultancy services and only for new SMEs (not yet seven years from the date of their establishment).
  Support is provided for costs for monitoring the implementation of the investment project, for support in obtaining permits, in matters of financing the investment project, organisational and management studies, market surveys, etc.
• Start-up costs only for newly established small and micro enterprises. They concern start-up costs, such as legal and accounting services, organisational studies, etc.

Important dates

Start of submissions: 27/12/2018

Closing date: 28/02/2020

Χρήσιμα αρχεία

27/12/2018
Notice of scheme

16/5/2019
Applications extended until 15/6/2019

29/5/2019
Applications extended until 1/7/2019