From the program “Competitiveness” of the National Financial Markets Service for 2021-2027, it was announced the announcement of a package of state assistance measures called “Green Transition for SMEs”, which consists of two measures aimed at promptly updating small and medium-sized enterprises in the country. (SME). These are Action 1 “Green Transformation of SMEs” and Action 2 “Green Productive SME Investments” with a total budget of 700,000,000 euros. Please note that potential investors can only apply for one of the two actions, not both. Today we will present the key elements of the “Green SME Production Investment” campaign, which encourages small 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, encouraging actions that use modern technologies , infrastructure and best practices in energy modernization, the circular economy and the introduction of clean sources. The total budget for action 1 is 400,000,000 euros and is divided by region category into:

– 88,000,000 euros for the transition regions: Attica and the South Aegean.

– 312,000,000 euros for less developed regions: Northern Aegean, Eastern Macedonia – Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Central Greece, Peloponnese.

According to the published call, existing medium, small and micro enterprises can apply for funding. Eligible business activity categories are detailed in the published call to action.

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

1. Invest exclusively in one area category.

2. Have at least one full closed year of governance prior to the electronic funding application date.

3. Have and be substantially active (primary or higher income SDF) in eligible investment SDFs for this call prior to the electronic funding application date.

4. Have at least two full-time or part-time EMEs during the calendar year prior to applying for funding.

5. Work legally.

6. Work on the investment project has not started before the application for funding is submitted.

7. Comply with the conditions for the application of the EU Regulation. 1407/2013 (De Minimis) on which the action is based.

8. Operate solely as a corporate/commercial enterprise.

As indicated in the published data, the total supported budget of the funding application is between 30,000 and 200,000 euros. The maximum duration of the completion of a physical and economic facility may not exceed 24 months from the date of issuance of the approval decision.

The aid intensity is set at 40% with the possibility of a 10% increase if Green Transition costs are realized and certified at 20% of the total eligible budget of the investment plan during the final review phase.

The main costs covered by the share:

– Expenditure on buildings and other structures: Buildings, structures and surrounding area.

– Cost of equipment.

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

– Equipment (GREEN): energy efficiency / energy saving equipment, circular economy equipment, 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, as well as additional standards of European countries and / or countries outside the EU.

– Certification of services and procedures in accordance with national, harmonized, as well as 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. These include:

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

— Consulting services, investment plan monitoring.

– Vehicles (GREEN). Mandatory electrician.

– Salary of new employees (new staff from 1 to 3 EME).

– Indirect costs (7% of the allowable direct costs of the investment plan).

The date of application for funding is determined as the start of eligibility. The full text of the invitation can be found at http://21-27.antagonistikotita.gr/. Applications are submitted online and are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis. The call to action will remain open from Wednesday, March 22, 2023 until the available budget by county category is exhausted.

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