Strengthening the self-employment of higher education graduates – Second Cycle

The programme

The action Supporting self-employment of higher education graduates - Cycle B concerns the support of higher education graduates, unemployed, employed and self-employed, for the start/support of professional activity related to their specialty in self-employment.

A self-contained commercial space is defined as a space that is a separate property, has its own utilities (e.g. electricity) and is not used in any way as a dwelling (primary or secondary).

Who it concerns

The programme is aimed at supporting unemployed, employed and self-employed persons, to start/support the exercise of a professional activity related to their specialisation in a self-employed professional space. A prerequisite for their support is the organisation of their activity in self-contained professional premises.

Specifically, the programme is addressed to graduates of TEI / TEI or equivalent school in Greece or abroad (recognized by the IOATAP) or holders of recognition of professional qualifications from SAEI or SAEP. Also, degrees from Schools of Theater and Dance recognized by the Ministry of Education. Culture as higher education and graduates of music schools recognized by the State.

Special attention: The first degree must have been obtained after 1/1/1995.

The following may participate:

1. Category A beneficiaries

New Business established by the following categories of beneficiaries with higher education graduates (Special attention: the first degree must have been obtained after 1/1/1995), who at the date of application are:

- Unemployed persons, registered in the unemployment registers of the OAED .

- Employees (full-time, part-time or seasonal)

- Existing sole traders (self-employed), who at the date of submission of the application were active in at least one eligible and relevant to their specialty (degree) and who will discontinue their existing sole trader business to participate in the creation of a cooperative (company) together with unemployed and/or employed persons

Cooperation between the beneficiaries of category A Beneficiaries:

Preference is given to the establishment of cooperative schemes (companies) in the form of micro-enterprises, in which beneficiaries from the aforementioned category A beneficiaries will participate, provided that they participate with equal shares.

2. Beneficiary category B

Existing sole traders (self-employed) who, at the date of submission of the application, were active in at least one eligible and relevant to their specialty (degree), as well as new partnerships (businesses) set up exclusively by the aforementioned existing sole traders who will discontinue their existing sole trader business.

Cooperation between the beneficiaries of category B Beneficiaries:

Preference will be given to the establishment of cooperative schemes (companies) in the form of micro-enterprises, involving beneficiaries of the above-mentioned category B beneficiaries, provided that they participate with equal shares in the company. Please note that new business schemes set up solely by existing sole proprietors at the time of submission will be classified as Beneficiaries B.

Program budget

The present action of the 2nd cycle is funded with a total amount of 80 million € (Public Expenditure), broken down by group of regions and by category of beneficiary A) New Business (60%) and B) Existing Businesses (40%) as follows:

1. Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece: 48.200.000€
2. Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Peloponnese, North Aegean, Crete: 14.200.000€
3. Attica: 12.300.000€
4. Central Greece: 3.100.000€
5. South Aegean: 2.200.000€

Amount of subsidy

The Action supports business plans with a total subsidized budget from 5.000€ to 25.000€ to cover 100% of eligible costs.

The amount of 25.000€ may be increased if the funding application is submitted by cooperative scheme. In particular for cooperation two (2) beneficiaries/beneficiaries, the total grant budget may amount to up to 40.000 €, and for cooperation three (3) or more beneficiaries/beneficiaries, this may amount to up to 50.000 €.

Expenses subsidized

1. Operating costs (rent of business premises, electricity, fixed and mobile telephony, water supply, heating, other common expenses, costs of accommodation in incubators, etc.) up to 60% of the investment plan
2. Expenditure on third party fees (legal, consultancy, accounting support, drafting and monitoring of the business plan, incubator services, specialised professional training seminars, etc.) up to 20% of the investment plan
3. Promotion, networking and exhibition participation costs up to 10% of the investment project
4. Supply of consumables up to 15% of the investment project
5. Insurance contributions of the beneficiary (entrepreneur/partners) up to 30% of the investment project
6. Salary costs for new post(s) up to 12.000€
7. Depreciation of fixed assets / Financial leasing of equipment up to 20% of the investment project (EKT without use of flexibility clause)
8. Purchase/financial lease of equipment/small-scale interior design up to 40% of the investment plan (using a flexibility clause)

Important dates

1. The start of the online submission is set on 5.7.2017. The online submission can be done in  3different periods which are:

• 1η περίοδος υποβολής: Έναρξη 5.7.2017 – Λήξη 9.8.2017
• 2η περίοδος υποβολής: Έναρξη 6.9.2017 – Λήξη 11.10.2017
• 3η περίοδος υποβολής: Έναρξη 8.11.2017 – Λήξη 13.12.2017

2. The date of eligibility of expenditure is defined as the date of adoption of the Decision on the Provisional List of Potential Beneficiaries.

3. Completion period 30 months from the date of the adoption of the Inclusion Decision, as specified in chapter I.1.2 of the Detailed Call

Useful files

1. Supplementary Provisional List of Potential Beneficiaries and Ranking List
2. Call for applications for funding of business plans under the Action
3. Πληροφοριακό Γράφημα της Δράσης (Infographic)
4. Programme Summary
5. Results of the 1st submission period - List of Potential Beneficiaries
6. Results of the 2nd submission period - List of Potential Beneficiaries
7. Results of the 3rd submission period - List of Potential Beneficiaries
8. Decision on the integration of State aid measures
9. 1st Amendment to the Decision on the inclusion of State aid operations
10. 2nd Amendment to the Decision on the Inclusion of State Aid Operations