SME Enhance Grant Scheme

SME Enhance Grant

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

Eligible actions include productive investments in tangible and intangible assets related to the expansion, diversification, innovation of the operations, as well as on initial investments.

This grant scheme will support eligible enterprises to procure: 

  • 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 final payment to the beneficiary;

  • 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 operation in terms of equipment and machinery;

  • 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 eligible cost under equipment and machinery; and 

7% flat rate to finance any indirect costs related to the investment.

The scheme shall be managed on a demand driven basis. The IB have issued 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 awarded subject to budget availability.

 

What aid will be awarded?

Under this grant scheme, the aid awarded and corresponding aid intensity can be determined based on three available options. Applicants can choose the most suitable option depending on their eligibility and project specifics.

1. De minimis regime 

The aid intensity is set at 50% for operations in Malta and 60% for operations in Gozo (up to a maximum grant of €120,000 + an additional 7% flat rate) under the de minimis regime.

2. GBER regime 

Applicants who have exhausted their de minimis threshold, may instead apply for part-financing eligible costs under the GBER regime as per the underneath aid intensities:

Size of undertaking

Aid intensity

 

Investments in

Gozo


Investments in Malta

(in assisted areas

designated in Malta’s

regional aid map)

Investments in Malta (in localities not falling within the regional aid map)

Micro and small

35%

30%

20%

Medium

25%

20%

10%

3. Start-ups

Applicants who qualify as start-ups can benefit from a higher aid intensity. Under the Start-up category, eligible costs can be part-financed up to 60% for investments in Malta and 70% for investments in Gozo, under the GBER regime.

Key Deadlines

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

  • Friday, 28 November 2025 - noon
  • Friday, 12 December 2025 - noon
  • Friday, 16 January 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 30 January 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 13 February 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 27 February 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 13 March 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 27 March 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 17 April 2026 - noon
  • Thursday, 30 April 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 15 May 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 29 May 2026 - noon
  • Friday, 12 June 2026 - noon
  • Tuesday, 30 June 2026 - noon

How can we help?

With years of experience working with EU funding schemes, and the support of our international network, our team of professionals in advisory can help you develop solutions to face your challenges and operate more profitably. We can assist you in making value-adding decisions by identifying opportunities within your operations and carefully selecting the most suitable funding scheme available to you. 

We will also support you throughout the application process. PwC can prepare and compile the content and collate the documentation required as part of the grant scheme application form. 

Should you need more information or have any questions about these schemes or our support, including entity eligibility, please contact us for further guidance

Contact us

Eric MacKay

Eric MacKay

Advisory Partner, PwC Malta

Tel: +356 9924 3316

Shaun Vella Bonello

Shaun Vella Bonello

Manager, Advisory, PwC Malta

Tel: +356 7973 6308