Introduction

Many small and medium-sized enterprises are awaiting the launch of the “Adaptation Plans for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises with a Capacity of 20-50 Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE)”, which has already been pre-published and will be implemented across all thirteen (13) Administrative Regions of the country.

This initiative aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises with a workforce of 20-50 employees (Full-Time Equivalent Employees – FTE) in the development and implementation of adaptation plans. These plans will help businesses meet the requirements of modern organizational practices and develop employee skills, with a focus on green management practices, digital modernization, internationalization, and supply chain management. The Action will be funded through the “Competitiveness” Program under the 2021-2027 National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), with a total budget of 30.000.000€ for the entire country.

Eligible Enterprises & Participation Requirements

Proposals can be submitted by existing small and medium-sized enterprises that employed at least 20 Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE) in 2023. Eligible enterprises can belong to any sector of the economy, except for those in the primary sector.

Ineligible activity codes (KAD) will be specified in the detailed Invitation of the Action.

The key participation requirements for potentially eligible enterprises are as follows:

1. The business plan must be carried out exclusively within one (1) Regional Category
2. The enterprise must have at least two (2) complete closed fiscal years before the electronic submission date of the funding application
3. The enterprise must not significantly engage (primary KAD or KAD with higher revenues) in any ineligible activity code before the electronic submission date of the funding application
4. The enterprise must have employed at least 20 FTEs in 2023. This will be confirmed based on the data reported and maintained in the ERGANI information system
5. The enterprise must operate legally
6. The enterprise must exclusively operate as a corporate/commercial entity
7. The enterprise must meet the conditions outlined in Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 (De Minimis), upon which the Action is based

Type and Amount of Funding

The grant budget for each plan ranges from 25.000€ to 130.000€ and cannot exceed the highest turnover achieved in any of the last three (or fewer, if the enterprise has less than three) fiscal years preceding the year of submission of the funding application, with a maximum limit of 130.000€

The funding under the Action is provided in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 (De Minimis).

Implementation Duration

The maximum duration for the completion of both the physical and financial objectives of the business plan cannot exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Approval Decision.

Eligible Expenses

• Consulting services on business operations, organizational systems, human resource development, and business needs assessment
• Development of “soft” skills for employees, relating to the social, emotional, and interpersonal impacts of technology use, changes in working conditions, handling emergencies, and other relevant internal business issues
• Employee training in cutting-edge areas such as environmental management and “green” business practices, digital modernization, promotion of internationalization, supply chain management, and technical skills in various specialties (depending on the business sector).
• Certification of learning outcomes
• Creation of a new specialized and highly qualified job position related to the objectives of the Action or human resource development (to be maintained for at least 6 months after the end of the funding period) (specific qualifications will be defined)

Submission and Evaluation of Funding Applications

Funding applications must be submitted exclusively online via the Integrated Information System for the Management of State Aid (iSAMIS). The evaluation methodology to be applied for this action is Direct Evaluation.

The submission deadline and process, required supporting documents, beneficiary obligations, evaluation criteria, and other implementation terms will be outlined in the in the Detailed Invitation of the Action upon its publication.

For further details on this specific program, other available funding opportunities, or any support related to the planning and implementation of your investment projects, please do not hesitate to contact us at 231 0 552000 or 210 9580000, or via email at [email protected].