Epirus Innovation: Creation and Support of Startup & Spin-off Businesses

The call concerns two distinct sub-actions, and the Potential Beneficiary must mandatorily choose the sub-action for which they wish to submit their proposal:

Sub-action 1: Creation of Startup & Spin-off Businesses in Epirus

Sub-action 2: Support for new Startup & Spin-off Businesses in Epirus

The participation requirements for Sub-action 1 are as follows:

• To be an under-establishment business. Under-establishment businesses are defined as those with a draft articles of association signed by all members/partners, which will commence operations with the competent Tax Office after the electronic submission of the funding application. In this case, the corporate structure of the under-establishment company will be defined and evaluated.
• To submit a business plan, as well as all necessary data, supporting documents, and forms, as defined by this call.
• To submit one proposal per Tax Identification Number (TIN) (the TIN of all members/partners of the scheme is considered).

To commit that:

- They will be classified as micro and small enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 and Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014, as amended, concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

- They will commence business activity (operate) by the time the aid is disbursed (including any advance payment) in a single professional establishment, and will incur the corresponding expenses in the Region of Epirus. The establishment of a branch is not permitted throughout the implementation period of the Business Plan, under penalty of revocation of the Integration Decision and repayment of any Public Funding received.

- They will operate in at least one of the eligible activity sectors (NACE codes) defined by the call, and will incur the corresponding expenses in the eligible NACE codes. It is noted that when 4-digit NACE codes (e.g., 10.11) are considered eligible, all further breakdowns (e.g., 10.11.11, 10.11.20.01) are included.

- They will possess the eligible investment NACE code before the first disbursement, including any advance payment.

- They will operate legally, possessing the appropriate licensing document, in accordance with current legislation for their supported activity (supported NACE code) (e.g., operating license, responsible declaration of commencement of operation, operating license exemption, notification of commencement of operation, etc.). Businesses with activities for which an operating license is not required must submit a Responsible Declaration from the Legal Representative, certifying that no operating license is required, with relevant documentation or an exemption document from the relevant obligation, from the competent Authority.

- The individual expenses included in this specific funding application have not been funded under another action financed by national or EU resources, do not constitute approved expenses of a business plan in another action financed by national or EU resources, and if approved, and for the period during which they constitute approved expenses of the business plan to be implemented, they will not be submitted for inclusion or certification in an investment plan of another action financed by national or EU resources.

- It possesses the necessary financial resources and mechanisms to cover operating and maintenance costs for operations that include investments in infrastructure or productive investments, to ensure their financial viability.

- That the proposed operation does not include activities that were part of an operation subject to relocation according to Article 66 of Regulation 1060/2021 or which would constitute a transfer of productive activity according to Article 65 of Regulation 1060/2021 paragraph 1 point (a) and falls within the scope of the ERDF and is included in a type of intervention.

- The subsidized business will not be co-located with another business. Co-location means the establishment of the business in the same, non-distinct space as another business. It is noted that the establishment of the business in organized business hosting spaces, such as business and technology parks, co-working spaces, etc., is not considered co-location. If it is found that the condition is not met, the approval decision will be revoked, and if an amount has been paid to the Beneficiary, it will be returned through the procedure for unduly paid amounts.

The participation requirements for Sub-action 2 are as follows:

• To be a new business. New businesses are defined as existing businesses that commenced operations from January 1, 2023 onwards.
• To submit a business plan, as well as all necessary data, supporting documents, and forms, as defined by this call.
• To submit one proposal per TIN.
• To be classified as micro and small enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 and Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014, as amended, concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
• To operate in a single professional establishment, and to incur the corresponding expenses in the Region of Epirus. The establishment of a branch is not permitted throughout the implementation period of the Business Plan, under penalty of revocation of the Integration Decision and repayment of any Public Funding received.
• To operate in at least one of the eligible activity sectors (NACE codes), and to incur the corresponding expenses in the eligible NACE codes. It is noted that when 4-digit NACE codes (e.g., 10.11) are considered eligible, all further breakdowns (e.g., 10.11.11, 10.11.20.01) are included.
• To maintain the existing FTEs of the business for 2025 (1/1/2025 – 31/12/2025) throughout the implementation period of the action, as described in paragraph 13.1.
• To possess the investment NACE code before the issuance of this call.
• To operate legally, possessing the appropriate licensing document, in accordance with current legislation for their supported activity (supported NACE code) (e.g., operating license, responsible declaration of commencement of operation, operating license exemption, notification of commencement of operation, etc.). Businesses with activities for which an operating license is not required must submit a Responsible Declaration from the Legal Representative, certifying that no operating license is required, with relevant documentation or an exemption document from the relevant obligation, from the competent Authority.
• To commit that they possess the necessary financial resources and mechanisms to cover operating and maintenance costs for operations that include investments in infrastructure or productive investments, to ensure their financial viability.
• Co-located businesses are not excluded provided they commit in writing that upon commencement of the investment plan, they will relocate to another autonomous establishment. Co-location means the establishment of the business in the same, non-distinct space as another business. It is noted that the establishment of the business in organized business hosting spaces, such as business and technology parks, co-working spaces, etc., is not considered co-location. If it is found that the condition is not met, the approval decision will be revoked, and if an amount has been paid to the Beneficiary, it will be returned through the procedure for unduly paid amounts.

The subsidized budget for each investment plan must be proportionate to the business plan and can range from €50,000 to €150,000.

The total maximum Public Expenditure of the Call amounts to €2,000,000. The Managing Authority of the Epirus Program reserves the right to increase the Action's budget based on the submitted proposals and evaluation results.

The public expenditure per action is allocated as follows:

The aid follows the framework of EU Regulation 2831/2023 (De Minimis).

The eligibility start date for expenses is the publication date of this call (2025-12-19).

The following expenses are eligible:

Personnel expenses

• Personnel expenses under service contracts to the extent they are employed in the project (75% aid intensity)
• Full Payroll Cost of Newly Hired Personnel (75% aid intensity)
• Full Payroll Cost of Existing Personnel (only for Sub-action 2, 50% aid intensity)

Expenses for Equipment, Transport Means & Instruments (75% aid intensity)

Expenses for Buildings, Land, Facilities & Surrounding Area (75% aid intensity)

Expenses for Provision of Services (75% aid intensity)

Operating Expenses (75% aid intensity)

Software Expenses (75% aid intensity)

Expenses for Promotion, Marketing & Networking (75% aid intensity)

Patent Expenses (75% aid intensity)

Indirect Expenses

The implementation duration of the projects is up to twenty-four (24) months, while the funding for job positions, professional space rents, and vehicle financial leases covers a period of eighteen (18) months.

The start date for electronic submission of funding applications is 2026-01-15 at 13:00, and the closing date is 2026-03-18 at 15:00.

The evaluation methodology for funding applications is "comparative" and is carried out for all applications submitted on time, as defined in the Detailed Call for Action.