European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Grant Schemes

people working with machinery

As part of Malta's new Operational Programme, the Maltese Government has launched four new grant schemes to support SMEs in undertaking investments in Equipment, Plant and Machinery related to the expansion, diversification, and innovation of the operations, as well as on initial investments:

SME Enhance (de minimis)

The scheme is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in economic activity, irrespective of their legal form, subject to exclusions. 

Eligible actions include investments in equipment and machinery aimed at directly improving the productivity of the enterprise. This shall be aimed at expanding, diversifying, and/or innovating operations.

This grant scheme will support investment in tangible assets, including: 

  • Equipment, Plant and Machinery: Costs for the purchasing of the main component of the operation in terms of equipment, plant and machinery required for the operation. The equipment and machinery must be maintained by the beneficiary and remain operational for at least 3 years following the completion of the investment operation;
  • Ancillary items: Costs for the purchasing of ancillary items to the main activity of the project, capped at 10% of the eligible cost of the main project component;
  • Lease of private operational premises: Costs for leasing of privately owned operational premises required for the operations for the duration of 2 years, capped  at 10% of the eligible cost of the main project component; and 
  • 7% flat rate to finance any indirect costs related to the investment. 

Any eligible projects must be implemented within 24 months from the date of the Grant Agreement.

The aid intensity is set at 50% for operations in Malta and 60% for operations in Gozo with a minimum funding amount of €10,000 and maximum funding amount of €120,000.

The scheme shall be managed on a demand driven basis through a public open call (rolling-call) with periodical cut-off dates for interested eligible Undertakings to submit their applications. Following each cut-off date, applications will be assessed and evaluated and eligible applications scoring at least 50% of the selection criteria shall be ranked and grants shall be awarded subject to budget availability. 

Key Deadlines

This Scheme shall be administered through an open rolling call with the list of cut-off dates scheduled as follows:

  • June 30, 2023 - noon
  • July 31, 2023 - noon
  • August 31, 2023 - noon
  • September 29, 2023 - noon
  • October 31, 2023 - noon
  • November 30, 2023 - noon

SME Enhance (GBER)

The scheme is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in economic activity, irrespective of their legal form, subject to exclusions. 

Eligible actions include investments in equipment and machinery aimed at directly improving the productivity of the enterprise. This shall be aimed at expanding, diversifying, and/or innovating operations.

This grant scheme will support investment in tangible assets, including: 

  • Equipment, Plant and Machinery: Costs for the purchasing of the main component of the operation in terms of equipment, plant and machinery required for the operation. The equipment and machinery must be maintained by the beneficiary and remain operational for at least 3 years following the completion of the investment operation;
  • Ancillary items: Costs for the purchasing of ancillary items to the main activity of the project, capped at 10% of the eligible cost of the main project component;
  • Lease of private operational premises: Costs for leasing of privately owned operational premises required for the operations for the duration of 2 years, capped  at 10% of the eligible cost of the main project component; and 
  • 7% flat rate to finance any indirect costs related to the investment. 

Any eligible projects must be implemented within 24 months from the date of the Grant Agreement.

The scheme shall be managed on a demand driven basis through a public open call (rolling-call) with periodical cut-off dates for interested eligible Undertakings to submit their applications. Following each cut-off date, applications will be assessed and evaluated and eligible applications scoring at least 50% of the selection criteria shall be ranked and grants shall be awarded subject to budget availability.

What aid will be awarded? 

The minimum funding amount under this scheme is set at €10,000 whilst the maximum grant value is set at €500,000 with the following aid intensities: 

Size of Undertaking Aid intensity
Projects in Gozo Projects in Malta (within Regional Aid map) Projects in Malta (outside Regional Aid Map)
Micro & Small 35% 30% 20%
Medium 25% 20% 10%

Key Deadlines

This Scheme shall be administered through an open rolling call with the list of cut-off dates scheduled as follows:

  • June 30, 2023 - noon
  • July 31, 2023 - noon
  • August 31, 2023 - noon
  • September 29, 2023 - noon
  • October 31, 2023 - noon
  • November 30, 2023 - noon

Start-up Enhance

The scheme is open to micro and small sized enterprises engaged in economic activity, irrespective of their legal form, subject to exclusions. 

Eligible actions include investments in equipment and machinery contributing to improving the productivity of the enterprise.

This grant scheme will support investment in tangible assets, including: 

  • Equipment, Plant and Machinery: Costs for the purchasing of the main component of the operation in terms of equipment, plant and machinery required for the operation. The equipment and machinery must be maintained by the beneficiary and remain operational for at least 3 years following the completion of the investment operation;
  • Ancillary items: Costs for the purchasing of ancillary items to the main activity of the project, capped at 10% of the eligible cost of the main project component;
  • Lease of private operational premises: Costs for leasing of privately owned operational premises required for the operations for the duration of 2 years, capped  at 20% of the eligible cost of the main project component; and 
  • 7% flat rate to finance any indirect costs related to the investment. 

 

Any eligible projects must be implemented within 24 months from the date of the Grant Agreement.

The aid intensity is set at 50% for operations in Malta and 60% for operations in Gozo with a minimum funding amount of €10,000 and maximum funding amount of €400,000.

The scheme shall be managed on a demand driven basis through a public open call (rolling-call) with periodical cut-off dates for interested eligible Undertakings to submit their applications. Following each cut-off date, applications will be assessed and evaluated and eligible applications scoring at least 50% of the selection criteria shall be ranked and grants shall be awarded subject to budget availability. 

Key Deadlines

This Scheme shall be administered through an open rolling call with the list of cut-off dates scheduled as follows:

  • June 30, 2023 - noon
  • July 31, 2023 - noon
  • August 31, 2023 - noon
  • September 29, 2023 - noon
  • October 31, 2023 - noon
  • November 30, 2023 - noon

Business reports for SMEs

The scheme is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in economic activity, irrespective of their legal form, subject to exclusions.

Eligible actions include business reports aimed at rendering an SME more efficient or more competitive, procured from external Consultancy Service Providers which are registered with the Managing Authority and which are autonomous and unrelated to the Beneficiary Undertaking.

This grant scheme will support consultancy services providing a:

  • Process and Systems Review aimed at rendering the Undertaking potentially more efficient; or
  • Business Plan addressing the proposed investment initiatives, aimed at rendering the Undertaking potentially more competitive.

The Grant value under this scheme is set at a lump sum of €4,000 representing an aid intensity of 80% of the eligible costs.

The scheme shall be managed on a demand driven basis through a public open call (rolling-call) with periodical cut-off dates for interested eligible Undertakings to submit their applications. The application shall include the Undertaking’s name and size, a description of the subject of the report, including its start and end dates, the location of the enterprise and the amount of public funding needed for the report, amongst other requirements.

Key Deadlines

This Scheme shall be administered through an open rolling call with the list of cut-off dates scheduled as follows:

  • June 16, 2023 - noon
  • June 30, 2023 - noon
  • July 14, 2023 - noon
  • July 31, 2023 - noon
  • August 16, 2023 - noon
  • August 31, 2023 - noon
  • September 15, 2023 - noon
  • September 29, 2023 - noon
  • October 16, 2023 - noon
  • October 31, 2023 - noon
  • November 17, 2023 - noon
  • November 30, 2023  - noon

Contact us

Claudine Attard

Claudine Attard

Director, Advisory, PwC Malta

Tel: +356 2564 7026

Daniela Burlo'

Daniela Burlo'

Senior Manager, Advisory, PwC Malta

Tel: +356 7973 9016

Luke Grima

Luke Grima

Manager, Advisory, PwC Malta

Tel: +356 2564 4262