Two new calls for proposals have been announced with a total budget of €50 million, to be implemented with resources from the ‘Just Development Transition’ Program 2021-2027 (‘Green Entrepreneurship’), and will concern new, existing, and under-establishment SMEs.
The actions aim at establishing businesses and strengthening existing very small small enterprises on small islands (according to the JTF SDIPs) with a population of up to 3,100 inhabitants.
Through these specific calls, emphasis will be placed on the priority areas of the National Smart Specialization Strategy.
BENEFICIARIES
Under-establishment businesses are defined as those that will commence operations with the competent Tax Office after the electronic submission of the funding application.
New businesses are defined as those that have commenced operations and, on the date of electronic submission of the funding application, have fewer than two (2) full closed financial years.
Existing businesses are defined as those that, on the date of electronic submission of the funding application, have at least two (2) full closed financial years.
TERMS – CONDITIONS
The basic conditions for participation of potentially beneficiary businesses include, among others, the following:
- To submit one single funding application per Tax Identification Number (TIN).
- To operate within Greek territory and to make an investment exclusively in 1 establishment within the geographical boundaries of the island regions.
- The proposed investment plan must concern at least one of the eligible NACE codes included in the ANNEX of the call.
- The amount of the subsidized budget of the investment plan must be greater than the minimum limit defined in the calls.
- To qualify as a Very Small or Small Enterprise.
- To meet the conditions for the application of Regulation (EU) 2831/2023 (OJ L 12.2023) (De Minimis) on which the Action is based.
- To provide proof of Available Funds in relation to the Investment Plan, amounting to at least 30% of the Total Budget.
- The funding application must include expenses related to the subcategories characterized as expenses contributing to Environmental Protection and Energy Saving, at a rate of at least 30%.
- To operate or commence legal operation.
- Not to have completed the physical object of the investment or to have not fully implemented it before submitting the funding application.
- Not to be under bankruptcy, liquidation, or compulsory administration.
- The funding application must achieve a minimum total score of 65.
- To commit to increasing the business’s employment during the implementation of the investment, which, if maintained for one year, will increase the FTEs by at least 0.5 units (compared to 2024 employment for a new business).
- To commit to maintaining the declared increase, which will be subject to scoring of the application, for at least one year after the completion of the investment.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
The eligibility start date for expenses is defined as the publication date of the Action’s call.
S/N | Expense Category | Type/Limits of Expense |
01. | Equipment, Transport Means Instruments Expenses | 100% |
Production Mechanical Equipment | 100% | |
Automation systems and specialized IT systems | 100% | |
Digital office equipment | 100% | |
Other business equipment | Green Technological Solutions Mandatory expense for Environmental Protection and Energy Saving At least one of the five (5) subcategories and at least 30% of the subsidized budget. Electric Transport Means are eligible up to €50,000 up to 50% of the subsidized budget. | |
Equipment for environmental protection and energy saving | ||
Circular economy equipment | ||
Equipment for the installation of photovoltaic stations and storage systems for electricity production and coverage of own needs | ||
Electric Transport Means | ||
02. | Expenses for Buildings, Facilities Surrounding Area | |
Building interventions for environmental protection and saving energy, water, and waste treatment | ||
Buildings, facilities, and surrounding area | 100% | |
03. | Expenses for Service Provision | |
| Consulting support for monitoring the implementation of the investment plan | up to €4,000 |
| Certification and product compliance according to national, harmonized, and optional standards of European countries or/and non-EU countries | up to €5,000 per standard |
| Certification of services processes according to national, harmonized, and other European and international standards | up to €5,000 per management system |
| Promotion and Outward-looking Expenses | up to €10,000 |
| Participation in trade fairs | up to €6,000 / fair |
| Technical Studies necessarily linked to investment plan expenses | up to €10,000 |
04. | Indirect Expenses | Mandatory |
| Indirect Expenses (7% of eligible direct expenses of the investment plan) | 7% of eligible direct expenses of the Investment Plan |
AID INTENSITY
The Public Funding rate amounts to 70% of the subsidized budget of the funding application.
The implementation of the investment plan is covered by public expenditure and private participation. Public expenditure for all investment plans amounts to 70% of the subsidized budget, while the remaining 30% is covered by private participation.
The subsidized budget for each investment plan ranges from €20,000 to €150,000.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
The start date for funding applications is May 8, 2025, and the end date is July 10, 2025.
