The Competitiveness Program of the National Financial Markets Service for 2021-2027 announced the preliminary publication of a package of state assistance measures “Green Transition for SMEs”. Actions with a total budget of 350,000,000 euros are aimed at the operational modernization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

Action 1: Green transformation of SMEs. These are companies with a subsidized investment project budget of 200,001 to 1,000,000 euros.

Action 2: Green productive investment by SMEs. This applies to enterprises with a subsidized investment plan budget between 30,000 and 200,000 euros.

Please note that potential investors can only apply for one of the two activities, not both. Today we will present the main elements of Action 1 – Green Transformation of SMEs, which encourages investment projects aimed at the use and development of modern technologies, the modernization of manufactured products and / or services provided and their activities in general, with a focus on actions using modern technologies, infrastructure and best practices in energy modernization, the circular economy and the introduction of clean energy sources.

According to the preliminary publication, operating medium, small and micro enterprises can apply for equity financing. Eligible business activity categories will be defined in a detailed call to action.

The main conditions for the participation of companies applying for financing are:

1. Have at least one (1) full closed year of management prior to the electronic funding application date.

2. Have and be substantially active (main CAF or highest earning CAF) in the eligible investment CAFs of this competition prior to the electronic funding application date.

3. Have at least three (3) dependent full-time or part-time EMEs during the calendar year prior to applying for funding.

4. Act legally.

5. Work on the investment plan did not start before the funding application was submitted.

6. Declare only one district category as the place/places for holding the shares of this action.

7. Operate exclusively as a corporate/commercial enterprise.

As indicated in the published data, the minimum and maximum total supported budget of the funding application is set between 201,000 and 1,000,000 euros. The maximum duration for the physical and financial completion of the facility will be specified in the detailed call to action, but is not expected to exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance of the approval decision.

Please note that the grant budget of a funding application cannot exceed twice the maximum turnover among the three (or less if the company does not have three) management periods preceding the year of the funding application, with a maximum of €1,000,000.

Aid intensity can be as high as 40%, with the possibility of an additional 10% if Green Transition Green spending is made and validated at a rate of at least 20% of the total eligible budget of the investment plan. at the final stage of verification.

The main costs covered by the share relate to:

1. Expenses for buildings and other objects: buildings, structures and adjacent territory.

2. Equipment cost.

– Equipment (contractual costs): Production and mechanical equipment, other equipment.

– Equipment (green): equipment for energy efficiency / energy saving, equipment for the circular economy, equipment for the production of energy from renewable energy sources for personal consumption.

– Certification of products – services – processes:

• Certification and compliance of products with national, harmonized and additional standards of European countries and/or non-EU countries.

• Certification of services and procedures in accordance with national, harmonized and other European and international standards.

– Intellectual property – patents – transfer of know-how.

— Package design — label — branding services.

– Expenditure projection and extraversion.

– Participation in exhibitions.

– Technical research. They include:

• Technical studies, necessarily associated with costs categories 1, 2 and 3.

• Consulting agency.

• Monitoring of the investment plan.

• Vehicles (green) must be electric.

• Payroll costs for new hires (new staff 1 to 3 EMEs).

• Indirect costs (7% of eligible direct costs of the investment project).

The date of application for funding is determined as the start of eligibility. The procedure for submitting and evaluating applications for funding will be determined by the publication of a detailed program announcement.

The full text of the preliminary publication can be found at http://21-27.antagonistikotita.gr/.

* Ms. Mary Paspalari is the Managing Director of AMBIO SA.