The Action aims to strengthen the country’s production base and international competitiveness in sectors with a high degree of external orientation by bolstering selected production sectors.
This is a targeted intervention which aims, on the one hand, to strengthen the domestic production base in key sectors and, on the other hand, to support and expand the export orientation of Greek businesses.
By increasing local production of products in high international demand and improving export performance, the initiative is expected to make a positive contribution to the Greek economy. At the same time, it aims to ensure that domestic demand is met by Greek-produced goods, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Greek products on the international stage.
Actions that may be funded under this initiative:
- Modernisation of production: Investments in modern mechanical and production equipment to increase production capacity and improve efficiency.
- Technological upgrade: The adoption of advanced technologies, automation and digital systems (Industry 4.0, IoT, etc.) in the production process to reduce costs and improve product quality.
- Certifications and quality: Obtaining quality certifications and ensuring product compliance with international standards (labels, accreditations), so that the products meet the requirements of the domestic and international markets.
- Design and branding: Product redesign, improvements to design and packaging, and the development of branding to enhance their added value and commercial appeal in the international market.
- Reinforcement of human resources: Coverage of the salary costs of specialist staff who contribute to the enhancement of production capacity and the achievement of the company’s strategic objectives.
Who is it intended for: Existing small, very small and medium-sized enterprises, which must meet the basic eligibility criteria:
- Have completed at least one (1) full financial year prior to the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- Ensure that you have the eligible investment KAD(s) specified in the detailed call before the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- The investment must relate exclusively to KADs listed in Annex II – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD).
- Have at least one (1) EME of dependent employment during the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application. This will be confirmed on the basis of the declared data held for this enterprise in the ERGANI information system.
The total subsidised budget for the investment plan may not exceed twice the highest turnover achieved in one of the three (or fewer, if the company has fewer than three) closed financial periods of the year preceding the submission of the funding application with a maximum aid limit of €200,000 or €220,000 for rapid implementation.
It should be noted that, when submitting the funding application, it must be demonstrated that at least all of the companies whose investment plans will be co-financed, submitted and finalised within the framework of this scheme, are required to meet a production efficiency target within a specific period following the completion of the investment, failing which they will be required to repay 10% of the grant received.
Submission period: from 31 March 2026 to 2 June 2026 (at 15:00)
The funding application must be submitted electronically via the Integrated State Aid Management Information System (OPSKE). Funding applications in which not all mandatory fields of the OPSKE have been completed will not be accepted.
The funding application must achieve a minimum score of 75 during the self-assessment of the investment plan. Please note that the funding application may not be submitted to the OPSKE if the above condition is not met.
A comparative evaluation will be carried out to assess funding applications.
Type of aid: Grant / Subsidy
Area of application: All of Greece
What is funded:
Minimum budget for investment projects: €100,000
Maximum budget for investment projects: €400,000
The funding rates for applications range from 50% to 55% of the subsidised budget for each funding application. The additional public subsidy rate of 5% (Fast Implementation Bonus) is granted if the Beneficiary submits a Request for Payment of Support (AKP) with implementation costs amounting to at least 80% of the approved budget, within 9 months of the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application,
The maximum grant limit is set at €200,000 per VAT number or €220,000 for rapid implementation.
The aid is granted in accordance with EU Regulation 2023/2831 (OJ EL L 15 December 2023) (de minimis).
The main categories of eligible expenditure are as follows:
- Machinery – Equipment (Production and Mechanical Equipment, Equipment for Environmental Protection and Energy Saving, Circular Economy Equipment)
- Expenses for the Provision of Services (Software supply and use services under the “Software as a Service” model, “cloud computing” or similar; certification services; packaging, labelling and branding design services; advisory support for monitoring the implementation of the investment plan; etc.)
- Software (Website development, online shops, mobile applications as fixed assets, software and software licences)
- Promotion, Promotion & Networking (Participation in professional exhibitions as an exhibitor abroad, other promotional activities – promotional and networking expenses)
- Staff Costs (Full Payroll Cost of Newly Hired Staff)
- Indirect Costs
The date of publication of the Call for Proposals is the starting date for the eligibility of costs.
The maximum period for completing the physical and financial aspects of the investment plan must not exceed fifteen (15) months from the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application (evaluation result or outcome of the assessment of an objection).
Budget: € 50,000,000
The Action is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by national funding. To ensure greater complementarity, funding is provided through the Common Support Mechanism (Article 25(C) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060) for the financing of interventions falling within the scope of ESF+ support
- €39,000,000 for the Less Developed Regions: North Aegean, East Macedonia – Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Central Greece, Peloponnese.
- €11,000,000 for the Transition Regions: Attica and the South Aegean
See the call below.
Further information about the call can be found here.
Source: espa.gr